Wii Sports Strategy Defended Amid Switch 2 Tour Backlash

Former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé has subtly invoked the history of Wii Sports—the game bundled with the Wii console—in tweets that appear to address the ongoing debate over Nintendo's choice to charge for the Switch 2's interactive tutorial, Welcome Tour.

Amidst the uproar surrounding the Switch 2's $449.99 price point and Mario Kart World's $79.99 cost, many were also surprised to learn Nintendo would charge for Welcome Tour, an interactive guide to the new system.

Nintendo unveiled Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour during its recent Nintendo Direct. Set to launch alongside the Switch 2 in June, the software provides a guided, video game-style introduction to the console's features.

Welcome Tour is described as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware. According to Nintendo, "Through tech demos, mini-games, and various interactive elements, players will explore the ins and outs of the new system, discovering functionalities they might not have encountered otherwise."

The Nintendo Direct showcased a small avatar navigating a larger-than-life Switch 2, learning about different console features. It also includes mini-games such as Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo.

IGN has confirmed that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is priced at $9.99 and will be available only as a digital download. While significantly cheaper than other Switch 2 titles, IGN has noted complaints from some fans who argue Welcome Tour should be free, similar to how Astro's Playroom was included with the PlayStation 5 as a DualSense tech demo.

Fils-Aimé recently tweeted three clips from a two-year-old IGN interview in which he discussed his internal disagreement with legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto over including Wii Sports for free with the massively successful Wii console.

In the first clip, Fils-Aimé notes that "it’s an understatement to say Mr. Miyamoto pushed back" against bundling Wii Sports with the Wii. Ultimately, Fils-Aimé prevailed to an extent—Wii Sports was included with the console in all regions except Japan.

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

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

The second clip Fils-Aimé shared referenced a similar struggle to bundle Wii Play with the Wii Remote. In the interview excerpt, he admitted the idea "pissed off" Miyamoto once again. "He was not happy about that either."

Finally, with the tweet "and the results," Fils-Aimé highlighted the portion of the interview where he explained why these decisions ultimately proved correct.

"In the Americas and Europe, Wii Sports was included with the Wii. It wasn't in Japan, which created a natural test market. It was clear that in regions where Wii Sports was bundled, the console became a bigger phenomenon—and so did the game itself.

"We also bundled the Remote with Wii Play, and it became the fifth best-selling software title in the history of the Wii."

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

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

The intent behind Fils-Aimé's posts is clear. While not explicitly commenting on Nintendo's Switch 2 strategy, he underscores how complimentary software has historically benefited Nintendo's consoles—suggesting the same logic could apply to Switch 2.

Fans have quickly picked up on the subtext. "Hahaha, guys, I think Reggie is watching our comments about the Switch 2," one user posted on X/Twitter. Another added, "We know you would have included Welcome Tour for free."

This week, IGN published an interview with Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, conducted at a recent Switch 2 preview event in New York—prior to Nintendo delaying pre-orders due to Trump's tariffs.

Trinen suggested there is more to Welcome Tour than what was shown during the Nintendo Direct or even recent media hands-on sessions. Given the actual content of the game, Nintendo felt $9.99 "is not an exorbitant price," he explained.

"It's an interesting product," Trinen said. "We're preparing today to feature it in Nintendo Treehouse Live segments, which will cover many games in depth. I think viewers will get a better look at Welcome Tour through Treehouse Live than what was possible on the show floor. It's a robust piece of software with a lot of thoughtful content.

"For those especially interested in the technical specs and inner workings of the system, I think it will be a great product. It's aimed at users who want detailed information about the console, not just a brief introduction.

"Considering the effort and attention the development team invested, it was determined that $9.99 is not excessive—it offers fair value for what you receive."

Welcome Tour is just one aspect of Nintendo's next-generation strategy that has sparked debate. We've also covered Trinen's response to questions about the company's move to $80 Switch 2 games, as well as the $450 price tag for the Switch 2 console itself.