Reggie Fils-Aimé Highlights Wii Sports Strategy Amid Nintendo Switch 2 Backlash

Reggie Fils-Aimé, the former president of Nintendo of America, has subtly weighed in on the ongoing debate over Nintendo's decision to charge for the Switch 2 tutorial game, Welcome Tour. Amidst the uproar regarding the Switch 2's $449.99 price and Mario Kart World's $79.99 price tag, the decision to monetize the interactive instruction manual, Welcome Tour, has stirred significant controversy.

During the recent Nintendo Direct, Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, set to launch in June alongside the new console. Described as a "virtual exhibition," Welcome Tour aims to introduce players to the new hardware through tech demos, minigames, and interactive experiences, allowing users to explore the console's features in depth.

The Nintendo Direct showcased a player avatar navigating a giant Switch 2, learning about its features through various interactive elements, including 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 lower than other Switch 2 games, some fans have expressed disappointment that it isn't offered for free, drawing comparisons to Sony's Astro's Playroom, which came bundled with the PlayStation 5.

Reggie Fils-Aimé has reignited the discussion by sharing clips from a two-year-old IGN interview, where he recounted his efforts to include Wii Sports as a free pack-in with the Wii console. In the clips, Fils-Aimé highlighted the resistance he faced from Shigeru Miyamoto, yet ultimately succeeded in bundling Wii Sports with the Wii in most markets outside Japan. He also shared his success in bundling Wii Play with the Wii Remote, which became the fifth best-selling software for the Wii.

The story of Wii Sports pack in ...https://t.co/LhflSFWaL3

— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025

And the results.https://t.co/xrFTDeJMQf

— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025

Although Fils-Aimé's tweets don't directly address the Switch 2's Welcome Tour, they suggest a belief in the value of free pack-ins, a strategy that proved successful with the Wii. Fans have picked up on this, with some humorously noting on social media that Reggie seems to be following the conversation around the Switch 2 closely.

In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, defended the $9.99 price point for Welcome Tour. Speaking before Nintendo announced a delay in pre-orders due to Trump's tariffs, Trinen emphasized that Welcome Tour offers much more than what was shown during the Nintendo Direct. He described it as a robust piece of software, particularly valuable for tech enthusiasts who want a detailed understanding of the system.

Trinen also mentioned upcoming Nintendo Treehouse Live segments that will delve deeper into Welcome Tour, suggesting it's a valuable resource for those interested in the Switch 2's specs and features. He argued that the $9.99 price tag reflects the effort and detail put into the product, positioning it as a worthwhile investment for those seeking comprehensive information about the console.

The controversy surrounding Welcome Tour is just one facet of Nintendo's next-generation strategy, which also includes the pricing of the Switch 2 at $450 and new games like Mario Kart World at $80. Trinen's comments reflect Nintendo's confidence in their approach, despite the backlash from some fans.