Microsoft purchased Bethesda Softworks and will soon be the new owner of Activision Blizzard. However, those companies are not the only ones they have set their sights on. In fact, a new leak indicates that Microsoft still dreams of buying Nintendo to expand the reach of Xbox.
How do we know this? Well, it turns out that this is something Phil Spencer mentioned in an email he wrote in August 2020. This email came to light as part of a leak of documents related to Microsoft's case against the FTC for the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
It's an email in which Spencer discussed the possibility of making different acquisitions to boost Xbox. What stands out is that he acknowledged that Nintendo is the most valuable asset in the gaming industry. That's why Microsoft's board of directors is open to buying Nintendo (or Valve) should the opportunity arise.
Unfortunately for Microsoft, things are a bit complicated. This is because, according to Spencer, Nintendo is "sitting on a mountain of cash." In addition, its board of directors, at least at that time, was not actively seeking to increase its market value.
However, Microsoft still has the option of buying Nintendo's shares to attempt a hostile takeover. Nevertheless, Spencer believes that such an action would be negative, so he acknowledges that they have to be patient and understand that they are playing a long-term game.
Phil Spencer believes Nintendo's future is beyond its hardware
At the end of the email, Phil Spencer also confessed that acquiring Nintendo would be a defining moment in his career. That's not all; he also stated that the future of Nintendo is beyond its consoles, despite Nintendo Switch being on track to become one of the best-selling consoles in history.
“I love this discussion and value you looking at the opportunities here. 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”, Phil Spencer said.
Let's remember that at the beginning of the millennium, Microsoft tried to buy Nintendo as a solution to the lack of exclusive games for its first video game console, the Xbox. Microsoft's offer was rejected by Nintendo's executives. That said, it's interesting to see that the American company still dreams of seeing Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda as franchises in the Xbox ecosystem.
What are your thoughts on this news? Do you think Xbox will ever fulfill its dream of owning Nintendo? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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