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A Surprisingly Premium Welcome
Nintendo fans are scratching their heads over the $9.99 price tag slapped on the Switch 2 Welcome Tour—a tutorial game designed to show new users the ropes. For a company known for family-friendly polish and accessibility, charging for what is essentially a glorified “How It Works” guide feels… off. And Nintendo knows it.
“It’s More Than a Tutorial”
According to Nintendo of America’s Bill Trinen, the Welcome Tour is more than just a tutorial. It’s a “playable tech demo” that showcases new haptics, camera features, and voice recognition via a guided experience. “We put real design time into it,” he said, defending the price by emphasizing the team’s effort and the app’s interactive depth.
Still, it’s hard to ignore the optics: you’re paying extra to learn how to use the thing you just bought.
Fans Aren’t Buying It—Literally or Figuratively
Reactions online have been… spicy. Many users pointed out that Sony includes Astro’s Playroom—a full mini-platformer tech demo—with every PlayStation 5, completely free. In fact, IGN reports that backlash over the $10 price has already led to requests for Nintendo to reconsider. One viral Reddit comment summed it up: “Imagine if IKEA charged $10 for an Allen wrench.”
Not an Isolated Incident
This isn’t Nintendo’s first pricing controversy this season. In a related move, the company priced Mario Kart World at $80, citing expanded features, more players, and open-world tracks. That’s a full $20 jump from the standard first-party title price. Together, the $10 tutorial and $80 racer suggest Nintendo is testing the limits of what fans will tolerate—or pay.
The New Normal?
Whether this is a one-off or the start of a new pricing philosophy, only time (and sales numbers) will tell. But if the Switch 2 is going to cost more at every turn, Nintendo might need to offer a little more explanation—and a lot more value.