A 22-minute music update marking the launch of Tomodachi Life on the Switch has highlighted a growing tension between Nintendo’s massive audio archive and its restrictive release schedule. While the company is using the update to celebrate a new release, the brevity of the content has drawn criticism from users who view the current distribution model as an exercise in extreme scarcity.
Nintendo Music is positioned as a free bonus for Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) subscribers, though this “free” label comes with a significant asterisk. The service is bundled into a paid subscription, and while it isn’t the primary driver for most memberships, users expect a more robust rollout of the company’s legendary soundtracks.
Nintendo Music’s latest update provides 22 minutes of content
The latest “special release” occupies a full week of the service’s content calendar despite providing less than half an hour of music. This drip-feed approach is frustrating for a community that knows Nintendo possesses a back catalog spanning more than 40 years of game audio. Critics argue that the company could easily implement a dual-release system, dropping one modern track and one retro track weekly to better utilize its library.
This cautious rollout mirrors the company’s historical reluctance to release official soundtracks for its most prized titles until years after their debut. The current pace leaves some users wondering if Nintendo is worried about exhausting its music library before the heat death of the universe.
Across the Switch and Switch 2, new cosmetics celebrate the Super Mario Galaxy movie
Nintendo is leaning more heavily into cosmetic rewards to maintain momentum for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. A new batch of themed goodies has arrived for both the original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, focusing on the aesthetic of the Galaxy series.
The Galaxy-specific set includes 17 icons, 10 backgrounds, and five frames. These feature fan-favorite characters such as Rosalina, Yoshi, Bowser Jr., and a Lumalee. This targeted release sits alongside a broader refresh of Mario-themed assets, adding 40 new icons, 20 backgrounds, and 20 frames representing a wider array of titles.
Games represented in this general refresh include Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario 3D World, Bowser’s Fury, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The options range from standard character portraits to more unusual choices, such as an inflated Luigi, a Cat Goomba, or a Chincho.
How users can earn the currency needed for new icons
These profile customizations are technically free, as they are purchased with Platinum Points rather than real-world currency. My Nintendo serves as the hub for acquiring these points through a variety of missions and campaigns.
Some rewards are one-time achievements, such as signing up for the My Nintendo newsletter. Other tasks are repeatable on a weekly basis. Simply signing into an account every week secures a small amount of currency. On average, active users can garner around 70 Platinum Points per week, which is sufficient to purchase several new icons or frames.
Why some Mario icons will vanish by April 20
The NSO icon lineup operates on a rotating basis, meaning availability is often temporary. While the Super Mario Galaxy themed batch currently has no expiration date, the general Mario refresh is on a strict timer.
All non-Galaxy Mario icons will refresh on April 20. Users have only a few days to spend their accumulated Platinum Points before these specific assets are removed from the store. This creates a sense of urgency that contrasts sharply with the slow, methodical pace of the Nintendo Music updates.
When do the general Mario icons expire?
The general batch of Mario icons, backgrounds, and frames will refresh on April 20.
How many Platinum Points are needed for a profile frame?
Profile frames cost 5 Platinum Points each.
