Microsoft tried to buy Nintendo once but failed

Microsoft once tried to buy Nintendo but failed, according to a new bloomberg report on the advent of the Xbox gaming platform.

Microsoft has made great efforts to ensure the presence of games for the all-new Xbox platform first announced by the company at CES in 2001

The platform represented the software giant's entry for the first time in the gaming platform stake.

While the company has appealed to external developers to develop games for the Xbox platform, the software giant has also considered using its considerable financial capacity to buy developers.

"Microsoft has been ridiculed for offering to buy Nintendo during the meeting," says Kevin Bachus, director of external relations at Xbox.

Microsoft's offer was somewhat logical, as Nintendo at the time produced poor and largely underdeveloped Sony devices from a hardware perspective.

Microsoft thought it might take over the hardware production and leave Nintendo to focus on building games.

"We wanted Nintendo to work with us in January 2000 through the details of the joint venture, where we provided all the technical specifications of the Xbox," said Bob McBreen, Xbox Business Development Manager.

Microsoft's offer indicated that Nintendo devices are bad compared to Sony's PlayStation, but Nintendo has a clear edge in gaming and can focus on it and let Microsoft produce the devices.

Microsoft has not been able to buy Nintendo, whose devices are still weak to date compared to Sony and Microsoft, but has mastered the art of creating compelling video games for platforms.

Nintendo has proven that high-powered devices are not what is needed to create great games, a lesson that continues to emerge across the entire gaming community.

While this offer is certainly the highlight of Microsoft's failed acquisitions, there have been a few other prominent developers who have gone through the company's initiatives.

Electronic Arts was the first company to contact Microsoft, but it declined the offer, and Microsoft also met with Square (now Square Enix) and mortal developer Kombat Midway.

One of Microsoft's acquisitions has given a major Xbox franchise since day one.

Bungie was at the time a unknown game development company, but Halo: Combat Evolved arrived with the first Xbox in November 2001 and was immediately praised.

Halo: Combat Evolved gave Xbox instant competitiveness and helped it cut off much of the gaming market, despite the dominance of Sony and Nintendo at the time.