Microsoft has its sights set on another acquisition, and this one’s even more ambitious than Activison-Blizzard.
After two enormous acquisitions, ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard, Microsoft is reportedly looking for its next major merger, Nintendo.
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The news came from leaked emails between the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, and Takeshi Numoto, Microsoft's chief marketing officer.
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On the topic of acquiring Nintendo, Phil Spencer said: "At some point, getting Nintendo would be a career moment and I honestly believe a good move for both companies. It's just taking a long time for Nintendo to see that their future exists off of their own hardware. A long time…”
Xbox and Nintendo are currently in the middle of a 10-year agreement, which has led to several collaborative efforts, mainly bringing Xbox games to Nintendo Switch systems, such as Rare Limited games like Banjo Kazooie. There are even plans to bring the Call Of Duty series to Nintendo Switch following the acquisition of Activison-Blizzard.
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While a merger between the two companies wouldn’t be out of the question, it’s unclear if Nintendo would allow it to happen. While Xbox and PlayStation lead the industry in terms of console says and power, Nintendo has always seemed content with promoting its extensive library of beloved titles, though recent news of the significantly more powerful Nintendo Switch 2 could suggest they’re considering a more competitive business model in the years to come.
Funnily enough, it’s not the first time Microsoft has considered buying Nintendo, as they even made an offer for the company in 1999, and were reportedly laughed out of the room, making it more unlikely an acquisition could happen.
It’s worth noting the emails suggest Microsoft is only considering the deal at this moment in time, as it’s likely preoccupied with finalising the deal with Activision-Blizzard, as well as production of the new Xbox Series consoles…
One thing is certain though, if Microsoft do make a move to buy Nintendo in the future, it’ll likely be one of the most interesting gaming developments in recent memory.