Nintendo Explains Why Switch 2 Tutorial Game Costs $10 Instead of Being Free
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- A tutorial game for the Nintendo Switch 2 called Welcome Tour will cost $9.99.
- Bill Trinen justified the cost, stating it’s a robust product designed for players seeking in-depth knowledge of the console’s features.
- PlayStation’s Astro’s Playroom, which serves as a tech demo for the PS5, is free for its users.
The Welcome Tour tutorial game designed for Nintendo Switch 2 will be sold separately from the console for $9.99. At the same time, PlayStation’s Astro’s Playroom, which serves as a tech demo for the PlayStation 5, is free for its users.
Revealed during Nintendo Treehouse streams featuring hands-on gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2 on April 3-4, 2025, Welcome Tour was presented as a digital-only experience that guides players through the new console’s features via a series of tech demos and mini-games.
In the game, players can explore a supersized version of the Nintendo Switch 2, uncovering its functions through interactive experiences, including Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo.
In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, defended the decision to charge for the Welcome Tour, describing it as a substantial product with “a lot of great detail.”
Trinen emphasized that the game is designed for players interested in the system’s technical aspects and that it provides an in-depth view of the console and stated that the value is fair given the amount of content included in the game.
Meanwhile, set for release on June 5, 2025, Nintendo Switch 2 features a $449.99 price, which can see potential changes due to new tariffs recently imposed by US President Donald Trump, which are already affecting console’s pre-orders and Japanese video gaming companies.
