Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has weighed in on the backlash regarding the pricing of the Nintendo Switch 2 interactive tutorial game Welcome Tour. Set to launch alongside the new console, Welcome Tour is priced at $9.99 and serves as a digital guide for players to explore the Switch 2's features through mini-games and interactive tech demos. Fans are upset that this tutorial is not a pack-in game like Wii Sports was for the Wii, prompting discussions about Nintendo's strategy for new releases. Although Fils-Aimé did not directly critique the current pricing approach, he referenced the success of bundling Wii Sports as a free pack-in game, positioning it as a strategic advantage for hardware sales. Nintendo's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, defended the pricing, suggesting that Welcome Tour offers substantial value for those interested in understanding the new system's capabilities.

Why is Welcome Tour not a free pack-in like Wii Sports?

Welcome Tour is not a pack-in title largely due to Nintendo's current marketing strategy, which aims to monetize tutorial content separately. While fans may feel it should be bundled for free, Nintendo believes the detailed exploration of the system justifies its price, particularly for tech enthusiasts wanting in-depth information.

The Wii Sports pack-in game, which played a significant role in the Wii's success, was a result of internal debates among Nintendo executives, especially Fils-Aimé's push against legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto's resistance. The success of Wii Sports demonstrated that free introductory games could enhance console adoption, making the current decision for the Switch 2 more controversial among longstanding Nintendo fans.