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, by referencing the story of Wii Sports through a series of tweets. This comes amid widespread discussions about the pricing of the Switch 2 at $449.99 and the $79.99 price tag for Mario Kart World, with additional shock at the cost of the interactive instruction manual, Welcome Tour.

Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour during its Nintendo Direct, set to launch alongside the Switch 2 in June. This game, described as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware, allows players to explore the console through tech demos, minigames, and interactive experiences. Footage from the Nintendo Direct showcased a player avatar navigating a super-sized Switch 2, learning about its features through mini-games like Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo.

IGN has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will be priced at $9.99 and is available only digitally. Although this is less expensive than other Switch 2 titles, some fans have voiced their displeasure at having to pay for it, arguing that it should have been included as a pack-in, similar to Astro's Playroom for the PlayStation 5.

Reggie Fils-Aimé's tweets featured 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 clips, Fils-Aimé recounted his disagreement with Shigeru Miyamoto over making Wii Sports a pack-in, a battle he ultimately won for markets outside Japan. He also highlighted the success of bundling Wii Play with the Wii Remote, which became one of the top-selling pieces of 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

Fils-Aimé's tweets suggest that including free pack-ins has historically boosted Nintendo's success, hinting that a similar strategy could benefit the Switch 2. Fans have caught on to his message, with some suggesting on social media that Fils-Aimé would have included Welcome Tour as a pack-in if he were still in charge.

In a recent interview, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, defended the $9.99 price of Welcome Tour. He emphasized that the game offers more than what was shown during the Nintendo Direct and hands-on events, suggesting it provides a deep dive into the Switch 2's features and technology. Trinen argued that the price reflects the value and detailed content of the product.

Reggie fought for Wii Sports as a Wii pack in. Photo by Susan Goldman/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Trinen also mentioned that Nintendo would showcase Welcome Tour in more detail through Nintendo Treehouse Live segments, allowing viewers to gain a better understanding of its comprehensive content. He stressed that the game caters to those interested in the technical aspects of the system, justifying its price based on the effort and detail put into its development.

The controversy over Welcome Tour's pricing is part of a broader discussion around Nintendo's next-generation console strategy, including the $80 price point for Switch 2 games and the $450 price for the console itself. Trinen has addressed these issues as well, providing further context to Nintendo's pricing decisions.