Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour „tech demo” game will cost $10

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Today, IGN published an interview with Bill Trinen, Vice President of Product and Player Experience at Nintendo of America, revealing that the controversial “tech demo” game, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, will retail for $9.99. This information comes as gamers express their discontent online over the price of Mario Kart World, a triple A video game priced at $80. Interestingly, this interview took place before Nintendo’s decision on Friday to postpone U.S. pre-orders of the new console due to reassessing the impact of tariffs.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will cost players about $10

During the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on Wednesday, it appeared that almost everyone expected the trailer for Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour to reveal the console’s free included game, similar to how the Nintendo Wii came with Wii Sports or the PlayStation 5 came with Astro’s Playroom. These games are popular for helping players become familiar with the new console, particularly the Wii due to its groundbreaking motion controls and unique controllers. However, at the end of the trailer, the voiceover mentioned that it would be a “paid” game, leaving many people puzzled.

Nintendo Switch 2 Exploratory Tour transforms players into tiny explorers, navigating through the inner workings of the latest console hardware. In this 3D environment, players can visit various educational displays to gather information about the Nintendo Switch 2 and its innovative components. It’s akin to an immersive learning experience, much like visiting a high-tech museum. The promotional video showcases several mini-games, often called “technical demonstrations,” which demonstrate the functioning of different Switch 2 features. Familiarize yourself with the new capabilities of the Joy-Con controller’s mouse function or try out the enhanced speaker and microphone features, for instance.

In the IGN interview during the Nintendo Direct event, Trinen stated: “There are some individuals who are fascinated by the technology and specifications of the system, for them I believe this product will be exceptional. It seems that this is more for those seeking detailed information about the system rather than a brief overview of all its functions.” This implies that the Welcome Tour may not cater to the casual Nintendo fan. This might be why Nintendo thought it wouldn’t function well as a free title, since they felt many people might not find it engaging enough.

Trinen added: “Given the effort and dedication the team invested in it, I believe the conclusion was that ‘$9.99 doesn’t seem too high, considering the value the product offers.’ Trinen also hinted at potential hidden aspects of the game that may not be immediately apparent from the Nintendo Direct or even during live events. He recommended checking out the Treehouse live streams for a closer look at the gameplay. In such a scenario, maybe they should have adjusted their presentation to avoid widespread misconceptions about the game.”

Trinen mentioned that due to the amount of care and effort put into it, it was perceived as reasonable that the game costs $9.99. Trinen also hinted at additional features in the game that might not be immediately noticeable from the Nintendo Direct or live events. He suggested tuning into Treehouse live streams for a more comprehensive view of the gameplay. If this is the case, they could have improved their marketing strategy to prevent widespread misunderstandings about the game.

Perhaps this game isn’t appealing to me, and I can accept that reality. Frankly, I’m not prepared to invest $10 in it based on what I’ve observed so far. If this game had come bundled with every new Nintendo Switch 2, I would have given it a try, discovered its features, and experimented with the mini-games. However, due to uncertainty about the console’s price in the U.S., there’s a slim chance that Nintendo might reconsider their decision on “Welcome Tour”. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

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2025-04-08 00:32