A playable tech demo seems like a great idea when it comes to consoles, with gamers being able to play a game while getting to know more about the platform they’re playing on. They're usually free, it won't be in the case of Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.
PlayStation had done this with Astro’s Playroom when they launched the PS5, and it looks like Nintendo is also going to be doing the same with the Switch 2—except there’s going to be a catch… as we've mentioned, it isn’t free.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
During the April 2 Nintendo Direct showcase, it was revealed that there was a tech demo for the console called Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. While it does contain some minigames that give players a good idea of the console’s ins and outs, it’s nothing much than a handful of small minigames designed to highlight the core functions of the Switch 2 as a console.
Just like Astro’s Playroom, Welcome Tour looks to be a game “set” in the world of the Nintendo Switch 2 console, and it features some games that will give players an overview of the Switch 2’s capabilities from motion-control to the mouse set-up.
click to enlargeA lot of fans thought it was odd that Nintendo would charge for a paid tech demo since those usually come for free with consoles. PlayStation’s Astro’s Playroom came pre-installed in the console as to give players a tech demo for the new DualSense controller, and the Steam Deck’s tech demo took place in the world of the Portal universe.
It’s not clear why Nintendo would want to charge for a tech demo, but it’s possible that the game could come with some additional features. After all, Astro’s Playroom was a game, but the main story only lasts for roughly 3 hours. Maybe Welcome Tour is something players could come back to repeatedly, but it is pretty odd that they would charge for something that usually comes free.
Hopefully Welcome Tour doesn’t come with too hefty a price tag.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5.
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