In a recent report, game company Microsoft actually wanted to acquire two big gaming companies in the past, which were Square and Nintendo.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Xbox, a report from Bloomberg by Dina Bass included several interviews. It included plans of Microsoft for partnerships and acquisitions in the past. This is where it was revealed it wanted to purchase Nintendo and Square.
The ones to divulge these stories were Head of Business Development Bob McBreen, Director of Third-Party Relations Kevin Bachus, and former President and CEO Steve Ballmer. They talked about the rejections they got from the two big companies.
Here are the statements:
Microsoft and Nintendo:
Steve [Ballmer] made us go meet with Nintendo to see if they would consider being acquired. They just laughed their asses off. Like, imagine an hour of somebody just laughing at you. That was kind of how that meeting went.
Nintendo of America Chairman Howard Lincoln gives his statement:
Nintendo does not talk about confidential discussions with other companies. In any event, nothing came of these discussions.
Microsoft and Square:
We had a letter of intent to buy Square. In early November 1999, we went to Japan. We had one of those big dinners with their CEO and Steve Ballmer. The next day, we’re sitting in their boardroom, and they said, “Our banker would like to make a statement.” And basically, the banker said, “Square cannot go through with this deal because the price is too low.” We packed up, we went home, and that was the end of Square.
Source: Bloomberg via Siliconera