Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the pricing of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its flagship game, Mario Kart World, two former Nintendo PR managers have labeled the situation as a "true crisis moment" for the company. Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, who previously managed public relations for Nintendo of America, shared their critical views on their YouTube channel, focusing on the announcement of the Switch 2's $449.99 price tag and Mario Kart World's $79.99 cost.
Ellis expressed his concern, stating, "I don’t want to blow things out of proportion, but this does feel like a true crisis moment for Nintendo." The pricing strategy extends beyond Mario Kart World, with other high-profile titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom also priced at $79.99. Additionally, Nintendo has faced backlash for charging for the Switch 2's tutorial experience, Welcome Tour, which fans argue should be included for free, similar to Astro's Playroom on the PlayStation 5.
The dissatisfaction has even affected Nintendo's Treehouse livestreams, where viewers have flooded the chat with demands to "DROP THE PRICE." Ellis and Yang criticized the company's approach to revealing the pricing, noting the absence of price information in the Direct presentation, which they believe was a deliberate move that led to confusion and misinformation. Yang remarked, "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 in all these different places and you’re expecting the fans or the consumer to piece it all together."
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Ellis further critiqued the strategy, suggesting it showed a lack of respect for consumers, saying, "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, adding, "It’s a little bit degrading almost to the intelligence of the consumer."
The former NOA communications staff highlighted Nintendo's failure to address the pricing concerns directly, either through a public statement or in media interviews. This silence has allowed speculation and misinformation to spread. Yang noted, "They are enabling the story to get out of hand, out of control," while Ellis added, "They have lost control of this."
Ellis and Yang suggested that Nintendo's current crisis stems from a shift in consumer mindfulness, following the retirement of former NOA president Reggie Fils-Aimé and the passing of former Nintendo head Satoru Iwata. They anticipate that Nintendo's communications team will recommend an official statement, but the approval process could be lengthy and complex.
The duo also expressed concerns about Nintendo's staff at upcoming public Switch 2 hands-on events, where they may face tough questions from fans. Any response from these staff members could be misinterpreted as an official stance from Nintendo.
As for future actions, neither Ellis nor Yang expect a price reduction for the Switch 2 or its games before launch. For further insights, you can 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.
