Nintendo recently surprised its vast fan base with the introduction of Nintendo Music, a brand-new streaming app specifically for Android and iOS. This announcement came hot on the heels of the Nintendo Alarmo launch, a Nintendo-themed alarm clock, adding yet another layer to the month’s excitement. However, even with these releases, Nintendo has remained tight-lipped about the much-anticipated Switch 2, despite ongoing leaks regarding its specs and potential release date circulating for some time now.
As you dive into the app, you’ll likely notice its resemblance to Spotify and other popular music services. It offers familiar features like Nintendo-curated playlists and adds a few intriguing extras. For example, you can spoiler-filter tracks from specific games or extend songs for up to an hour, rather than just looping them.
Many of you might already be eager to get this app on your Android or iOS device. If you’ve got an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, even if you’re on a free trial, Nintendo Music is ready for you to explore its complete features.
But let’s address the biggest questions on everyone’s mind.
Firstly, it’s puzzling why Nintendo opted to release a separate music app rather than simply adding their soundtracks to Spotify, as many others in the industry have done. Having a dedicated app just isn’t as appealing for those who prefer to keep their music in one place and enjoy the social features these broader platforms offer. While having official Nintendo soundtracks is a great step forward, needing a separate app and subscription could deter users who also enjoy other music.
Moreover, for over two decades, Nintendo fans have diligently uploaded soundtracks to platforms like YouTube. Nintendo’s late entry into the scene is peculiar, compounded by the glaring omission of composer and artist credits on tracks, a detail that fan uploads have often included. The recent moves to strike fan uploads make a bit more sense now with Nintendo Music’s debut, but the decision has negatively impacted game preservation efforts, an area where Nintendo should excel.
What’s more, the selection of available soundtracks is surprisingly limited. Although they technically cover music from Nintendo consoles across the board, only 23 soundtracks are featured, leaving out some beloved classics. For example, while the announcement trailer suggested the inclusion of the Super Mario 64 soundtrack, it’s absent from the app.
Given how many iconic games and soundtracks Nintendo has to choose from, fans had expected a more expansive offering at launch, especially considering how long it took to get this initiative going.
So, it leaves fans wondering, when will some of the more obscure titles, like the Legend of the Seven Stars soundtrack, finally get their moment in the spotlight?
