Reggie Fils-Aimé, the former president of Nintendo of America, has subtly addressed the controversy surrounding Nintendo's decision to charge for the Switch 2 tutorial game, Welcome Tour, by sharing insights from the story of Wii Sports. Amidst the uproar over the $449.99 price of the Switch 2 and the $79.99 price tag for Mario Kart World, the decision to charge for the interactive instruction manual, Welcome Tour, has also sparked significant debate.
Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour during its recent Nintendo Direct, set to launch alongside the Switch 2 in June. This game serves as a guided tour of the console in video game form, described by Nintendo as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware. Through tech demos, minigames, 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 the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is priced at $9.99 and is available only digitally. While this is less expensive than other Switch 2 games, many Nintendo fans have expressed frustration over having to pay for Welcome Tour, arguing it should be included as a free pack-in, similar to how Astro's Playroom was bundled with the PlayStation 5.
Fils-Aimé has taken to social media to share clips from a two-year-old IGN interview where he discussed his efforts to include Wii Sports as a free pack-in with the Wii console. In the first clip, he recounts the resistance he faced from Shigeru Miyamoto, stating, "it is an understatement to say that Mr. Miyamoto pushed back." Despite this, Fils-Aimé succeeded in having Wii Sports bundled with the Wii in all regions except Japan.
The story of Wii Sports pack in ...https://t.co/LhflSFWaL3
— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025
In another clip, Fils-Aimé discusses a similar battle to bundle Wii Play with the Wii Remote, noting Miyamoto's displeasure with the idea. He concluded by sharing the results of these decisions, highlighting the success of Wii Sports and Wii Play in regions where they were included as pack-ins.
And the results.https://t.co/xrFTDeJMQf
— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025
Fils-Aimé's tweets, while not directly addressing the Switch 2 strategy, suggest that including free pack-ins has historically been beneficial for Nintendo, implying a similar approach could be advantageous for the Switch 2. Fans have picked up on this, with some humorously noting on social media that Fils-Aimé seems to be responding to their concerns about the Switch 2.
In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, provided more context on Welcome Tour. Conducted before the announcement of a delay in pre-orders due to Trump's tariffs, Trinen emphasized that Welcome Tour offers more than what was shown during the Nintendo Direct. He argued that the $9.99 price point is justified given the depth and detail of the software, which is particularly valuable for those interested in the technical aspects of the system.
Trinen highlighted that Welcome Tour is a robust piece of software, designed for those who want a detailed understanding of the system rather than just a quick introduction. He noted that upcoming Nintendo Treehouse Live segments would showcase more of what Welcome Tour offers, reinforcing the value proposition at its price point.
The controversy surrounding Welcome Tour is just one aspect of Nintendo's next-generation strategy, which also includes discussions about the $80 price for Switch 2 games and the $450 price for the Switch 2 itself. Trinen's comments provide a deeper look into Nintendo's reasoning behind these decisions.
