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Shuhei Yoshida Comments on Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Controversy

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On April 16, 2025

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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, the former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, revealing he is confused by the decision to charge $9.99 for the software. With the launch of the Switch 2 coming on June 5, Nintendo has recently given fans a better idea of what to expect from the console, including Welcome Tour.

While Mario Kart World might be the main attraction for Nintendo on launch day, Welcome Tour offers a unique experience to help educate players about the new console. As seen in the Switch 2 Direct, the game functions as an “interactive exhibit,” giving a closer look at some of the new features of the upcoming console. According to Nintendo, Welcome Tour will provide “lots of insights about the console,” including closer looks at features like the Joy-Con 2 controllers. In addition, players will learn about their system while taking quizzes, playing minigames, and checking out tech demos.

shuhei yoshida nintendo switch 2 underwhelming

Shuhei Yoshida Calls Switch 2 Direct ‘Underwhelming’

Shuhei Yoshida, former PlayStation exec with over 30 years working at Sony, watches the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct and isn’t overly impressed.

Despite the possibility of Welcome Tour being a fun experience for new Switch 2 owners, the $9.99 price has caused controversy, with many thinking it should be free. Recently, Shuhei Yoshida discussed the upcoming game while on the Easy Allies podcast. After being asked about Nintendo’s decision to charge for the game, he responded by saying, “I just don’t understand. You would want everyone to experience that, right?” According to Yoshida, making the game free would help new Switch 2 users understand how their system works and create more fans. While the former PlayStation boss went on to say the Welcome Tour price might not be a huge blow to the company, he believed it was “an opportunity loss for Nintendo.”

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

It is worth pointing out that Yoshida tried to provide an answer for why Nintendo chose to charge for Welcome Tour. In the video, he suggested the company might be looking to preserve the value of its software. In addition, he said Nintendo might be “against free-to-play.”

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

One of the issues with charging for the title is that it starkly contrasts the likes of Astro’s Playroom for the PS5 and Nintendo’s own Wii Sports for the Wii. While both games provided experiences that showed what their respective consoles could do, they were both pack-in titles that gamers could check out for free.

It will be interesting to see what gamers think of Welcome Tour when it launches. Following its announcement, Nintendo defended the price of Welcome Tour. The company has claimed the game is deeper than some might think and cited the considerable development put into the project. Time will tell if this work results in sales this summer.