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

Amid the ongoing backlash to Nintendo's surprising pricing strategy for the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, two former Nintendo PR managers have labeled the situation as "a true crisis moment for Nintendo." In a detailed video on their YouTube channel, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, once with Nintendo of America's PR team, have openly criticized how Nintendo unveiled the $449.99 price tag for the Switch 2 and the $79.99 price for Mario Kart World.

"I don’t want to overstate it, but this does feel like a genuine crisis moment for Nintendo," Ellis remarked, emphasizing the severity of the situation. The criticism isn't just about Mario Kart World; other Switch 2 titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom also carry a $79.99 price, stirring further discontent among fans.

Nintendo has also faced criticism for charging for the Switch 2's tutorial game, Welcome Tour, which many believe should be included for free, much like Astro's Playroom which comes pre-installed on the PlayStation 5 as a complimentary tech demo. The frustration has been so palpable that it's even disrupted Nintendo’s Treehouse livestreams, with viewers flooding the chat with demands to "DROP THE PRICE."

Ellis and Yang were particularly vocal about Nintendo's approach to revealing these prices. They pointed out that the omission of pricing information during the Direct presentation was a deliberate move that led to confusion and misinformation. "The Switch 2 and Mario Kart World pricing was intentionally omitted from the Direct for a reason," Yang stated, "but it was poorly managed, leaving fans to piece together information from scattered sources."

Ellis added, "It just shows some disrespect to the consumer, suggesting that they'll throw money at Nintendo without even questioning the cost due to their excitement." Yang echoed this sentiment, saying, "It’s a little bit degrading almost to the intelligence of the consumer."

The former NOA communications team criticized Nintendo's silence on the pricing issue, noting that the absence of an official statement or press interviews has fueled rampant speculation and misinformation. "They are enabling the story to get out of hand, out of control," Yang commented, with Ellis adding, "They have lost control of this."

Ellis and Yang suggested that Nintendo has drifted from its once consumer-centric approach, particularly after the retirement of former NOA boss Reggie Fils-Aimé and the loss of Satoru Iwata. They mentioned that Nintendo's communications team would likely push for an official statement, though the process would be cumbersome and involve multiple levels of approval before reaching current Nintendo boss Shuntaro Furukawa.

Additionally, Nintendo is out of practice in dealing with such negative feedback since the Nintendo 3DS pricing controversy in 2011. Concerns have also arisen for staff at public Switch 2 demo events, who may face tough questions from fans, and any responses could be misconstrued as official statements.

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 analyses on the Switch 2's price and Mario Kart World's $80 tag.

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