Nintendo Switch 2 Full Experience Requires $95 Extras, 4K TV

Nintendo's $10 Switch 2 mini-game collection, which many fans argue should have been free, requires approximately $95 worth of accessories to fully complete.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour launches alongside the new console, featuring a range of bite-sized games and demos that highlight the system’s upgraded capabilities.

However, the collection includes demos tailored to the Switch 2's camera and the additional GL/GR buttons—features not present on the standard Joy-Con. These require either a Charging Grip or a Pro Controller, sold separately (as noted by NintendoSoup).

Additionally, a 4K TV is needed for one minigame and a technical showcase, which may disappoint those planning to use the Switch 2 solely in handheld mode.

According to player reports, three activities need special gear: one requires the camera, another the GL/GR controller, and two need a 4K-supported display.

Therefore, fans aiming to experience everything in the Switch 2 Welcome Tour must not only purchase the $10 game, but also spend $54.99 on the Switch 2 Camera, as well as $39.99 for the Charging Grip or $84.99 for the Pro Controller.

It's worth noting that the Switch 2 works with third-party USB-C cameras, offering a more affordable alternative.

While the Switch 1 Pro Controller is compatible, it lacks the GL/GR buttons, so players still need to invest in one of the newer controller options. Tariff adjustments have also slightly increased launch prices compared to earlier announcements.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Slideshow

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Nintendo has received pushback for not bundling the Switch 2 Welcome Tour with the console. As an interactive hardware introduction that functions like a digital manual, it would have been an ideal pack-in—much like Wii Sports was for the Wii.

Even former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé weighed in, recalling the Wii Sports packaging debate. At the time, Fils-Aimé pushed back against Nintendo's Japanese leadership, who wanted the game sold separately (as it was in Japan). He succeeded in bundling it for North American and European markets, leading to Wii Sports becoming one of the best-selling titles ever.

“Everyone must decide whether spending $10 to learn about the Switch 2’s cartridge slot or watch an HDR fireworks demo is worthwhile,” IGN commented earlier this week. “The entire Welcome Tour conversation has been clouded by Nintendo’s unpopular choice to charge for it.” It remains to be seen whether the extra accessory costs will further influence buyer decisions.

In related news, IGN recently covered reports of Switch 2 systems being damaged by retail staples piercing the thin packaging—a concern for anyone buying the console, with or without Welcome Tour.