"Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour: A Paid Experience of Your New Console"

Nintendo has unveiled the Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a unique digital game designed to introduce players to the new features and capabilities of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Contrary to expectations, this isn't a complimentary pack-in, but a separate, paid digital title available on the Nintendo eShop from the console's launch day.

During today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, the game was presented as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware. Nintendo describes it as an interactive experience where, "through tech demos, minigames, and other interactions, players will get to know the new system inside and out in ways they may never have known about otherwise." The footage showcased a player avatar navigating a giant-sized Switch 2, exploring its features and engaging in minigames such as Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo, making it feel like a virtual museum dedicated to the console.

Nintendo confirmed through their stream and a press release that the Switch 2 Welcome Tour will be purchasable on the launch day of the Nintendo Switch 2. While the concept is intriguing, many fans have expressed curiosity and some disappointment over the decision to make this a paid digital game rather than a free inclusion with the console. As of now, no specific pricing has been announced.

The Switch 2 is set to launch alongside other anticipated titles like Mario Kart World, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, and Deltarune Chapters 1 through 4. With such a lineup, the Switch 2 Welcome Tour faces stiff competition for consumers' budgets right from the start.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled to hit the market on June 5, 2025, with a price tag of $449.99 USD, or $499.99 for a bundle that includes Mario Kart World.

For those interested in all the announcements from today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can find a comprehensive recap right here.