Zelda: Breath of the Wild Vinyl Soundtrack Coming to U.S.
▼ Summary
– Nintendo is releasing its first U.S. vinyl soundtrack for “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” on June 19, 2026, in partnership with Laced Records.
– Two versions will be available: a double LP priced at $49.99 and an 8-LP box set for $194.99, both offered in limited-edition colored or standard black vinyl.
– The 8-LP box set includes 130 newly remastered tracks organized by themes that mirror the game’s progression, while the double LP features 34 select tracks.
– This release serves as a test case to gauge U.S. demand for physical soundtracks and expand the audience for video game music.
– Nintendo is also broadening music exposure through its Nintendo Music streaming service for Switch Online subscribers, which includes retro and modern soundtracks.
For the first time, Nintendo is bringing the celebrated score from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to vinyl format for fans in the United States. This marks a significant departure for the company, which has historically concentrated its physical soundtrack releases within the Japanese market.
In collaboration with Laced Records, the official release is scheduled for June 19, 2026. Two distinct versions will be offered: a double LP and a comprehensive 8-LP box set. Both will be available as limited-edition colored vinyl or as standard black vinyl pressings. Each collection will showcase archival artwork originally crafted by the game’s development team.
Pricing is set at $49.99 for the double LP, whether customers choose the limited or standard edition. The expansive 8-LP box set will retail for $194.99. Pre-orders for the special colored vinyl editions begin this Wednesday through the My Nintendo Store and the Laced Records website.
The 8-LP Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Soundtrack Box Set is a definitive collection, containing 130 tracks that have all been freshly remastered specifically for the vinyl medium. The eight discs are thoughtfully arranged around central themes that reflect the player’s journey through the game. These thematic progressions guide listeners through exploring the vast Kingdom of Hyrule, the epic battles to liberate the Divine Beasts from Calamity Ganon, and the enigmatic discoveries within the Shrines.
Meanwhile, the double-LP set presents a curated selection of 34 essential tracks. This includes fan favorites such as “Overworld (Day),” “Great Fairy Fountain,” and “Hyrule Castle.” The goal with this collection is to craft an immersive audio experience that vividly recalls the dramatic final days of the Great Calamity.
The original soundtrack was composed by the talented team of Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, Hajime Wakai, and Soshi Abe. This vinyl release serves as an important experiment for Nintendo to assess the American market’s appetite for physical game soundtracks.
Bill Trinen, Nintendo’s Vice President of Player & Product Experience, explained the strategic thinking behind the move. He noted that the CD remains a dominant format in Japan, where video game soundtrack releases have a long and established history. In contrast, the U.S. has seen very few physical soundtrack releases from Nintendo. This venture is partly about gauging consumer demand stateside and partly about a broader initiative to introduce video game music to a wider audience. It represents one of several steps the company is taking in this direction.
This vinyl announcement coincides with another musical celebration for Nintendo: the one-year anniversary of its music streaming service for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Trinen highlighted that the Nintendo Music app, available for smartphones, offers a vast library of retro soundtracks from the NES era all the way to modern Switch titles and even some music from the upcoming Switch 2. The company is actively working to increase exposure to its extensive music catalog while exploring diverse methods to deliver that content to its many fans.
(Source: Variety)
