In the new Xbox browser-based museum that celebrates the console's 20th year anniversary, Microsoft showed a snippet of the letter it sent to Nintendo as part of its past campaign to acquire the Japanese company.

　　Sent in 1999 from Nick Thompson, Microsoft's former VP of hardware, to Jacqualee Story, Nintendo of America's former Executive VP of business, the letter is mostly obscured. However, there are snippets of legible text.

　　You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos.

　　Click To Unmute

　　Firearms Expert’s FAVORITE Weapons Of 2023

　　State Of Gaming Handhelds In 2023How Lies of P Cracked the Souls GenreLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Ichiban Kasuga Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Chitose Fujinomiya Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Kazuma Kiryu Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Saeko Mukoda Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Eric Tomizawa Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Tianyou Zhao Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Seonhee Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Koichi Adachi Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Yu Nanba Character Spotlight Trailer

　　Share

　　LinkEmbed

　　Size:640 × 360480 × 270

　　Start at: End at: Autoplay Loop

　　Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

　　Sign up or Sign in now!

　　Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.

　　This video has an invalid file format.

　　00:00:00

　　HTML5

　　Auto HD High Low

　　Report a problem

　　Sorry, but you can't access this content!

Please enter your date of birth to view this video

　　By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's

　　Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

　　enter

　　Now Playing: Xbox Console Evolution: Xbox To Series X

　　The letter begins with, "Dear Jacqualee, I appreciate you taking the time to try to arrange a meeting with Mr. Takeda and Mr. Yamauchi to discuss a possible strategic partnership between Nintendo and Microsoft on future video game platforms. I understand Mr. Takeda's concerns about the possible partnership and will try to [illegible] the guidelines he has requested."

　　Other sections of the letter go on to mention Project Dolphin, the code name for GameCube. It's uncertain what Microsoft is stating in the letter about Dolphin to Nintendo, due to the giant text overlaid on the document--a pity, since it'd be interesting to see how Microsoft tried to use its then-new project to pitch Nintendo.

　　We do know from a Bloomberg article chronicling the history of Xbox that Microsoft's attempt to acquire Nintendo were pretty much rebuffed completely. Former Xbox executive Kevin Bachus recalled, "Steve [Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO] 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."

　　Microsoft made a second attempt in 2000 to try to partner with Nintendo, with the idea of Nintendo handling the "game portion," while Microsoft worked on the hardware--more technical--part. The talks did not work out, and so a joint venture possibility between the two companies was nixed.

　　In any case, if you're interested in the history of Microsoft's flagship gaming console, check out the interactive Xbox browser-based exhibit. You get to see avatars of other visitors, as well as much more about how the Xbox came to be.