Reggie Fils-Aimé Highlights Wii Sports Success Amid Nintendo Switch 2 Backlash

Reggie Fils-Aimé, the former president of Nintendo of America, has subtly weighed in on the ongoing debate over Nintendo's decision to charge for the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. This comes amidst the uproar regarding the $449.99 price of the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World's $79.99 price tag, with fans particularly shocked at the $9.99 price for what they perceive as an interactive instruction manual.

During last week's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a digital-only game set to launch alongside the Switch 2 in June. Described as a "virtual exhibition," the game allows players to explore the new console through tech demos, mini-games, and interactive features. Footage showed a player avatar navigating a giant Switch 2, learning about its features, and engaging in mini-games like Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo.

Despite its lower price compared to other Switch 2 titles, the decision to charge for Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour has drawn criticism from fans who believe it should have been included for free, similar to how Astro's Playroom was bundled with the PlayStation 5.

In response, Fils-Aimé took to X (formerly Twitter) to share clips from a two-year-old IGN interview where he discussed his successful push to include Wii Sports as a free pack-in with the Wii console, despite opposition from Shigeru Miyamoto. Fils-Aimé's efforts resulted in Wii Sports being bundled with the Wii in all regions except Japan, significantly boosting the console's success.

The story of Wii Sports pack in ...https://t.co/LhflSFWaL3

— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025

Fils-Aimé also highlighted his battle to bundle Wii Play with the Wii Remote, another decision that proved successful. He emphasized that in regions where Wii Sports was included, the Wii became a phenomenon, underscoring the effectiveness of free pack-ins.

And the results.https://t.co/xrFTDeJMQf

— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025

While Fils-Aimé's tweets do not directly address the Switch 2 strategy, they suggest that including a free pack-in could similarly benefit the new console. Fans have picked up on his message, with comments like "Hahaha, guys I think Reggie is watching our comments about the Switch 2," and "We know you would have packed in Welcome Tour."

In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, defended the pricing of Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Trinen emphasized that the game offers more depth than shown during the Nintendo Direct, describing it as a robust piece of software with detailed information about the console's tech and specs. He argued that the $9.99 price reflects the value and effort put into the product.

Trinen also mentioned upcoming Nintendo Treehouse Live segments that will delve deeper into the game, suggesting that viewers will gain a better understanding of its value.

The controversy surrounding Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is just one aspect of Nintendo's next-gen strategy, which has also faced scrutiny over the pricing of the Switch 2 itself and other games like Mario Kart World.