Microsoft wanted to buy Nintendo and is now showing the ultimate proof of that

Mario has to laugh too. As is well known, nothing came of the takeover by Xbox.

Microsoft actually wanted to buy up Nintendo at one point. Because of that there was even a meeting, but apparently the Microsoft people were just laughed at. The rest is history: Of course, Nintendo was not bought by Microsoft, but continues to do its own thing. Microsoft is now very relaxed about the defeat: Im newly opened Xbox Museum For the 20th anniversary of the console, the letter from Microsoft to Nintendo can now be admired, in which it is about the possible takeover and the corresponding meeting.

Yes, Microsoft really wanted to buy Nintendo one day, but nothing came of it

Unthinkable today, planned back then: Microsoft really got it into its head once to buy Nintendo. The company probably already had the necessary change back then, but Nintendo apparently didn’t even think about it. But there was still a meeting, as the then Xbox boss for third party relationships Kevin Bachus reported at the beginning of the year. Nintendo didn’t think much of the offer, but at least it was amused:

New Curious Evidence Released: Anyone who is particularly interested in this really curious part of video game history can even read a letter from Microsoft to Nintendo – at least in part. The document will be issued as part of the newly opened, virtual Xbox Museum for the console’s 20th anniversary.

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This is what it’s about: The letter was directed by then-Xbox hardware boss Rick Thompson to Nintendo’s former Executive Vice President of Business Affairs Jacqualee Story. Perhaps the most exciting details are hidden by the huge green bar. But what it is about becomes clear anyway. For example, there is talk of a “strategic alliance” with regard to the next Nintendo console, code-named Dolphin, which later became the Gamecube.

Here you can see the letter self:

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Among other things, the following part can be read:

“I appreciate that you took the time to arrange a meeting with Mr. Takeda and Mr. Yamauchi to discuss a possible strategic partnership between Nintendo and Microsoft with regard to future video game platforms.”

The letter is dated October 20, 1999, although Microsoft classified it itself in the spring of 2000. Either way, the timing is of course exciting: That was two years before the launch of the first Xbox and at a time when Nintendo was very successful with the N64. But of course it is also exciting to think about what would have happened if this deal had actually come about at the time.

What would have been different? Do you think one of the two companies would have become more successful or even failed?