Photo Credit: Nintendo
While other gaming companies like Square Enix have uploaded their soundtracks to Spotify, Nintendo is going its own way. The company has debuted a new companion app for its Nintendo Switch Online service—bringing 40 years of music soundtracks to iOS and Android devices for subscribers.
Gamers can stream songs right from the app or download them to the app for offline listening. Soundtracks can be searched by song, game title, track name, playlist name, or even browse by screenshot. The app also allows songs to be looped 15, 30, or 60 minutes for uninterrupted background listening. Nintendo says it has included a filter that can filter soundtracks that may contain spoilers for games.
The app allows you to favorite songs and build personal playlists that you can share with others, or browse curated playlists created by Nintendo. Nintendo will also recommend playlists based on Nintendo Switch Play Activity, with new music showing up based on these recommendations.
Nintendo Music is available to download at no additional cost for members of the Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. Subscriptions for these services start at $3.99 for one month or $19.99 for the year, with Expansion pack access available for $49.99 a year. The Expansion pack includes a library of Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis games in addition to the new soundtrack app.
At launch, the soundtracks from several Nintendo franchises are available to listen including The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, Metroid, Nintendogs, Kirby, Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Fire Emblem, and Mario Kart. Nintendo says more soundtracks will be added in the future.
The strategy is an interesting one, since Nintendo has heavily gone after those who upload game music to YouTube. After a massive crackdown of Nintendo music on YouTube that happened just last month, it’s clear Nintendo wants to maintain creative control over its music while offering it as a benefit for subscribers to its online service. Whereas other gaming companies seem content to monetize uploads on YouTube—Nintendo is going its own way.