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

Amid the ongoing backlash to Nintendo's shocking 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, former PR managers at Nintendo of America, expressed their concerns over the announcement of the Switch 2's $449.99 price tag and the $79.99 price for Mario Kart World.

Ellis emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "I don’t want to blow things out of proportion, but this does feel like a true crisis moment for Nintendo." The criticism isn't limited to Mario Kart World; other Switch 2 titles, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, are also priced at $79.99. Additionally, Nintendo has faced criticism for charging for the Switch 2 tutorial experience, Welcome Tour, which many fans believe should be a complimentary pack-in, similar to Astro's Playroom on the PlayStation 5.

The backlash has even disrupted 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 pricing, criticizing the omission of prices during the Direct presentation. They argued that this deliberate exclusion led to widespread confusion and misinformation as fans sought pricing details elsewhere.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

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Yang pointed out that the pricing information was scattered across various sources, forcing fans to piece it together themselves. "The Switch 2 and Mario Kart World pricing was intentionally omitted from the Direct for a reason," she claimed, "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."

Ellis added that this approach showed a lack of respect for consumers, suggesting that Nintendo believed fans would buy the products without questioning the cost due to their excitement. "It’s a little bit degrading almost to the intelligence of the consumer," Yang remarked.

The former NOA communications team further criticized Nintendo for not addressing the pricing concerns publicly or through the press, which has led to rampant speculation and misinformation. "They are enabling the story to get out of hand, out of control," Yang stated, with Ellis adding, "They have lost control of this."

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

Additionally, they expressed concerns about Nintendo's staff at public demo stations for the Switch 2, where fans might pose questions about pricing, potentially leading to unofficial responses being shared online as Nintendo's official stance.

Looking ahead, neither Ellis nor Yang anticipate a price drop for the Switch 2 or its games before launch. For more information, explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct and expert analyses on the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World’s $80 price tag.