Nintendo’s next console, the Nintendo Switch 2, will come with a game called "Welcome Tour." This is a set of short, simple games to help players learn about the system’s new features. Nintendo is planning to charge for this game, which may be a big mistake. While the company thinks $10 isn't much, it's more about what the game represents.

Nintendo can learn from a former boss, Reggie Fils-Aimé, who is beloved by Nintendo fans. Reggie fought against Nintendo to get Wii Sports bundled with the original Wii, and it's a lesson that apparently didn't stick. Nintendo needs to learn when to stop charging for products, or it could hurt the first impression of the console and its sales in the long run.

Nintendo Is Charging For Its Switch 2 Tutorial

Another Charge For Nintendo Switch 2 Owners

Nintendo is set on making people pay for the Welcome Tour game, as the company affirmed to IGN. I think this is a big mistake that could hurt early sales and turn s away. The Welcome Tour is meant to help players get used to the console, but it’s just a paid tutorial, which goes against what people normally expect when buying a new gaming system.

The Welcome Tour is ten dollars, but the price isn't what will turn people away. Most customers assume they’ll get basic instructions and setup help for free, just like getting a manual for a new device and making people pay for what is basically a guided walkthrough breaks that trust. Even though it’s cheap, it tells customers that even after paying high prices for a Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo wants to squeeze a few more dollars out of customers.

A strong first impression matters, and a free, well-made game works like a friendly welcome, showing players what the console can do without asking them to pay right away.

Nintendo asking players for more money could lead to bad comparisons and negative reviews, making the Switch 2 look worse before people even try its main features. The release of a new console is a huge deal—it excites people, and first impressions matter a lot in getting sales and keeping players happy.

The Welcome Tour could have been a great way to make a good impression by giving players a fun, free way to explore the console’s features. Instead, it's a way to see Nintendo as a company that nickels and dimes its s at every turn. This isn’t how a welcome tour should work. Nintendo’s decision to charge for something that should be a basic part of the Switch 2 experience will probably be a costly error.

Reggie's Book Revealed Wii Sports Was In A Similar Position

Nintendo Wii Benefitted From One Big Decision

Before the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo had Reggie Fils-Aimé. Reggie pushed the company all-in on its family-friendly name, and he practically saved Nintendo by keeping it from competing with the other consoles. In his book Disrupting the Game, he gives us an interesting look at his behind-the-scenes struggle to get approval for including Wii Sports with the Wii console. What might seem like a simple decision was actually a big fight inside Nintendo itself.

The pushback came from a long-standing company belief that Nintendo should never "give away valuable content for free." Important leaders at Nintendo, including Satoru Iwata, the company’s global president, and Shigeru Miyamoto, the famous game creator, had strong doubts about the idea. They believed Wii Sports, a game that showed off the Wii’s new motion controls, was too good to just bundle with the console—it should be sold separately to make money over time.

Reggie, however, made a strong case against this. He explained that the Wii was different from any other gaming system before. Its motion controls and easy-to-use design were meant to attract new players who didn’t usually play video games. Wii Sports, he argued, was essential for making this happen. The game was simple to pick up and fun to play, making it the perfect way to show people what the Wii could do, which sound so similar to a welcome tour. Games like bowling and tennis in Wii Sports were easy for anyone to enjoy, even in groups, which would help sell the console to a wider audience.

Nintendo had done this before with Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo, so Wii Sports was not the first time Nintendo has given away a free game.

This debate inside Nintendo wasn’t settled quickly. Reggie kept pushing his idea, and eventually, Iwata agreed. Miyamoto, however, took longer to convince. Even with all the resistance, Reggie’s plan won out. Including Wii Sports with the Wii in the U.S. and other Western markets turned out to be a huge success, and the game’s popularity helped the Wii sell faster than anyone expected. What's funny is that Sony learned this lesson, while Nintendo seems to have forgotten it.

Astro Bot Was Free On PS5

Astro's Playroom Started Out As A Tech Demo

The PlayStation 5 launched differently than the Nintendo Switch 2. Sony made a smart early decision involving Astro’s Playroom, a 3D platform game made by Team Asobi. Unlike most games released with a new console, Astro’s Playroom was installed on every PS5, so every new owner could play it immediately.

This move was a great way to show off the special features of the PS5’s DualSense controller, and the game did an amazing job of highlighting the controller’s haptic and adaptive triggers. Astro’s Playroom was free for everyone with a PS5, so it got a lot of people playing and enjoying it right from the start.

The game’s cute style and easy-to-learn controls made it fun for anyone who picked it up, which helped create a good first impression of the PS5. This was especially important early on when Sony needed people to like the console and overcome the usual challenges of launching a new system.

By giving Astro’s Playroom away for free, Sony created good feelings and excitement without asking players to spend more money. Everyone who got a PS5 was able to try out the new controller’s features right away and could easily understand what separated this console from others. This directly goes against Nintendo's strategy of asking for money from its Welcome Tour, which does the same thing.

While selling such a game might make money upfront, Sony’s free approach helped build trust, loyalty, and interest in future games. Astro’s Playroom wasn’t just a game; it was also a clever marketing tool that let players see what made the PS5 special before the bigger launch games even came out.

Nintendo Needs Give A Good First Impression

A Good First Impression Is Worth Losing A $10 Sale

The strategy for Nintendo Switch 2 looks like a big launch with a lot of paid games available immediately to make money from the beginning. However, this way of thinking ignores the importance of making players happy early on and will not build a loyal fanbase by giving them something great for free. Including a high-quality free game or set of experiences with a new console isn’t a bad business move—it’s actually a smart long-term strategy.

Nintendo Switch 2 needs to learn from past wins, like including Wii Sports with the Wii.

A strong first impression matters, and a free, well-made game works like a friendly welcome, showing players what the console can do without asking them to pay right away. This builds excitement and gets people exploring the console’s features rather than just offering a basic demo. This loyalty turns into more money over time and a better reputation for the brand.

Nintendo Switch 2 needs to learn from past wins, like including Wii Sports with the Wii. Reggie proved that a generous launch strategy can work. While every situation is different, the main idea stays the same. Giving players a great free experience at the start, instead of focusing only on making quick profits, usually leads to much bigger rewards in of loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.

Source: IGN