Although Microsoft and Sony have had a deeply competitive relationship over the years, with their consoles and lineup of experiences targeting similar demographics, Microsoft and Nintendo are a completely different story. Not only has Nintendo worked with Xbox to getBanjo Kazooie inSuper Smash Bros Ultimate,but the pair were also championing cross-play long before PlayStation signed on, with Nintendo and Microsoft collaborating heavily onMinecraft.
It seems a major reason behind these collaborations was the respect Xbox head Phil Spencer had for Nintendo, with the beloved industry icon recounting onAnimal Talkingwhy he loves the storied video game giant. According to Spencer, he’s always thought Nintendo is “a jewel,” explaining to host Gary Whitta why he has such admiration for the company and its attitude towards developing games.
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“What Nintendo does, is they think about games, and they think about their hardware and their platform all as one thing, and build those experiences,” Spencer tells Whitta. He continues: “It’s just magical the way they’re able to create a complete Nintendo experience on their devices and this experience I’m looking at right here, in my hands, on my Switch, isAnimal Crossing. From the Switch that’s running it, to the game itself, to the way that you go to other people’s islands.” He’s evidently a huge fan of Nintendo’s ability to make experiences that feel tailor-fit to play on the Nintendo Switch, which is undeniably a core reason the company is still so timelessly relevant all these years later.
“Nintendo is just masterful at what they do, and I’ve said it before, I think they have the strongest first-party pedigree out there,” Spencer claims, showing that he clearly has a lot of respect for Nintendo’s brand and library of exclusive IP. He concludes by explaining to Whitta that “they’re a jewel for us in the games industry and something we should protect.” With Nintendo having been one of the most dominant names in the industry since it began making video games back in the 80s, it’s clear its uncanny ability to continuously reinvent itself has kept it a beacon of inspiration for figures likePhil Spencer. Hopefully, it will continue to change the landscape of gaming for years to come.
Alongside Spencer’s discussion about Nintendo, the industry icon spoke at length aboutHalo Infinite’sdelayon theAnimal-Crossing-based show as well. Speaking directly to the fans, the Xbox head was quick to recognize that the game’s delay was “a bummer,” but reminded fans that it was the right decision for “the game, for the team, and for the overall platform.”
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