Regional Rivalry: Japanese Gamers Embrace Affordable, Localized Console

Liam Alexander 28 Apr 2025

The upcoming console release has sparked numerous debates, with one version attracting significantly less attention among Japanese consumers. The discussion centers around two distinct models, each offering different price points and capabilities.

Reactions were mixed following the announcement of a specific price point (£395.99 / €469.99) earlier this month. However, this price will not be uniform globally. In Japan, Nintendo will offer a special version that is locked to its regional content, limiting the system to play products released within the country.

Nowadays, most players are accustomed to consoles that support games from all corners of the world—whether purchased during a vacation abroad or at an international airport. In contrast, regional restrictions have not generated significant interest among Japanese gamers. A substantial survey, engaging 60,000 out of the 2.2 million pre-ordering customers, revealed that the vast majority favor the localised, more economical variant.

The survey results break down as follows:

• Only 2.9% opted for the globally compatible model.
• 27.5% pre-ordered the regional version without additional bundled games.
• 69.7% secured the region-specific package that includes Mario Kart World.

If presented with the option to purchase a device at roughly half the cost, with the compromise of using only locally released games, which one would be the preferred choice?