September 23rd 2023.
I recently read an article about a reader's reaction to Phil Spencer’s comments on Microsoft's attempt to acquire Nintendo. It made me think of a notorious and hilarious speech that former CEO, Gerald Ratner, of the high street chain Ratners, gave at the 1991 Institute of Director’s annual conference. He wanted to impress the esteemed and wealthy audience, so he distanced himself from Ratners' product by describing it as ‘total c**p.’
The most memorable line of his speech was, ‘We even sell a pair of earrings for under a pound. Gold earrings as well. And some people say, well, that’s cheaper than a prawn sandwich from Marks & Spencer’s. But I have to say, the sandwich will probably last longer than the earrings.’ This speech proved to be devastating for his business as it caused Ratners' value to plummet by around £500 million and he eventually lost his job.
Coming back to Phil Spencer’s comments, it's evident that Microsoft's approach to gaming is all about acquisition and market domination, which is incompatible with Nintendo’s philosophy of developing innovative, beautifully crafted, and exciting products. It's a huge contrast between the two companies, and it's not surprising that Microsoft considers Nintendo to be their most coveted prize.
It's almost like the Emperor’s New Clothes parable, where the little boy points out that the emperor is naked. Everyone knows what's going on, but nobody wants to acknowledge it. The fact that this has been revealed and exposed makes it all the more damaging for Microsoft. It's not the content that's exposed, but rather, the fact that it exposes what was already there to see; that Microsoft is a cancer on the games industry.
It's evident that if anyone's head is for the chop, it's not the unfortunate creature who leaked the documents, but Phil Spencer himself. He cultivated an image as a regular guy with a passion for gaming, but his intentions are now clear for all to see. He's a liar caught with his pants on fire, whose interest is in market domination, which is utterly antithetical to the industry and the artistic form itself.
A change at the top won’t change this, but it might be enough for some gamers to disavow the fact that Microsoft is a company that ruthlessly exploits its position of financial domination to steer the future of gaming towards creative oblivion. It's evident that all companies live and die by profit, but profit can be made by various means. The means by which Microsoft make profit is wholly incompatible with Nintendo’s, and for this reason, Nintendo should be applauded.
It's a good thing that Microsoft was almost blocked from buying Activision Blizzard, as, short of Trump taking power and invading Japan, there's no way now that, even if they could, regulators would permit the acquisition of Nintendo.
It's clear that the Microsoft leaks have caused a stir and exposed what many don't want to acknowledge. It's up to the gamers to decide how they feel about it, and take a stand for the future of gaming.
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