Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has subtly referenced the history of Wii Sports' bundling strategy amidst growing criticism of Nintendo's decision to charge for Switch 2's tutorial software Welcome Tour.

The controversy surrounding Nintendo's pricing extends beyond the Switch 2's $449.99 MSRP and Mario Kart World's $79.99 price point, with particular backlash directed at charging for Welcome Tour - an interactive user manual packaged as software.

Revealed during last week's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour serves as a digital orientation experience launching alongside the console this June. Designed as a virtual showcase, Nintendo describes it as letting players "discover hardware capabilities through interactive tech demos and mini-games that highlight innovative features they might otherwise never explore."

The presentation featured an avatar navigating a giant Switch 2 interface while explaining system features through activities like Speed Golf challenges, obstacle avoidance games, and motion-controlled Maracas demonstrations.

While priced lower than full retail titles at $9.99, the digital-only Welcome Tour has drawn criticism from fans who argue it should follow PlayStation's approach with Astro's Playroom - bundling hardware demonstrations with console purchases.

Fils-Aimé entered the discourse by resurfacing interview clips discussing his past clashes with Shigeru Miyamoto regarding bundling Wii Sports outside Japan. In one clip, he recounts Miyamoto's strong resistance to including the seminal title at no additional cost despite ultimately proving its value.

The story of Wii Sports pack in ...https://t.co/LhflSFWaL3

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

Subsequent tweets referenced similar debates surrounding Wii Play's bundling with Wii Remotes, highlighting how these inclusions drove both hardware adoption and software sales - with Wii Play becoming one of the platform's top-performing titles.

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

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

The thread's implicit critique wasn't lost on Nintendo fans. "We know you would've made Welcome Tour a pack-in game," one supporter responded, recognizing the unspoken commentary on current pricing strategies.

Nintendo of America VP Bill Trinen recently defended the product's pricing ahead of delayed Switch 2 pre-orders, stating Welcome Tour offers deeper engagement than initial previews suggest:

"Our upcoming Treehouse Live segments will better showcase its depth," Trinen explained. "For tech enthusiasts wanting comprehensive system knowledge rather than basic introductions, we believe $9.99 reflects appropriate value for the development effort."

The Welcome Tour debate forms part of broader concerns about Nintendo's premium pricing strategy, including Trinen's rationale for $80 Switch 2 games and the console's increased $450 base price amid shifting market dynamics.