Amid the ongoing backlash to Nintendo's shock pricing for the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, two former Nintendo PR managers have described the situation as "a true crisis moment for Nintendo."

In a video on their YouTube channel, former Nintendo of America PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang expressed strong criticism towards Nintendo's approach to announcing the $449.99 price of the Switch 2 and the $79.99 price of Mario Kart World. "I don’t want to blow things out of proportion, but this does feel like a true crisis moment for Nintendo," Ellis remarked.

Mario Kart World isn't the only Nintendo Switch 2 game priced at $79.99. Other titles, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, also carry the same price tag. Additionally, Nintendo has faced criticism for charging for the Switch 2 tutorial video game, Welcome Tour, which fans argue should be included for free, similar to how Astro's Playroom comes pre-installed on every PlayStation 5 as a free tech demo for the DualSense controller.

The pricing controversy has even impacted 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. They criticized the absence of price information in the Direct, calling it a "deliberate" omission that led to confusion and misinformation as fans sought out pricing details elsewhere.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

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Yang suggested that the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World pricing was "intentionally omitted from the Direct for a reason," but criticized the scattered approach to releasing this information, expecting consumers to piece it together. Ellis added, "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, noting that it "almost degrades the intelligence of the consumer."

The former NOA communications staff further discussed Nintendo's failure to address the pricing concerns through public statements or press interviews, which has fueled rampant speculation and misinformation. "They are enabling the story to get out of hand, out of control," Yang stated. Ellis added, "They have lost control of this."

Ellis and Yang suggested that Nintendo's current approach lacks the consumer mindfulness it once had, particularly following the retirement of former NOA boss Reggie Fils-Aimé and the tragic loss of former Nintendo head Satoru Iwata. They mentioned that Nintendo's communications team would likely recommend an official statement, but the approval process would be challenging, involving many people before reaching current Nintendo boss Shuntaro Furukawa.

Moreover, Nintendo is out of practice in engaging with its community and press, and hasn't faced such negative feedback since the Nintendo 3DS price debacle in 2011. There's also concern for staff at public-facing Switch 2 hands-on sessions, where fans might ask about pricing, potentially leading to unofficial responses being misconstrued as official statements online.

As for what happens next, neither Ellis nor Yang anticipate a price drop for the Switch 2 or its games before launch.

For more information, check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct and what the experts have to say about the Switch 2 price and Mario Kart World’s $80 price tag.