Mixtape Publisher Reassures Fans Among Delisting Concerns

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The popular game ’s publisher has promised fans it won’t be removed from sale due to music licensing. They’ve secured the rights to all the songs – including hits from artists like The Cure and Iggy Pop – permanently.

Since its release on May 7th, the adventure game Mixtape has been a huge success with both players and reviewers. Developed by Beethoven and Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game tells the story of teenager Stacey Rockford in the late 1990s. Critics have especially praised the game’s presentation, particularly its music, which features popular songs from artists like The Smashing Pumpkins and DEVO. Both Beethoven and Dinosaur and Annapurna Interactive have recently confirmed that the music won’t cause the game to be removed from sale.

Mixtape Will Not Be Delisted for Music Licenses Expiring

I was so relieved to see Annapurna Interactive address those rumors about Mixtape potentially being taken down! Apparently, the developers actually paid extra to permanently secure the rights to all the music in the game. Johnny Galvatron, the creative director, told Kotaku they did this to make sure the soundtrack – which is a huge part of the story – would be safe for “decades.” Annapurna Interactive flat-out said the idea that the game could be delisted because of copyright issues is completely false, which is fantastic news for us fans!

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One of the best parts of the game Mixtape is its carefully chosen music, which perfectly complements key story moments. The soundtrack features 28 different songs, and the main character, Stacey, often shares her thoughts on each selection. The music covers a wide range of eras, from classics like BJ Thomas’s “Most of All” from the 1960s to more recent tracks like The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Love.”

The highly anticipated launch of Mixtape quickly established it as one of the year’s biggest releases. Critics loved the game, awarding it fifteen perfect scores, and it soon surpassed Pokopia to become the highest-rated game of 2026. While praised for its strong story, some players found Mixtape too short, with the main story taking around three hours to finish. Despite the positive reception, some critics disliked the game’s simple gameplay, calling it more of an interactive story than a traditional game.

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The game Beethoven and Dinosaur got off to a strong start in May, a packed month for gaming releases. Forza Horizon 6 is coming to Xbox on May 19th and has already broken player count records on Steam during its early access phase. Nintendo’s Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches May 21st, followed by 007 First Light on May 27th. The initial buzz around Mixtape should help this indie title gain attention amidst the crowded market.

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2026-05-18 01:34