Reggie Fils-Aimé, the former head of Nintendo of America, has subtly addressed the controversy surrounding Nintendo's decision to charge for the Switch 2 tutorial game, Welcome Tour, by sharing insights from the story of Wii Sports. The announcement of the $449.99 price for the Switch 2 and $79.99 for Mario Kart World already sparked debate, but the additional cost for Welcome Tour, an interactive instruction manual, has further fueled discussions.

During the recent Nintendo Direct, the company unveiled Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a game set to launch with the Switch 2 in June. Described as a "virtual exhibition," Welcome Tour aims to guide players through the new console's features via tech demos, minigames, and other interactive elements. Footage from the Nintendo Direct showcased a player avatar navigating a larger-than-life Switch 2, learning about its features and engaging in mini-games such as Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo.

IGN confirmed that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will be priced at $9.99 and available only digitally. While this is less than other Switch 2 titles, the decision to charge for it has drawn criticism from fans who believe it should be a free pack-in, much like Astro's Playroom was for the PlayStation 5.

Reggie Fils-Aimé took to X (formerly Twitter) to share 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. Despite resistance from Shigeru Miyamoto, Fils-Aimé succeeded in having Wii Sports bundled with the Wii in all markets except Japan. He also fought to bundle Wii Play with the Wii Remote, which became the fifth best-selling piece of software for the Wii. Fils-Aimé's posts suggest that including free pack-ins with consoles can significantly boost their success, hinting at a similar strategy for the Switch 2.

Fans on social media quickly picked up on Fils-Aimé's implied message, with some suggesting that he would have made Welcome Tour a free pack-in if he were still at Nintendo. Meanwhile, in an interview with IGN, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, defended the $9.99 price for Welcome Tour. He highlighted the game's depth and the extensive work put into it, suggesting it offers significant value to those interested in the technical aspects of the Switch 2.

Trinen also mentioned upcoming Nintendo Treehouse Live segments that will showcase more details about Welcome Tour, emphasizing its robust nature and the detailed information it provides about the new system. He argued that the price reflects the product's value and the care taken in its development.

As part of Nintendo's next-gen strategy, the decision to charge for Welcome Tour, alongside the pricing of the Switch 2 and its games, continues to be a point of contention among fans and industry observers alike.