Former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé has subtly entered the conversation around Nintendo’s recent decisions regarding its upcoming Switch 2 console. Through a series of carefully chosen tweets, he referenced the history of free pack-in titles—specifically Wii Sports—as a nod to the current controversy surrounding the paid release of the interactive guide, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.
The backlash began after Nintendo revealed during its latest Nintendo Direct that Welcome Tour, an educational experience designed to introduce players to the new system, would carry a $9.99 price tag. While not expensive by traditional game standards, some fans voiced frustration, arguing that such a title should be included at no extra cost, much like Sony's Astro’s Playroom, which was bundled with the PlayStation 5.
According to Nintendo, Welcome Tour is more than just a simple tutorial—it’s described as a “virtual exhibition” of the new hardware. The game includes tech demos, mini-games like Speed Golf and Dodge the Spiked Balls, and even a Maracas Physics Demo. Players navigate through a stylized version of the Switch 2 console, learning about its features in an engaging, gamified format.
IGN has confirmed that the game will only be available digitally and, while it’s priced lower than most full titles, it has still sparked debate among fans. This is where Reggie Fils-Aimé stepped in—not directly criticizing Nintendo’s strategy, but instead highlighting past successes tied to offering value-packed experiences for free at launch.
In a throwback to a two-year-old IGN interview, Fils-Aimé shared clips showing his past advocacy for including Wii Sports as a pack-in with the original Wii. He recalled pushback from Shigeru Miyamoto, one of Nintendo’s most revered developers, but ultimately noted how bundling the game outside of Japan helped propel the console into mainstream popularity.
He also mentioned another internal disagreement over including Wii Play with the Wii Remote, further reinforcing his belief that giving players something meaningful at no extra cost can drive adoption and engagement.
The story of Wii Sports pack in ...https://t.co/LhflSFWaL3
— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025
Fans quickly picked up on the subtext behind his posts:
“Hahaha, guys I think Reggie is watching our comments about the Switch 2,” said one X user.
“We know you would have packed in Welcome Tour,” added another.
While Fils-Aimé didn’t explicitly call out Nintendo’s current approach, his message was clear: successful console launches often benefit from offering something free that creates immediate value and excitement. His historical examples served as a reminder of what worked in the past—and perhaps what could work again.
Meanwhile, IGN spoke with Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Product and Player Experience, who defended the decision to charge for Welcome Tour. According to Trinen, the game contains far more depth than initially shown, especially in hands-on sessions and upcoming Treehouse Live presentations.
“It's an interesting product,” Trinen explained. “We're actually getting ready today to do some Nintendo Treehouse Live segments covering a lot of games in detail—including this one. I think people will get to see more than what was shown on the show floor. It's a pretty robust piece of software with a lot of great detail.”
Trinen emphasized that the title caters specifically to those interested in understanding the Switch 2’s technical capabilities beyond a surface-level introduction.
“And for that reason, and considering the amount of care and work the team put into it, we felt $9.99 is not an exorbitant price. It feels like a good value for what you’re getting.”
Of course, Welcome Tour isn't the only topic stirring up discussion. Nintendo’s decision to set the Switch 2 at $449.99 and select AAA titles like Mario Kart World at $79.99 has also drawn criticism. Trinen addressed these concerns as well, though details on that portion of the conversation are covered separately.
For now, the community remains divided. Some understand Nintendo’s position, while others feel the company is missing a chance to replicate the kind of inclusive launch strategy that once made systems like the Wii household names.
Reggie fought for Wii Sports as a Wii pack-in. Photo by Susan Goldman/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
