Shuhei Yoshida Slams Nintendo Switch 2 Tour Price as Missed Opportunity!

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Summary

  • Shuhei Yoshida is confused by Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour’s $9.99 price tag, saying it is a missed opportunity to let “everyone” check out what the console can do.
  • Welcome Tour acts as an interactive exhibit to introduce new Switch 2 features.
  • Nintendo has tried to justify the price by emphasizing the depth of the experience and the cost of development.

Shuhei Yoshida, formerly at Sony Interactive Entertainment, expressed his puzzlement over the $9.99 price tag for the software accompanying the Nintendo Switch 2’s unveiling event, dubbed as the “Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour”. With the anticipated launch of the console on June 5th, Nintendo has shared more details about the device, including this special event.

On the day of launch, it’s likely that Mario Kart World will be the star attraction for Nintendo, but the game Welcome Tour offers a distinctive experience to educate players about the new console. As demonstrated in the Switch 2 Direct, this game operates as an “interactive exhibit,” offering a detailed look at some of the upcoming console’s new features. According to Nintendo, Welcome Tour promises to provide valuable insights into the console, such as closer examinations of the Joy-Con 2 controllers. Furthermore, players will gain knowledge about their system by taking quizzes, participating in minigames, and exploring tech demos.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel baffled by the decision to charge $9.99 for the “Welcome Tour” game that comes with the new Switch 2 console. It seems like an amazing way to introduce new players to the system, and yet, many of us find it hard to accept this price tag, especially since we think it should be free.

Recently, Shuhei Yoshida, a former boss at PlayStation, discussed this very topic during an Easy Allies podcast. When asked about Nintendo’s decision, he expressed his puzzlement, saying, “I just don’t understand. You would want everyone to experience that, right?” He went on to explain that making the game free would help new Switch 2 users understand their system better and create more fans.

While Yoshida acknowledged that the cost might not be a significant hit for Nintendo, he also emphasized that it represents a missed opportunity. In essence, he believes that by charging for this experience, Nintendo is losing an opportunity to win over more fans and make a stronger impact in the gaming community.

Shuhei Yoshida Says Welcome Tour’s Price is ‘Opportunity Loss for Nintendo’

It’s noteworthy that Yoshida attempted to explain Nintendo’s decision to make users pay for the Welcome Tour. In the video, he proposed that the company may be aiming to maintain the worth of its software. Furthermore, he hinted at Nintendo being averse to the “free-to-play” model.

I just don’t understand. You would want everyone to experience that, right?

One problem with charging for a title is that it stands in sharp contrast to games like Astro’s Playroom on the PS5 and Wii Sports from Nintendo, both of which served as demonstrations of their respective console’s capabilities. However, unlike these games, they were free bundles included with the consoles themselves, allowing gamers to try them out at no extra cost.

It’s intriguing to find out what gamers’ reactions will be when Welcome Tour is released. After its unveiling, Nintendo has stood by the price of Welcome Tour. The company asserts that the game offers more depth than some may initially perceive and points to the extensive development efforts invested in it. We’ll see if this effort translates into summer sales.

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2025-04-16 04:23