For years, dedicated Nintendo enthusiasts have felt frustrated by the company’s decision not to release its music on streaming services officially. Recently, Nintendo addressed this concern in a characteristically unique manner.
Nintendo introduced Nintendo Music, a new application available on Android and iOS platforms, which functions similarly to Spotify but dedicated exclusively to Nintendo’s musical offerings. Users can enjoy high-quality recordings of Nintendo tracks from the company’s extensive history in gaming consoles, spanning from the NES to the Switch. However, there is a stipulation: access requires a paid subscription.
Users must have a Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) account, which also enables online gameplay for popular games like Splatoon 3. The annual cost for an NSO membership is $20. There is currently no option to purchase a membership solely for music streaming, which means that those without a Switch would pay for multiplayer services they cannot use to access the music.
A significant limitation at the app’s launch is the limited music library, as only 23 games are represented. Nintendo has committed to gradually adding more music, and this initial offering reflects that promise. For instance, the selection includes two variations of the Metroid soundtrack for NES and an assortment of menu songs from the Wii, while major titles like Super Mario 64 are currently missing.
Despite this, the app’s user interface is streamlined, and each game includes multiple preset playlists for different categories like level music and boss battle themes. The app shows potential as long as Nintendo continues to fulfill its pledge to expand the music collection over time.
