Nintendo works in mysterious ways, especially when its library of IPs is concerned. And it’s in the same baffling and inexplicable nature that the Japanese publisher has announced what is called the Nintendo Music app for both Android and iOS devices. Because in a world where we have apps like Spotify and Apple Music, among others, to listen to video game soundtrack, we need another one specifically for a single publisher.
From the few screenshots and videos of the app that the publisher has shown, Nintendo Music has effectively the same UI as Spotify did a couple of updates ago. You do get some extra features not found in other streaming services, like looping tracks or extending them to 15, 30 or even 60 minutes. This means getting almost the same experience as playing them within the game itself, or getting to a point in the game where they play, and leaving the game on pause.
While it does have a killer key selling point, it does mean that tracks appearing on Nintendo Music won’t be available on other streaming services. Even those that were there before look to be gone, as I could have sworn I saw the soundtrack for Pokemon X and Y on Spotify just a few months ago.
Also, this is only available to subscribers of the Switch Online service, which is itself a pretty hard sell, at least for the local market. But if you value themes from the publisher’s games to pay for another subscription service, then multiplayer access for the handheld console hybrid is the cherry on top.
(Source: Nintendo)
