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

Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding Nintendo's pricing strategy for the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, two former Nintendo PR managers, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, have labeled the situation as "a true crisis moment for Nintendo." In a recent video on their YouTube channel, the ex-Nintendo of America PR duo sharply criticized the company's approach to announcing the $449.99 price tag for the Switch 2 and the $79.99 price for Mario Kart World.

Ellis expressed his concerns, 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 Switch 2 games, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, also carry a hefty $79.99 price.

Nintendo has faced further criticism for charging for the Switch 2 tutorial game, Welcome Tour, which many fans argue should be a complimentary addition. In contrast, Astro's Playroom comes pre-installed on every PlayStation 5, serving as a free demonstration of the DualSense controller's capabilities.

The uproar has even affected Nintendo's Treehouse livestreams, with viewers flooding the chat with demands to "DROP THE PRICE."

Ellis and Yang were particularly vocal about the way Nintendo unveiled the prices. They highlighted the absence of pricing details in the Direct presentation as a "deliberate" move, leading to confusion and rampant misinformation as fans sought pricing information elsewhere.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

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Yang claimed the omission of pricing from the Direct was "intentionally done for a reason," but criticized the scattered nature of the information, which left consumers to piece it together themselves. Ellis added, "It just shows some disrespect to the consumer, where, ‘oh, you just saw the Direct you’re so excited, you’re just gonna throw your money at us blindly, you’re not going to even ask the question of how much it cost because you’re so excited, aren’t you?’"

Yang went further, stating, "It’s a little bit degrading almost to the intelligence of the consumer." The former NOA communications team noted Nintendo's failure to address the pricing controversy, either through a public statement or media interviews, which has fueled widespread speculation and misinformation.

"They are enabling the story to get out of hand, out of control," Yang remarked, with Ellis adding, "They have lost control of this."

Ellis and Yang suggested that Nintendo's current approach lacks the consumer mindfulness it once had, particularly following the retirement of former NOA boss Reggie Fils-Aimé and the untimely death of former Nintendo head Satoru Iwata.

Yang mentioned that Nintendo's communications team would likely recommend an official statement, but warned that the approval process would be lengthy and involve numerous stakeholders before reaching current Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa. The duo also noted that Nintendo is out of practice in communicating with its community and press, especially in dealing with negativity on this scale since the 2011 Nintendo 3DS pricing controversy.

Concerns are also rising for staff at public demo stations for the Switch 2. Fans might pose pricing questions, and any responses could be misconstrued as Nintendo's official stance if shared online.

As for what lies ahead, neither Ellis nor Yang anticipates a price reduction for the Switch 2 or its games before launch.

For further insights, explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct and expert opinions on the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World’s $80 price tag.