Nintendo recently left its fans buzzing with excitement by unveiling Nintendo Music, an exclusive streaming app for Android and iOS. This unexpected move comes on the heels of the Nintendo Alarmo, a Nintendo-themed alarm clock released earlier this month. Meanwhile, there’s still radio silence about the Nintendo Switch 2, despite ongoing leaks about its specs and release date stirring up quite a frenzy in recent months.
When you first explore the app, its user interface might remind you of Spotify and other similar music platforms. The app includes all the essential features you’d expect, with some fun additions like spoiler filters for certain game tracks and the ability to extend songs for up to an hour, rather than just looping them.
Now, you’re probably curious about the app itself. Many of you might already be eager to try it out on your Android or iOS device. As long as you’re subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online, even just a free trial if available, you can enjoy everything Nintendo Music offers to the fullest whenever you like.
But let’s address some major talking points here.
Firstly, Nintendo has decided to create its standalone music app rather than just adding its soundtracks to other popular platforms like Spotify, which other game developers and publishers do. While having official Nintendo soundtracks readily available is great, it’s a bit inconvenient that you need a separate app and subscription. Many listeners prefer having all their music in one place along with the social features of other apps.
It’s also worth considering the effort many Nintendo fans have put into uploading these soundtracks to YouTube and other parts of the internet over the past two decades. Nintendo is quite late to the game, and their app notably lacks any detailed composer or artist information—just the game titles. This is unlike the fan-uploaded versions, which often provide those details.
Nintendo’s recent crackdown on fan-uploaded Nintendo OSTs makes a bit more sense with Nintendo Music’s launch. Still, there have been some losses in terms of game preservation, even though Nintendo should have an easier time than anyone else providing this information.
Another issue is the surprisingly limited selection of soundtracks available at launch. While they are technically covering the full span of Nintendo consoles, only 23 soundtracks are actually included, leaving out many iconic works. The trailer even hints at soundtracks like Super Mario 64’s OST, which is absent from the app.
Considering Nintendo’s vast array of classic games and the legendary soundtracks they carry, it’s disappointing it’s taken them this long to provide a streaming service, especially one on its own platform. Fans are undoubtedly expecting a more extensive library from the start.
So, the burning question remains: when will the Legend of the Seven Stars OST make its appearance?
