During their FTC hearings about their Activision-Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft accidentally leaked some inside info regarding their future Xbox plans – everything from Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3 remakes to what their new console in 2028 is going to be like. However, one item was of particular interest: Microsoft’s continued interest in acquiring Nintendo. As in, buying them, and all of their IP, like they bought Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard. It sounds crazy, but Microsoft has wanted this for decades.

You have to admire Phil Spencer for keeping the dream alive at Microsoft all these years later after Nintendo literally laughed at them the first time Microsoft approached them with a merger/buyout offer in the early 2000s. That was during the GameCube days when Nintendo wasn’t flying nearly as high as they are now, and the GameCube was struggling.

Good luck with a hostile takeover if that’s the route Microsoft tries. Nintendo has had fail-safes in place for years to prevent that from happening. It makes you wonder if Microsoft is aware of how deeply traditional, and deeply Japanese, Nintendo is as a company. Being owned by an American corporation with a different philosophy and different values isn’t going to happen. Nintendo is healthier right now than maybe anytime in their history.

If Microsoft wants to work with Nintendo so badly, they can start by selling Nintendo all of Rare’s IP to them at a reasonable cost since Microsoft obviously doesn’t know what to do with it. Start there, Phil, and if that goes well, Microsoft might have a chance.

“Takeshi, I totally agree that Nintendo is THE prime asset for us in gaming, and today gaming is our most likely path to consumer relevance,” Spencer replied.

“I’ve had numerous conversations [with Nintendo] about tighter collaboration and feel like if any US company would have a chance with Nintendo we are probably in the best position.”

“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.”

[VGC]