Microsoft once tried to buy Nintendo and got laughed out of the room, now Xbox has to insist it’s not for sale

windowslatest.com Nov 2, 2026

Microsoft once tried to buy Nintendo and got laughed out of the room, now Xbox has to insist it’s not for sale

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Nov 2, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Before the original Xbox launched in 2001, Microsoft approached Nintendo twice about a takeover. The first meeting in 1999 left Nintendo executives laughing, and a second 2000 pitch proposing that Microsoft handle hardware while Nintendo focused on games also failed. Microsoft then turned to acquiring studios, eventually buying Bungie and later Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. While Nintendo rode the success of the Switch family—selling over 156 million original units and more than 23 million Switch 2 units by mid‑2026—Xbox’s revenue slipped 7 % to $21.79 billion in fiscal 2026, prompting CEO Phil Spencer to publicly deny any sale. The contrast highlights how early strategic missteps shaped divergent fortunes for the two console makers.

💡 Why It Matters

· Nintendo’s relentless hardware sales now give it leverage that Microsoft lacked a quarter‑century ago, underscoring how missed acquisition opportunities can cement long‑term competitive gaps.

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One World of Warcraft: Forever player is working on a first-person mod…

Modder Arhkain is developing “Retro Forever,” a first‑person overhaul for Blizzard’s upcoming World of Warcraft: Forever that mimics the look and feel of classic RPGs such as Morrowind and Hexen. The project combines existing addons, a custom UI and bespoke spell‑casting animations, allowing players to experience combat, cooking and flight from a true first‑person perspective. Currently the mod supports only a limited set of mage spells and other abilities, but the creator says an artist has expressed interest in producing original assets to replace the borrowed game files and avoid legal issues. Arhkain has documented his progress in two development vlogs and emphasizes that generative AI tools are not part of the workflow. The mod is not yet publicly released, and WoW: Forever launches on 4 November.

💡 By turning a traditionally third‑person MMO into a retro‑style first‑person experience, the mod could redefine player immersion and inspire similar community‑driven transformations for other live‑service games.

gamesradar.com · Nov 3

GTA 6 lead says Rockstar president Sam Houser is involved in every…

Rockstar North co‑development head Rob Nelson told Edge that co‑founder Sam Houser is actively shaping Grand Theft Auto VI, contradicting rumors that he has become a peripheral “taste director.” Nelson said Houser participated in the game’s initial concept, sets overall direction, and reviews each development milestone, offering feedback on lighting, audio, mechanics, tone and narrative. The duo identifies problems together, passes a prioritized issue list to teams, and iterates until resolved. Houser’s hands‑on role spans the entire creative pipeline, even as the title’s map size rivals the combined worlds of GTA IV, GTA V and Red Dead Redemption II. His presence ensures the series’ blend of satire, freedom, and storytelling remains intact.

💡 Houser’s hands‑on oversight guarantees GTA VI will retain the franchise’s distinctive voice, reassuring fans that the series’ core ethos isn’t diluted by scale.

playstationlifestyle.net · Nov 2

PS5 System Update Rolled Out to Ring in November 2026

Sony Interactive Entertainment released PS5 system software update 26.07‑14.22.00 on November 1, 2026. The patch primarily adds security fixes aimed at countering the latest PS5 jailbreak circulating online, a move timed ahead of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI launch. The update also introduces Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR) to the base PS5, an AI‑driven upscaler previously limited to the PS5 Pro. While QSSR is not yet open to third‑party developers, Sony confirmed its integration in several first‑party titles and expects GTA VI to support the feature at release. Sony describes QSSR as a streamlined neural network with a hand‑tuned implementation that improves image detail and stability without sacrificing performance. The rollout arrives with no fanfare, signals Sony’s focus on integrity.

💡 By embedding QSSR now, Sony ensures GTA VI launches with superior visual fidelity on all PS5 units, giving the console a competitive edge over rivals that lack a built‑in AI upscaler.

eurogamer.net · Nov 2

COD Modern Warfare 4 has seemingly answered DMZ players’ PvE calls with…

Infinity Ward has quietly altered Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s DMZ extraction mode by making Story Missions private for solo players on their first attempt. Previously, even these ostensibly single‑player instances could host other competitors, leading to unwanted PvP encounters. The change was observed by players on Reddit and confirmed through in‑game testing, which showed empty Recent Players lists, no UAV or SAM activity, and no visible opponents during a first‑run mission. However, the privacy applies only to the initial playthrough; subsequent attempts revert to the standard PvPvE matchmaking, meaning repeat runs may still involve other players. Infinity Ward has not issued an official statement, leaving the community to speculate on the long‑term direction of DMZ’s mixed‑mode design.

💡 It gives solo players a genuine PvE experience without compromising the core PvPvE loop, addressing long‑standing community frustration while preserving the mode’s competitive edge for repeat play.

windowscentral.com · Nov 2

Convincing footage of a Persona 1 remake for Xbox may have just…

Over the weekend, YouTuber “P1REMAKE” posted a video that appears to be a gameplay trailer for a Persona 1 remake targeting Xbox and possibly PC. The montage shows characters navigating a monster‑infested school, a visual‑novel cutscene, and turn‑based battles that mirror the mechanics of recent titles such as Persona 3: Reload, Persona 4: Revival, and Persona 5: Royal. On‑screen UI elements display Xbox controller prompts (Y, X, B, A, RB), suggesting a console release. Atlus has not removed the video, but it has not been officially confirmed either. Atlus previously indicated interest in remaking Persona 1 and 2, and the leak arrives amid anticipation for upcoming reveals at the Game Awards or an Xbox Games Showcase, alongside confirmed releases of Persona 4: Revival (Feb 18, 2027) and Persona 6.

💡 The footage fuels speculation that Atlus may finally revive its original titles, potentially reshaping the franchise’s legacy and expanding its audience on modern platforms.

ign.com · Nov 2

A Buggy World of Warcraft Mount Has Renewed Player Frustrations at the…

Blizzard’s November Trading Post introduced the Hot Motocross Bunmover 4000, a tricycle‑mount whose wheels remain and clip through terrain. The glitch sparked a wave of criticism on Reddit and Twitter, where players linked the bug to a decline in retail World of Warcraft’s quality. Since the release of the Midnight expansion, updates have been criticized for recycled “invasion” content, weak writing, and abrupt storyline changes, such as the sudden death of a Horde character. The patch cycle, adopted in Dragonflight to shorten content gaps, is now blamed for recurring bugs and rushed releases. Developers have hinted that the Classic+ mode will adopt a slower cadence, while the imminent launch of WoW Forever on November 4 draws attention to the franchise’s broader stability concerns.

💡 The mount’s glaring flaw crystallizes player fatigue with rapid, low‑quality updates, pressuring Blizzard to rethink its content cadence.