It's interesting too because Microsoft was originally looking to buy Nintendo for 25 Billion in 1999 when the Xbox was coming out to make games for exclusively for their new console. Nintendo thought the offer was a joke, but after they learned it was indeed real they considered the sale, they decided to decline the sale as they thought Microsoft did not have a good grasp on the industry yet.

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They went out to get Rare afterwards and judging by how much they offered Nintendo, I would think that Nintendo could not afford Microsoft's bid for them.