Mixtape Publisher Reassures Fans Among Delisting Concerns

The publisher of breakout hit game Mixtape is reassuring fans that it will never be delisted for licensing issues, paying for the rights to its music in perpetuity. Mixtape features a multitude of songs from big-name artists like The Cure and Iggy Pop.

Mixtape has been a smash hit with fans and critics alike since the game launched on May 7. The adventure game developed by indie studio Beethoven and Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive follows teenager Stacey Rockford’s life in the late 1990s. The game’s presentation has seen heavy praise in particular, with the musical accompaniment often seen as one of the strongest parts of the game, featuring songs by major musical acts from the era, like The Smashing Pumpkins and DEVO. New statements from Beethoven and Dinosaur and Annapurna Interactive are now assuring fans that Mixtape‘s music will not lead to its delisting.

Mixtape Achievement & Trophy Guide

Our comprehensive Mixtape trophy and achievement guide will give you a full breakdown of where to find all missable interactions and items.

Mixtape Will Not Be Delisted for Music Licenses Expiring

Mixtape publisher Annapurna Interactive recently added its own statement to remarks made in an interview by creative director Johnny Galvatron. In an interview with Kotaku, Galvatron confirmed that the developers paid an extra fee to secure the rights to the music used in the game in perpetuity. The move is expected to protect the score accompanying much of Mixtape‘s main story for the foreseeable future, with the perpetual licenses expected to last for “decades.” Annapurna Interactive added that any claims that the game could eventually be delisted due to its copyrighted music were “a lie.”

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The selection of music accompanying Mixtape has been among the biggest highlights of the game, each scored to particular moments in the story. Mixtape features twenty-eight different songs in its soundtrack, with main character Stacey usually adding her own comments for each song selection. The musical accompaniment spans several decades, with songs as early as the 1960s like BJ Thomas’s “Most of All” and as recent as The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Love.”

Mixtape‘s high-profile launch helped cement the game among the most discussed new releases of the year. The game debuted with fifteen different 10/10 reviews from critics, quickly overtaking Pokopia as the highest-rated game of 2026. Mixtape‘s narrative focus has been a particular point of praise, though some fans have criticized its short runtime, with players able to complete the entirety of the main story in around three hours. Mixtape has seen some negative reception following its release, however, with detractors railing against its overly simplistic gameplay and referring to it as a “walking simulator” more than a full game.

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Beethoven and Dinosaur’s launch found success early in a busy month of May in the gaming industry. Xbox is gearing up for the launch of Forza Horizon 6 on May 19, already breaking franchise player count records on Steam during its early access period. Two other major new releases are scheduled for the month of May, with Nintendo’s Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launching on May 21 and 007 First Light on May 27. Mixtape‘s early popularity should help the indie game to stand out among tough competition.