Nintendo has already made Xbox executives laugh out of the room over Microsoft’s takeover offer

Microsoft’s Xbox consoles are considered a mainstay in the industry, being part of a trio that make up modern gaming. The first Xbox launched in 2001; the Xbox Series X and S arrived last year. Today, Xbox is a powerhouse, but that wasn’t always the case. Bloomberg‘s Dina Bass posted an oral story on the creation of Microsoft’s Xbox that chronicles the console’s design from executive retirement to release day – with snags like a failed Nintendo deal detailed along the way. .

The original Xbox was known as Midway – or Coffin Box to some, according to Xbox chief technology officer Seamus Blackley, “because they feared it would fail and end their careers at Microsoft.” As part of an effort to lock down exclusive games, Microsoft has attempted to acquire companies like Electronic Arts, Midway Games, and Square. Kevin Bachus, director of third-party relations, said Microsoft president and later CEO Steve Ballmer also brought the Nintendo team to meet. Their pitch revolved around the technical powers of the Xbox. It did not go as planned.

“They just laughed at their donkeys,” Bachus said Bloomberg. “Like, imagine a time when someone laughs at you. That was sort of how this meeting went.

BloombergConsole History explores the actual accomplishments of the console, including its successful offering for Halo Bungie creator. The full piece is well worth a read, especially for the anecdote about an unnamed Konami executive.

As for Nintendo, Nintendo America president Howard Lincoln told the publication that the company “does not talk about confidential discussions with other companies. In any event, none of these discussions came.