Former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé has subtly referenced the story of Wii Sports, the bundled game for the Wii, in tweets that allude to the ongoing debate over Nintendo's choice to charge for the Switch 2’s tutorial experience, Welcome Tour.

Amid the uproar over the Switch 2’s $449.99 price and the $79.99 cost of Mario Kart World, many were surprised to learn Nintendo is also charging for its interactive guide, Welcome Tour.

Nintendo unveiled Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour during last week’s Nintendo Direct. Set to launch alongside the Switch 2 in June, this experience offers a guided tour of the console through a video game format.

Welcome Tour is described as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware. According to Nintendo, “through tech demos, mini-games, and interactive elements, players will explore the system’s capabilities in depth, uncovering features they might not have discovered otherwise.”

The Nintendo Direct showcased a miniature avatar navigating an oversized Switch 2, learning about various console features and engaging facts. 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 much more affordable than other Switch 2 titles, IGN has reported on criticism from some fans who believe Welcome Tour should have been included for free. Many argue it should have come bundled with the console, similar to how Astro’s Playroom, a tech demo for the DualSense controller, was included with the PlayStation 5.

In response, Fils-Aimé shared three video clips from IGN’s interview with him two years ago, in which he discussed the internal discussions with legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto about including Wii Sports as a free pack-in with the highly popular Wii console.

In the first clip, Fils-Aimé states, “It’s an understatement to say Mr. Miyamoto pushed back” on the idea of making Wii Sports a pack-in title. Ultimately, Fils-Aimé’s position prevailed—Wii Sports was bundled with the Wii 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 shared clip touches on a similar effort to bundle Wii Play with the Wii Remote. Fils-Aimé revealed that he “pissed off” Miyamoto once again with the proposal. “He was not happy about that either.”

Finally, in a tweet captioned “and the results,” Fils-Aimé included the segment where he explains that these decisions ultimately proved successful.

“In the Americas and Europe, Wii Sports was included with the Wii. It wasn’t in Japan, which created a natural test case. It became clear that in regions where Wii Sports was bundled, the console gained greater momentum. Wii Sports itself became a cultural phenomenon.

“We also bundled the Wii Remote with Wii Play. That title went on to become the fifth-best-selling software in the history of the Wii.”

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

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

Fils-Aimé’s intention is clear. Though he isn’t explicitly commenting on the Switch 2 strategy, he highlights how free bundled games have historically benefited Nintendo consoles—implying the same could hold true for the Switch 2.

Fans quickly understood the message. “Hahaha, I think Reggie is paying attention to our comments about the Switch 2,” one user posted on X/Twitter. Another added, “We know you would have included Welcome Tour for free.”

Earlier this week, IGN published an interview with Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, conducted during a recent Switch 2 preview event in New York. The interview took place before Nintendo delayed pre-orders due to new tariffs.

Trinen emphasized that Welcome Tour offers more than what was shown during the Nintendo Direct or recent hands-on sessions. Given the actual content included, Nintendo determined that $9.99 “is not an unreasonable price,” he explained.

“It’s an interesting product,” Trinen said. “Today, we’re preparing for Nintendo Treehouse Live segments that will dive deeper into several games—Welcome Tour is one of them. Viewers will likely see more than what was available on the show floor. It’s a substantial piece of software with a lot of thoughtful detail.

“For players especially interested in the technology and specifications of the system, this will be a great offering. It’s designed for those who want to explore the console’s capabilities in depth, rather than just get a brief introduction.

“Given the effort and care the team invested, we felt that $9.99 is a fair price. It offers solid value for what you receive.”

Welcome Tour is just one element of Nintendo’s next-gen approach that has drawn scrutiny. 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 point for the Switch 2 itself.