Forget Microsoft, Another Company Apparently Wanted To Buy Nintendo Back In The Day – Nintendo Life
GuestGuestLogin | Sign UpNintendo LifeGuestLogin or Sign UpTalk about ‘What If…’We’ve heard about a few companies with dreams of purchasing Nintendo over the years (*cough* Microsoft *cough*), and it turns out that there was another big ol’ American conglomerate looking to snap it up back in the day, too (thanks, Gamespot).That is according to the latest episode of the Grit Podcast, where host Joubin Mirzadegan was joined by former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick and former EA CCO Bing Gordon to discuss the pair’s experiences in the games industry.During a chat about Kotick’s relationship with Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman Charlie Munger, he stated that Munger’s conglomerate had once considered picking up Nintendo — you know, because that’s the kind of off-the-cuff decision that a business as big as Berkshire Hathaway can make.Kotick claims that this discussion came in the same meeting that Munger expressed an interest in buying Vivendi’s stake in Activision despite, as Kotick puts it, him having no interest in video games, considering the medium “a step removed from gambling”.Interestingly, this section of the conversation appears to have been removed from all instances of the podcast (Spotify, Apple, YouTube etc.), with the edit now jumping to Mirzadegan’s follow-up question on Vivendi. Fortunately, the attached transcript in the former two instances still gives an insight into what was said, so here’s Kotick’s comment, according to the Apple Podcasts transcript:He goes, “You know, I was looking at a couple other companies in your sector. I think if we bought yours, we should buy that company Nintendo too”. He said, “Have you guys looked at it?”
And we’re like, “Yeah, it was trading 13 billion with 7 billion in cash”. And so he goes, “You know, I don’t think anything’s gonna go really bad before I’m dead […] and then if it goes bad after I’m dead, they’ll just chalk it up to the folly of an 82 year old. So you don’t have to be so concerned about disappointing me.”Of course, this was just a meeting, and none of the deals ever ended up coming to fruition — Activision bought the Vivendi shares and, unsurprisingly, Berkshire Hathaway never grabbed Nintendo — but it’s a crazy ‘what if’ scenario to consider.If Berkshire Hathaway has never entered your sphere, this is the Warren Buffett-run conglomerate with shares in the likes of Apple, Amazon, Bank of America and more. It is one of the largest US corporations by total revenue and recently became the country’s first non-technology company to be valued at over $1 trillion. Imagine if Nintendo decisions had to go through that.Munger passed away in 2023, the same year that Kotick stood down as CEO of Activision Blizzard following Microsoft’s acquisition. At the time, Kotick had been at the centre of numerous controversies and allegations which were denied by both Kotick and the company before settlements were reached prior to his departure.As we said, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of big companies eyeing up Nintendo for a potential buyout. Microsoft reportedly left Nintendo “laughing their asses off” when they approached them with a buyout back in the day, and leaked internal emails from Xbox’s Phil Spencer back in 2023 revealed that the company was still considering an acquisition.“THE prime asset for us in Gaming”It’s done, says Mr. FrodoYou say Halo, I say goodbyeWhat do you make of this once-considered buyout? Let us know in the comments.[source podcasts.apple.com, via gamespot.com]About Jim NormanJim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since.Comments 42Can we stop giving this cretin any news time at all please?Most people are deciding wether to buy the cheap option or to treat thereselves to the nice expensive option. Fat cats have these conversations…..I heard that Mike Ashley and Daniel Levy were having a drink together and decided to have a pound bet on each other to buy a premier league football club and see who could win the league first.Geiko Gecko in Smash Brothers and Mario Kart?@EightyTwoStu the cancelling people fad is overThe reason Nintendo’s IP is so valuable is because it’s managed by Nintendo, with a measure of restraint and logic of how they use it. Even the lesser games are of a level of quality that any o the developer would die for.Meanwhile Crash Bandicoot….@EightyTwoStu that’s not how news reporting works@MrGawain suits don’t understand this. They see a chart painted in money green and think it’ll be even greener after “streamlining processes” and applying “agile methodology” or whatever snake oil consultancy firms are selling this week.Of course they have no idea about how any of it works.Apparently Disney also once made a bid for Nintendo tooMost certainly and also hopefully Nintendo won’t ever be bought by anyone and even less so by these people/companies!