Microsoft addresses the huge Xbox leaks: here’s Phil Spencer’s full memo

stopthatgirl7@kbin.social to Games@lemmy.world – 79 points – Microsoft addresses the huge Xbox leaks: here’s Phil Spencer’s full memo
theverge.com

The leaks revealed plans for a revised Xbox Series X.

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Honestly if you read the actual email I think there could be significant legal trouble ahead.

Spencer talks about how the main barrier to acquiring Nintendo is that they sit on a mountain of cash. He calls that unfortunate. He then proceeded to state a company with connections to Microsoft had just bought a lot of Nintendo shares, and how they could work with said company to make such an acquisition a reality.

The company in question publicly bought a massive amount of Nintendo shares. They then proceeded to pressure Nintendo to invest more capital instead of sitting on the cash pile they have now. They did this under claims that such a move would be beneficial to Nintendo in terms of ROI. However, it would also result in Nintendo being more vulnerable to an acquisition from Microsoft if any of those bets don't pay off.

In short, it could be argued that Microsoft worked with investors to tank Nintendo so they could buy it. That's a huge deal and will probably result in a shitstorm.

I'm sure that Microsoft will get the $10M fine they deserve.

Paid for by mass layoffs and rewarded with an exec bonus.

In short, it could be argued that Microsoft worked with investors to tank Nintendo so they could buy it. That’s a huge deal and will probably result in a shitstorm.

I mean, Nintendo selling shares of their company is a specific decision they have made. Do you think they are confused that people other than Nintendo employees are buying these shares? Or that the investors would have an agenda other than just being "Nintendo fans"?

Investors generally want to get a positive ROI. They don't want to tank the company to the point where it can be acquired by another company for pennies on the dollar.

Look at Nokia. When they hired a former Microsoft exec, they weren't expecting him to tank the entire company so it could be acquired by Microsoft.

The term "activist investor" exists for a reason. And nothing from that email suggests that MS was looking to "tank" Nintendo in some nefarious plot.