Nintendo recently took its community by surprise with the introduction of Nintendo Music, a new streaming app available for Android and iOS. This launch follows the release of Nintendo Alarmo, a Nintendo-themed alarm clock, coming at a time when fans eagerly await news on the Switch 2 amidst various circulating rumors about its specs and release date.
Upon opening the app, users will notice a user interface reminiscent of Spotify and other popular music streaming services. You’ll find all the expected features, including playlists curated by Nintendo, along with some unique functionalities. These include a spoiler filter for songs from specific games and the option to extend certain tracks up to an hour instead of just looping them.
At this point, many of you might find yourselves intrigued by this app, possibly even in the process of downloading it to your Android or iOS device. It’s worth noting that you’ll need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, though a free trial also works if you’re eligible, to access Nintendo Music’s full suite of features.
However, let’s address some obvious issues.
Firstly, instead of following the lead of other developers and publishers by placing their original soundtracks on mainstream platforms like Spotify, Nintendo opted to create a separate music app. For listeners who prefer a consolidated library, this approach might be less appealing. It means maintaining another app and paying an additional subscription fee for those who enjoy a mix of music and social features from other platforms.
Nintendo fans have long uploaded OSTs to YouTube and other platforms, striving to share Nintendo’s music for over two decades. Now, with the launch of Nintendo Music, Nintendo’s previous copyright actions against these fan uploads appear somewhat clearer. However, the missed opportunity for game preservation, especially when Nintendo could’ve easily provided comprehensive composer and artist information (something fan uploads typically included), is notable.
Another issue is the surprisingly limited selection of soundtracks currently available. While the app technically covers music from all Nintendo consoles, there are only 23 soundtracks at present, leaving out many classic OSTs. This even includes notable omissions like the Super Mario 64 soundtrack, which was hinted at in promotional trailers but is absent from the app.
Given the vast library of classic games and music Nintendo has at its disposal, fans were expecting a much more robust offering at launch, especially since it took so long for Nintendo to venture into this field. It’s reasonable for fans to ask for a more comprehensive collection right from the start.
Lastly, it’s fair to wonder when we might see beloved soundtracks like the Legend of the Seven Stars become available.