@Axecon I don’t think they did.Thankfully, this is all pretty much BS. Japanese business culture is very different from US/UK culture, and outright hostile acquisitions, especially from foreign companies, are very difficult.I’m honestly worried Musk will buy Nintendo one day because of something random that will have triggered him. Could we stop sharing links to X from Nintendo Life in the meantime?So we’re NOT in the worst timeline!@ChakraStomps In what way is this cancelling? The man is a sex pest degenerate, and has been detrimental to the industry. Please enlighten me on why he should be reported on?@Carck Actually it is; we can all choose whether to report information as news or not.Im sure everyone with more money than God has tried to buy Nintendo.@EightyTwoStu Was he in charge of a massive gaming company for years?Then regardless of what else he’s done, he can still offer insight into behind-the-scenes stuff that is actually kinda interesting. However you or anyone else feel about him, that fact doesn’t change.@EightyTwoStu that’s literally how propaganda works@dskatter Yes.And you’re not stating facts, but opinions, as am I.I’d be much happier if I never heard about Bobby Kotick ever again@Carck Actually it’s not; propaganda is promoting information or disinformation from a certain standpoint; not the lack of providing information.@EightyTwoStu Does he really upset you? Did u see this article and your blood pressure went up? I’m tired of people wanting somebody to stay silent because of their past. Cancel culture is tiresome. And it’s affected SO MUCH in this world. This is why pop culture has no oomph, these days.@outsider83 Perfectly calm, thanks. You do seem rather triggered by all this? Are you okay? Do you need to chat?1. Thank goodness Berkshire didn’t buy Nintendo. I know enough about them to know that Nintendo would have been folded into a paper plane and sent drifting into the wind long ago if Buffett and Co had anything to do with it2. Oh man, I have Berkshire stock. I could have had exclusive Nintendo merchandise in that other timeline!@hashkey Nearly all companies in Japan are family owned.Even Toyota were ran by same family for generations.I’m sure every big businessman in the world has at times had conversations about acquiring the wildly successful Nintendo, not because they know anything about it or have an interest in gaming but because big businessmen are always talking about potential acquisitions of successful companies. By the same stroke as Yamauchi probably had a pile of things he thought about acquiring before and after deciding on the Mariners.Thanks for sharing this. I can now say I learned something today.@EightyTwoStu You think that him being able to offer behind the scenes info is…an opinion and not a fact?Alrighty then.@outsider83 So you don’t think sex pests should be shunned by society? Interesting and says a lot about some of you.@dskatter That is not what I said or inferred. Please read again.I actually wouldn’t have minded this for two reasons: 1. Berkshire Hathaway buys companies that are already successful and (if I remember right), doesn’t really meddle in their business, so I doubt much would have changed and 2. It might have meant there was a Nintendo presence in my hometown. I live not far from Mr. Buffett and he will sometimes encourage the companies Berkshire owns to have a presence here.Removed – trolling/baitingImagine how not great gaming would have been if any of those extreme Capitalist companies bought Nintendo? Nintendo working to deadlines? Microsoft killed Rare, and neither of these companies would know how to manage a company like Nintendo@Clyde_Radcliffe If the man hasn’t been charged, what’s wrong with hearing from him? Even if he was “detrimental” to the industry. Hear what he has to say.Silencing of people, based on allegations, has gotten out of control. And the climate has been used to take down many people, who didn’t deserve it.When did “sex pests” become a thing? 😆@MrGawain”Meanwhile Crash Bandicoot….”(suggestion: explain this part of previous message here)I cannot believe that we live in a world where this piece of filth Kotick is getting interviewed on podcasts. And is getting defended by people in a Nintendo Life comments section! The whole world has gone down the toilet.I thought Microsoft trying to buy Nintendo was stupid…turns out this guy one up’d them lol.Why the heck was Kotick even invited in a podcast?If someone were ever to buy Nintendo that would probably be the end of AAA gaming for me. I have very little interest in modern western style games that are mostly chasing the cinematic experience. Nintendo is consistently focused on great gameplay and that’s why I’m here.People defending Kotick? Gross.This man doesn’t need more exposure or money for appearing on podcasts. And he certainly doesn’t need defending.Anyway, this is a bit of non-news. Big money man thought about just buying a thing without any knowledge of it because it made money (like all big money men) and didn’t.@Zaruboggan All signs are pointing to us being in the raddest timelineWhat makes me laugh is everyone thinks Nintendo would sell? 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