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

Amidst the ongoing backlash against 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 YouTube video, the ex-Nintendo of America PR managers critiqued 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 high pricing isn't limited to Mario Kart World; other titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for the Switch 2 are also set at $79.99. Additionally, Nintendo has faced criticism for charging for the Welcome Tour, a tutorial video game experience that many fans believe should be included for free, similar to Astro's Playroom on the PlayStation 5, which serves as a complimentary tech demo for the DualSense controller.

The frustration over pricing has even infiltrated 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 disclosed the prices, pointing out the absence of pricing information in the Direct presentation as a "deliberate" move that led to confusion and misinformation as fans sought pricing details elsewhere.

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Yang suggested that the omission of pricing from the Direct was intentional but poorly executed, leaving consumers to piece together information from various sources. 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 echoed this sentiment, noting that it felt "a little bit degrading almost to the intelligence of the consumer."

The former NOA communications staff criticized Nintendo's failure to address the pricing concerns publicly or through media interviews, which has led to rampant speculation and misinformation. Yang stated, "They are enabling the story to get out of hand, out of control," with Ellis adding, "They have lost control of this."

Ellis and Yang attributed Nintendo's current communication issues to a lack of consumer mindfulness, which they believe has diminished since the retirement of former NOA boss Reggie Fils-Aimé and the passing of former Nintendo head Satoru Iwata. Yang mentioned that Nintendo's communications team would likely recommend an official statement, but the approval process would be challenging and involve many stakeholders before reaching current Nintendo boss Shuntaro Furukawa.

The duo also highlighted Nintendo's lack of recent engagement with its community and press, noting that the company hasn't faced such negativity since the 2011 Nintendo 3DS price debacle. Concerns were raised about staff at public-facing Switch 2 hands-on sessions, where fans might ask pricing questions that could be misconstrued as official responses if shared online.

Looking ahead, neither Ellis nor Yang anticipate a price reduction for the Switch 2 or its games before launch. For more 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.