"Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Pricing Sparks Crisis for Nintendo, Say Ex-PR Managers"

Amidst the ongoing backlash to Nintendo's surprising pricing strategy for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, two former Nintendo PR managers have labeled the situation as "a true crisis moment for Nintendo." Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, who previously managed PR for Nintendo of America, shared their insights on their YouTube channel, critiquing the company's decision to price the Switch 2 at $449.99 and Mario Kart World at $79.99.

Ellis expressed concern, stating, "I don’t want to blow things out of proportion, but this does feel like a true crisis moment for Nintendo." The backlash isn't limited to Mario Kart World; other Nintendo Switch 2 games, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, also carry a $79.99 price tag. Additionally, Nintendo has faced criticism for charging for the Switch 2 tutorial experience, Welcome Tour, which fans argue should be offered for free, similar to how Astro's Playroom comes pre-installed on every PlayStation 5 as a complimentary tech demo for the DualSense controller.

The frustration over pricing has even infiltrated Nintendo's Treehouse livestreams, where viewers are flooding the chat with demands to "DROP THE PRICE." Ellis and Yang criticized the manner in which Nintendo disclosed the prices, noting the absence of pricing information in the Direct presentation as a deliberate move that led to confusion and misinformation. Yang explained, "The Switch 2 and Mario Kart World pricing was 'intentionally omitted from the Direct for a reason,' but handled poorly in terms of the information being scattered across various platforms, leaving fans and consumers to piece it together."

Ellis further remarked on the perceived disrespect towards consumers, suggesting that Nintendo expected fans to be so excited post-Direct that they would not question the pricing. Yang echoed this sentiment, calling it "a little bit degrading almost to the intelligence of the consumer." The former PR managers highlighted Nintendo's failure to address the pricing concerns publicly or in interviews, which has fueled rampant speculation and misinformation.

They suggested that Nintendo has lost the consumer mindfulness it once had, particularly following the retirement of former NOA boss Reggie Fils-Aimé and the tragic loss of former Nintendo head Satoru Iwata. Yang mentioned that the Nintendo communications team would likely recommend an official statement, though the approval process would be complex and time-consuming, involving many stakeholders before reaching current Nintendo boss Shuntaro Furukawa.

The duo also pointed out that Nintendo is out of practice in dealing with such negativity since the Nintendo 3DS price issue in 2011. Concerns are growing for staff at demo stations during public Switch 2 hands-on sessions, where fans might pose pricing questions, potentially leading to unofficial responses being misconstrued as Nintendo's official stance.

While Ellis and Yang do not anticipate a price reduction for the Switch 2 or its games before launch, they emphasized the need for Nintendo to address the situation swiftly. For more information, check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, and expert opinions on the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World's $80 price tag.

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