Nintendo Gets Groovy with Vinyl
In an unexpected move that has all the hipsters scrambling to dust off their turntables, Nintendo has declared that the soundtrack of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is finally making its debut on vinyl. Yes, the time-honored tradition of spinning records is getting a dose of Hyrule magic. Mark calendars for June 19, 2026, because this date is about to become a national holiday—at least for fans of electronic melodies mixed with the sounds of rustling grass and the occasional Korok giggle.
The Soundtrack Showdown
But wait, there’s more! This masterpiece will be available in not one, but two extravagant formats. First, the double LP set, which offers up a delightful 34 selected tracks for a mere $49.99. Perfect for those who prefer “quality over quantity” while still reaching deep into their wallets. Then there’s the eight LP set loaded with a whopping 130 tracks for a staggering $194.99. That’s right, 130! For those feeling particularly nostalgic, this vinyl will provide enough eclectic sounds to fill an entire day of adventuring, assuming one can resist the urge to stop and use it as a frisbee.
Vinyl Curiosities
For the vinyl connoisseurs, both versions will either come in classic black vinyl or a vibrant limited-edition colored vinyl, adorned with artwork that’s sure to give any record collector the warm fuzzies. Intrigued? Pre-orders are open via this handy-dandy link to the store—yes, the one that magically transports eager fans to places like the U.S. and Canada, or even far-off lands where they probably don’t need to tame wild boar to survive.
A Test of Taste
According to Bill Trinen, Nintendo’s self-proclaimed “Vice President of Player and Product Experience” (a title that sounds like an extravagant role in a theme park), this release is more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It’s essentially a taste test for vinyl soundtracks. If people go wild over this release, one might expect a flood of vinyl soundtracks in the West, creating a market explosion equivalent to finding a rare golden Toad.
A Cultural Comparison
Now, it seems there’s a bit of a cultural divide at play. While Japan embraces physical soundtracks like they’re beloved family heirlooms, the U.S. has been a bit sparse in this department. Apparently, scooping up physical audio relics hasn’t been as popular across the pond. According to Trinen, this initiative hopes to shed light on whether Americans will trade in Spotify playlists for tangible, dusty artifacts in the form of vinyl records.
Blast from the Past
As if that weren’t enough, Trinen pointed out the existence of the Nintendo Music app, which turns one this month. Presumably, this app was created to give fans a legal way to listen to those iconic tunes without feeling like they’re committing digital heresy. And as a cherry on top, this app now boasts more than 100 soundtracks, spanning the era from the Famicom/NES all the way to the latest Nintendo Switch 2—presumably featuring the sound of a thousand online matches being lost.
The anticipation is real as Nintendo hopes to inject a bit of nostalgia and maybe even some adventure into the lives of players through this venture into the vinyl frontier. So, prepare the cash, set reminders, and maybe get a small shrine ready—you never know how epic a good record can turn out to be!
