While all eyes are on Nintendo in anticipation of the Switch 2, the gaming giant has surprised the community with the announcement of a music streaming application. This service is included with Nintendo Switch Online, enabling users to enjoy the soundtracks of cult games such as Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing. This service offers innovative features that should delight fans of video game music.
An app dedicated to Nintendo’s musical universe
Nintendo’s games have always been accompanied by original soundtracks, composed by genius artists who manage to capture the essence of game universes from franchises such as Zelda, Mario and Animal Crossing. The mere mention of a track streamed on the Wii Mii Channel is enough to bring back many nostalgic memories. It’s also hard not to mention Ground Theme, the music of the first Super Mario Bros. level, which has been used in numerous versions in the various games of the franchise.
The Nintendo Music app meets a growing demand from gamers. Indeed, although some titles can be found on YouTube, Nintendo is a stickler when it comes to intellectual property, and doesn’t appreciate how the music from its games is used. This service centralizes everything in one place, providing a legal solution to this demand.
While the catalog is set to grow, music from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Kirby Star Allies, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Pikmin 4, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Splatoon 3, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and many others are already available to stream. A selection that’s already highly relevant and that should please fans of these franchises.
Extended tracks, themed playlists and an anti-spoiler mode
The Nintendo Music app also brings its share of innovations. While tracks can be sorted by franchise, character or game, themed playlists are also available. Whether you want to work, get motivated or fall asleep, the service offers a wide range of moods, rather like Spotify, Deezer and Qobuz. This way of listening to music not only allows you to adapt to the mood of the moment, but also to (re)discover tracks from cult video games.
In video games, music regularly accompanies phases that can be relatively short. For this reason, many titles are no longer than two minutes long. With the “extended” mode, it’s possible to extend the duration of these tunes up to 60 minutes! This feature extends the duration of tracks in a totally transparent way, with an automatic mix.
By connecting to Nintendo Switch Online, the service knows which games you haven’t finished yet. The anti-spoiler mode allows you to hide tracks you haven’t heard yet. It’s a way of letting you discover the music in-game, especially as some track titles can give away the story and the appearance of certain characters. This feature shows just how much Nintendo listens to gamers and does its utmost to meet their needs.
Nintendo Switch Online subscription required
To access Nintendo Music, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required. This service, already known for its cloud-based backup features, downloadable content and catalog of retro games, is becoming a genuine ecosystem encompassing more and more exclusive options for subscribers. Subscription costs start at 3.99 euros per month, with a free seven-day trial period, allowing those curious to discover the app before committing to a subscription.
Nintendo Music is part of Nintendo’s strategy to enrich its fans’ experience outside video games. With its well-thought-out interface, diverse playlists and customization options, Nintendo Music is sure to delight game music fans. This new streaming service confirms that Nintendo remains attentive to the expectations of its community, while asserting its unique identity in the video game industry. The only drawback is that the artists are not credited, and we would have liked to see themed playlists dedicated to composers such as the brilliant Kazumi Totaka or the talented Kōji Kondō.
