Wait, Napster is back? Technically, yes.

0
3K

Wait, Napster is back? Technically, yes.

Sure, the company and its work are entirely unrelated to file sharing, but still.

By

Alex Perry

 on 

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard

Napster logo on smartphone screen

What's old is new again. Credit: Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Around the turn of the century, Napster was the place for online file sharing (or piracy, as the music industry would call it). If you were a millennial or Gen X-er at the time, you'll remember Napster as the renegade brand that introduced the world to listening to music online. Or, perhaps you remember Justin Timberlake's take on Napster founder Sean Parker in The Social Network. The brand played an important and controversial role in early internet history, until it was sued out of existence.

Now it's back, but it sounds like something else entirely.

A Floridian startup called Infinite Reality has apparently decided to rebrand itself as Napster Corporation, Forbes reported. The decision was reportedly announced on a Zoom meeting with investors earlier this month, though it should be noted that the company's website is still filled with Infinite Reality branding. This came a couple of months after Infinite Reality purchased Napster, which has existed as a paid music streaming app with several different parent companies for the past several years.

Mashable Light Speed

The Forbes report doesn't go into great detail about what this new Napster Corporation plans on making for consumers, though it noted that the company is looking to provide "AI-powered digital experiences." When Infinite Reality bought Napster earlier this year, it pledged to turn the brand into a purveyor of 3D virtual spaces for music performances, a la Fortnite. Right now, the only Napster-branded part of the Infinite Reality website is for "Napster Spaces," a service that purports to help businesses make their websites more immersive via AI.

It's all very vague and buzzword-y (Forbes mentioned that Infinite Reality had been marketing itself as a metaverse company until recently), in other words. Most importantly, it doesn't seem to have much of anything to do with Napster beyond the name. Admittedly, it is a more memorable and recognizable name than Infinite Reality.

Let's just hope Metallica doesn't find out about this.

journalist alex perry looking at a smartphone

Alex Perry is a tech reporter at Mashable who primarily covers video games and consumer tech. Alex has spent most of the last decade reviewing games, smartphones, headphones, and laptops, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He is also a Pisces, a cat lover, and a Kansas City sports fan. Alex can be found on Bluesky at yelix.bsky.social.

These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Site içinde arama yapın
Kategoriler
Read More
Oyunlar
Silent Hill f review - an instant horror classic
Silent Hill f review - an instant horror classic...
By Test Blogger6 2025-09-22 08:00:18 0 989
Science
What Is The "Heat Dome" Causing Baking Temperatures In The Eastern US This June?
Why Eastern Half Of The US Feels Like An Oven This June: The “Heat Dome” ExplainedTens of...
By test Blogger3 2025-06-24 21:00:10 0 2K
Food
The Biggest Frozen Fish Recalls In US History
The Biggest Frozen Fish Recalls In US History...
By Test Blogger1 2025-06-03 15:00:16 0 3K
Music
Jason Momoa Starts Circle Pit During Pantera's Ozzy Farewell Set
Watch Jason Momoa Start a Circle Pit During Pantera's Ozzy Farewell SetPantera needed little help...
By Test Blogger4 2025-07-05 20:00:08 0 2K
Food
The Poconos Dive Bar Locals Swear By For Its Massive Beer Selection And Huge Portions
The Poconos Dive Bar Locals Swear By For Its Massive Beer Selection And Huge Portions...
By Test Blogger1 2025-11-24 12:00:13 0 201