Mixtape Game Will Not Be Delisted Due to Expired Music Licenses, Says Publisher

Mixtape boasts an impressive collection of licensed music from renowned artists such as Devo and The Smashing Pumpkins, and Annapurna Interactive and Beethoven and Dinosaur have moved to alleviate concerns that the game may be removed from sale in the future. The coming-of-age video game Mixtape features a plethora of licensed music from notable groups, but its publisher and developer have sought to reassure fans that the game will not be delisted. In a recent interview with Kotaku, creative director Johnny Galvatron addressed concerns about the game's longevity, stating that the team had paid a premium to secure perpetual licenses for each track. Annapurna Interactive subsequently issued a statement on X/Twitter, asserting that claims of the game being delisted due to expiring music licenses were unfounded. Fears about Mixtape being pulled from digital storefronts are not entirely baseless, as numerous games have suffered a similar fate in the past, including Rock Band 4 and the original Alan Wake. However, it is evident that Beethoven and Dinosaur made a concerted effort to ensure the game's story and music remained intact for years to come. During the development process, the team considered a number of ambitious ideas, including requesting a song from Pink Floyd, but ultimately decided against it due to potential licensing issues. According to Galvatron, the team encountered few difficulties in securing the desired tracks, with most artists agreeing to participate. Mixtape was released on May 7, 2026, for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S, and received widespread critical acclaim, including a 10/10 review from IGN, which praised the game as a 'musical delight from start to finish'