Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t bringing back the eShop music and we’re fuming

The days of eShop bops are officially over, as Nintendo explains why the music will remain switched off on Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch may have largely saved the company, after the financial failure of the Wii U, but the console was noticeably stripped back in terms of personality and features.

One option lost in the generational jump was the Nintendo eShop music, which started on the Wii and which has continued to live on with fans through remixes and TikTok clips.

While some hoped the music might return for the Switch 2, it seems Nintendo prioritises practicality over fun in the grim darkness of 2025.

‘Unlike back then, the eShop now has lots of videos that are showcasing the games,’ Kouchi Kawamoto, Nintendo Switch 2 producer, told Polygon when asked about the return of tunes to the eShop. ‘We didn’t want to intrude on that, so we don’t have music there.’

While that is an understandable reason, it still feels like a bit of a bum note – but maybe the Switch 2 will have more personality in its user interface elsewhere. We didn’t get to see that at the recent preview showcase, where nothing was shown of the eShop.

The music might be dead on Switch 2’s eShop, but Nintendo has said the console’s storefront will definitely run better, as it’s not popular with fans.

Speaking to press in New York about the eShop after the Switch 2 Direct, Kawamoto said: ‘I wanted to make sure that it was a smooth experience. That the scrolling of the list doesn’t stall, that it’s very smooth, pages load fast.’

A number of new details have emerged about the Switch 2 recently, including the absence of Hall Effect joysticks in the Joy-Cons and the lack of system-wide achievements.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5, 2025, with some pre-orders up now. However, if you’re in the US, the recent tariffs have caused Nintendo to delay pre-orders indefinitely as it assesses the situation.

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