Microsoft reportedly tried to buy some of the biggest names in games, including Nintendo, to create exclusive titles for the original Xbox.
In a new report by Bloomberg, many of the people who worked on the console before its launch outlined attempts to acquire Nintendo, EA and Square Enix.
Having announced the Xbox in 2000, Microsoft was looking for games for its new system and the developers who would make it. According to Bob McBreen, then head of business development, “the first company we were looking to buy was EA”. This offer was met with a quick “‘no thanks'”, so Microsoft turned its attention to Japanese giant Nintendo.
Kevin Bachus, director of third party relations at the console, said “Steve [Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO] made us find Nintendo to see if they would consider being purchased. “Apparently, however, the conversation didn’t go well:” They just laughed. Like, imagine an hour of someone laughing at you. That’s how the meeting went. “
The Bloomberg report also mentions unsuccessful attempts to buy Square Enix, as well as Mortal Kombat Midway developer. The former told Microsoft that the asking price was very low, while the latter was still linked to its PlayStation business. Eventually, it worked for Microsoft. They * ahem * would settle for the developer of Halo Bungie, creating one of the most successful and long-lasting Xbox franchises.
While the acquisition of a company as massive as Nintendo might have been unthinkable in the early days of the Xbox, Microsoft’s purchase of Zenimax Media, announced last year and expected to be completed in a few months, brought in companies like Bethesda, Arkane, and Id Xbox family software.
If you want to update yourself a little more about Microsoft’s gaming efforts, where to buy an Xbox Series X.