Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has subtly addressed the controversy surrounding Nintendo’s decision to charge for the Switch 2 tutorial game, Welcome Tour, through a series of tweets. These posts reference the story of Wii Sports, which was a successful pack-in game for the Wii console.
Amidst the uproar over the $449.99 price of the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World's $79.99 price tag, the decision to charge for the interactive instruction manual, Welcome Tour, has also shocked many fans. Nintendo unveiled 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 new console in a video game format.
Nintendo describes the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware. It includes tech demos, mini-games, and other interactions to familiarize players with the system. The Nintendo Direct showcased a small player avatar exploring a large-scale model of the 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 is priced at $9.99 and is available only digitally. While this is significantly lower than other Switch 2 titles, many fans have voiced their discontent, arguing that Welcome Tour should be a free pack-in, akin to Astro's Playroom for the PlayStation 5.
Fils-Aimé's tweets include clips from an IGN interview two years ago, where he discussed his efforts to include Wii Sports as a free pack-in with the Wii. In the first clip, he notes the resistance he faced from Shigeru Miyamoto. "It is an understatement to say that Mr. Miyamoto pushed back," Fils-Aimé remarked, highlighting the internal struggle that ultimately led to Wii Sports being 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
The second clip Fils-Aimé shared touched on a similar battle to include Wii Play with the Wii Remote, which also met with Miyamoto’s disapproval. The final clip emphasized the positive outcomes of these decisions, noting that Wii Sports significantly boosted the Wii's success in the Americas and Europe, and Wii Play became the fifth best-selling software for the Wii.
And the results.https://t.co/xrFTDeJMQf
— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025
While not directly criticizing Nintendo's current strategy, Fils-Aimé's tweets suggest that including free pack-ins with consoles has proven beneficial in the past. Fans on social media have caught on, with comments like "Hahaha, guys I think Reggie is watching our comments about the Switch 2," and "We know you would have packed in Welcome Tour."
In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, discussed Welcome Tour at a Switch 2 preview event in New York. Trinen emphasized that Welcome Tour is more than it seems, stating, "It's an interesting product... It's a pretty robust piece of software. There's a lot of great detail in there." He justified the $9.99 price, noting it's not exorbitant considering the depth and value of the content.
Trinen highlighted that Welcome Tour is aimed at tech enthusiasts who want detailed information about the system rather than a simple introduction. He emphasized the effort and care put into the product, reinforcing the decision to charge for it.
Welcome Tour is just one aspect of Nintendo's next-generation strategy that has sparked debate. IGN also covered Trinen’s response to questions about the $80 price point for Switch 2 games and the $450 price for the Switch 2 itself.
