When it comes to music in video games, there’s no question that Nintendo is home to some of the most iconic tracks of all time. From the original Super Mario Bros. theme and The Legend of Zelda’s Overworld theme to Animal Crossing, Donkey Kong, Metroid, and even the Wii Shop Channel, the list goes on and on.
So when Nintendo launched its own music streaming app, Nintendo Music, back in 2024, I was pretty excited. It’s a one-stop shop for a lot of Nintendo’s most memorable soundtracks, many of which aren’t available on major music streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, and it’s included with a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
However, one issue I quickly ran into was that, unlike Spotify and Apple Music, Nintendo Music didn’t support CarPlay or Android Auto. That meant listening to Nintendo tunes on a road trip wasn’t nearly as simple as queuing up my Spotify playlist.
Fortunately, a year and a half after its initial release, Nintendo has finally fixed this with its largest update to Nintendo Music yet.
- Subscription with ads
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No
- Premium Subscription
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Nintendo Switch Online subscription required
- Release Date
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October 30, 2024
Nintendo Music now supports CarPlay and Android Auto
Jam out to Rainbow Road on the road
Nintendo recently released a jam-packed update for Nintendo Music, and one of the biggest changes is that the app now supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
That means you can finally listen to your favorite Nintendo tracks in the car, similar to how Apple Music and Spotify work. You’ll be able to access songs, playlists, mixes, and offline downloads through the Nintendo Music app when using CarPlay or Android Auto. It also includes voice control, letting you search for and play songs with your voice.
Another major addition in this update is web browser support, so you can now listen to the thousands of tracks available on Nintendo Music from your laptop or desktop. Nintendo has also optimized the interface for larger screens, making it easier to browse songs, albums, and playlists in a desktop browser. Additionally, Nintendo Music is now available on compatible tablets, with a redesigned UI that takes advantage of the extra real estate, similar to the web browser version.
As for new features within the app itself, Nintendo has introduced a “My Mix” feature that creates personalized playlists based on your listening history. You can also share these mixes with other users. Nintendo also now lets users browse the Nintendo Music library without a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. So if you’re curious about what’s available before signing up, you can explore the catalog first.
All in all, this update brings Nintendo Music much closer to traditional streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. With support for CarPlay and Android Auto, web browser access, and tablet optimization, it really does feel like Nintendo Music is becoming a much more complete music streaming experience than it was at launch.
