Nintendo Expands Music Offerings with Vinyl Releases

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Nintendo Music app, which provides access to soundtracks from various Nintendo franchises. Initially launched with music from titles like *Animal Crossing: New Horizons* and *Metroid*, the app has gradually expanded its library to include additional franchises such as *Fire Emblem* and *Kirby*. However, until recently, Nintendo has been cautious about offering physical music releases outside Japan.

As Nintendo makes history with its first commercial music release outside of Japan, is it safe to say the publisher is testing the market?

In a significant development, Nintendo has partnered with Laced Records to release *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* soundtrack on vinyl, marking the first time the company has offered such products outside Japan. The vinyl collections will be available in two formats: a two-LP set featuring 34 tracks priced at £36 ($50) and an eight-LP set containing 130 tracks priced at £145 ($195). This collaboration is seen as a pivotal moment for both Nintendo and the video game music community.

As Nintendo makes history with its first commercial music release outside of Japan, is it safe to say the publisher is testing the market?

Danny Kelleher, founder and CEO of Laced Records, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “To bring these beautiful vinyl products to life for The Legend of Zelda franchise has been a dream come true for me and the team at Laced.” Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s vice president of player and product experience, noted that this collaboration reflects Nintendo's growing interest in expanding its music offerings, hinting at potential future releases.

As Nintendo makes history with its first commercial music release outside of Japan, is it safe to say the publisher is testing the market?

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the vinyl release, some critics have pointed out that the pricing may be steep for casual fans. However, many collectors view the quality of Laced Records' products as justifying the cost. The gaming community has shown a strong desire for ownership of physical media, and this move is seen as a positive step towards meeting that demand.

As Nintendo makes history with its first commercial music release outside of Japan, is it safe to say the publisher is testing the market?

In conjunction with the vinyl announcement, Nintendo has also updated the Nintendo Music app to Version 1.4.0. This update includes new features for *Animal Crossing: New Horizons*, allowing users to play tracks that correspond to the current time of day. The app has seen continuous improvements and additions, including soundtracks from *New Super Mario Bros.* and other titles.

Nintendo Music Updated To Version 1.4.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes

As Nintendo continues to explore opportunities in the music space, the successful launch of the *Breath of the Wild* vinyl collection may pave the way for future releases, including potentially more soundtracks from other popular franchises like *Pokémon*. The gaming audience's appetite for physical media suggests that Nintendo's venture into vinyl could be just the beginning of a broader strategy to engage fans through music.

As Nintendo makes history with its first commercial music release outside of Japan, is it safe to say the publisher is testing the market?

• “To bring these beautiful vinyl products to life for The Legend of Zelda franchise has been a dream come true for me and the team at Laced.” — Danny Kelleher, Founder and CEO of Laced Records

As Nintendo makes history with its first commercial music release outside of Japan, is it safe to say the publisher is testing the market?

• “As we're looking at Nintendo and our intellectual property, one of the things we've really started to zero in on is there's a lot more opportunity around music and we've got a broad music library," Trinen said to the outlet.” — Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Player and Product Experience

As Nintendo makes history with its first commercial music release outside of Japan, is it safe to say the publisher is testing the market?