Shuhei Yoshida can't understand Nintendo's decision to sell the Welcome Tour introductory game on Switch 2 for $10
Nintendo is encouraging players to try the Welcome Tour on the launch day of Switch 2, a tutorial designed to introduce all the ins and outs of the new $10 console. However, former PlayStation executive Shohei Yoshida cannot understand this decision.
Here's What We Know
At the recent Switch 2 Direct presentation, Welcome Tour was announced - a game designed specifically to help players get used to the new device.
The Welcome Tour demo was going great until Nintendo surprised us with the news that the game would be paid for. This news would not have been so unpleasant if there was no precedent - Astro's Playroom.
Welcome Tour for Switch 2 will cost $10. It is not yet known how long it will take to complete it, but it is estimated to take an hour or two. This amount seems rather insignificant, especially considering the price of the Switch 2 itself and the cost of its AAA games.
However, in November 2020, Sony set a different standard by releasing the PlayStation 5 with a free digital copy of Astro's Playroom for all console owners. This free-to-play platformer offered several hours of content and was designed to showcase the capabilities of the DualSense controller, including haptic feedback, touch pad, and more.
And the key point here is that Astro's Playroom was so cool that it could have easily been released for $20, but Sony chose a different path.
In a segment of the Easy Allies podcast, Shuhei Yoshida was asked about Nintendo's decision to charge for the Welcome Tour, and the former SIE president replied: "I just don't get it. You would want everyone to try it, right? You want people to understand the Switch better and become fans of the system."
I think it's just a missed opportunity for Nintendo.
Source: Easy Allies
