Nintendo recently sent waves through its fan communities by unveiling Nintendo Music, a new streaming app available for Android and iOS. This release follows closely on the heels of the Nintendo Alarmo, a Nintendo-themed alarm clock, leaving fans scratching their heads as they still await any official word on the much-anticipated Switch 2. Leaked hardware specs and release dates have been swirling around for months, but for now, Nintendo seems focused on everything but addressing these speculations.
Launching the app brings a sense of familiarity; its interface is reminiscent of popular music streaming services like Spotify. It offers many of the features you’d expect, including carefully crafted playlists curated by Nintendo itself. There are also some intriguing extras – like the ability to filter out potential spoilers from the soundtracks of certain games, or the option to extend tracks for up to an hour instead of the usual loop.
Many of you might feel ready to download this app without a second thought. If you have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership (a free trial works too, if you’re eligible), you’re all set to dive into Nintendo Music’s offerings to your heart’s content.
Yet, there are a few big questions we can’t ignore.
Firstly, it’s a bit puzzling why Nintendo chose to create a standalone app rather than simply sharing its OSTs on existing platforms like Spotify, as many other gaming companies do. For music enthusiasts who prefer having all their tracks in one place, Nintendo’s approach might seem a bit fragmented. While it’s fantastic to see official soundtracks available, imposing a separate application and subscription could be a hurdle for those who enjoy music from diverse platforms and social interactions that such services offer.
Nintendo fans have long been uploading OSTs to YouTube and various other sites for years, so this move feels quite belated. Curiously, Nintendo’s app doesn’t provide composer or artist details, merely listing the game titles, a stark contrast to fan uploads which meticulously credit composers and artists.
In light of Nintendo Music’s launch, their previous takedowns of fan-uploaded OSTs start to make more sense. Unfortunately, in doing so, key aspects of game preservation get overshadowed, despite Nintendo being in the best position to deliver this information accurately.
Another concern is the app’s rather limited selection of soundtracks at the moment. While Nintendo’s consoles are represented across the board, only 23 soundtracks are currently available, leaving out some iconic OSTs entirely. This even includes soundtracks teased in their promotional trailer—like the Super Mario 64 OST, which, surprisingly, is absent.
Given Nintendo’s vast history of beloved games and unforgettable soundtracks, one would expect a more extensive library right from the start. Fans have been patiently waiting for such an offering for decades, and with the establishment of a dedicated app, it’s natural to hope for a comprehensive selection from the outset.
With all that said, one burning question remains: when will the Legend of the Seven Stars OST make its way to Nintendo Music?
