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Shuhei Yoshida, who once led Sony Interactive Entertainment, recently expressed his puzzlement over Nintendo’s decision to price the Switch 2 Welcome Tour at $9.99. As the countdown to the Switch 2’s launch on June 5 continues, Nintendo has been revealing more about what fans can look forward to, including the Welcome Tour.
Though Mario Kart World is expected to be the big draw on release day, the Welcome Tour promises a more educational experience for players familiarizing themselves with the new console. In the latest Switch 2 Direct, this feature was described as an “interactive exhibit,” designed to give users a hands-on look at the console’s new offerings. Nintendo promises that the Welcome Tour will delve into various aspects of the console, highlighting features such as the upgraded Joy-Con 2 controllers. Users will engage with quizzes, tackle minigames, and explore tech demos to learn about their system.
The $9.99 price point for the Welcome Tour has sparked debate. Many believe it should be complimentary, especially for first-time Switch 2 users. Addressing this during a chat on the Easy Allies podcast, Yoshida questioned, “You would want everyone to experience that, right?” In his view, offering the Welcome Tour at no cost would encourage a wider audience of fans and help new owners better appreciate their system. While Yoshida acknowledged that not giving away the Welcome Tour won’t critically impact Nintendo financially, he sees it as a “missed opportunity.”
In attempts to explain Nintendo’s strategy, Yoshida suggested that they might want to maintain the perceived value of their software or perhaps are reluctant to adopt a free-to-play model.
Charging for the Welcome Tour also stands in contrast to free titles like Astro’s Playroom on the PS5 and Wii Sports on the original Wii, both of which were included with their consoles and showcased their capabilities without additional cost.
As anticipation builds, it will be intriguing to see how gamers react to the Welcome Tour upon its debut. Nintendo has defended the price, insisting the game offers more depth than expected and highlighting the investment made in its development. Whether this justification translates into strong sales remains to be seen.
