Reggie Fils-Aimé, the former head of Nintendo of America, has subtly weighed in on the controversy surrounding Nintendo's decision to charge for the Switch 2 tutorial game, Welcome Tour, by referencing the success story of Wii Sports in a series of tweets. Amid the uproar over the $449.99 price of the Switch 2 and the $79.99 price tag of Mario Kart World, the decision to charge for the interactive instruction manual, Welcome Tour, has also sparked significant discussion.
Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour during its latest Nintendo Direct, set to launch alongside the Switch 2 in June. This game offers a guided tour of the console in video game form, described as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware. Through tech demos, mini-games, and other interactions, players will gain an in-depth understanding of the system. The Nintendo Direct showcased a small player avatar navigating a larger-than-life Switch 2, learning about its features and engaging in mini-games like Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo.
IGN has confirmed that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will be priced at $9.99 and available only digitally. While this is less than other Switch 2 games, the fact that it's not free has led to complaints from some Nintendo fans, who argue it should be included as a pack-in, much like Astro's Playroom was for the PlayStation 5.
Fils-Aimé has shared clips from a two-year-old IGN interview where he discussed his successful push to include Wii Sports as a free pack-in with the Wii console, despite resistance from Shigeru Miyamoto. Fils-Aimé's tweets highlight the internal battle and ultimate success of bundling Wii Sports in the Americas and Europe, which significantly boosted the console's popularity. He also mentioned the positive impact of bundling Wii Play with the Wii Remote, which became the fifth best-selling piece of software for the Wii.
Although Fils-Aimé isn't directly commenting on the Switch 2 strategy, his tweets suggest that free pack-ins have historically been beneficial for Nintendo consoles, hinting at a similar approach for the Switch 2. Fans on social media have picked up on this, with some humorously suggesting that Fils-Aimé is responding to their comments about the Switch 2.
In an interview with IGN, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, defended the $9.99 price of Welcome Tour, conducted before Nintendo's announcement of a delay in pre-orders due to Trump's tariffs. Trinen emphasized that Welcome Tour is a robust piece of software, offering detailed information about the Switch 2's tech and specs, and is aimed at those interested in a deeper understanding of the system. He argued that the price reflects the value and effort put into the product.
Welcome Tour is just one aspect of Nintendo's next-gen strategy that has stirred debate. Trinen also addressed questions about the company's decision to price Switch 2 games at $80 and the console itself at $450.
Reggie fought for Wii Sports as a Wii pack-in. Photo by Susan Goldman/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
