Nintendo Passes on Xbox Game Pass, Insider Confirms; Xbox Game Pass Reaches 23 Million

Leigh Mercer, Tech Times 22 April 2021, 10:04 am

A Nintendo insider shut down rumors of a collaboration with Xbox after speculations and teasers had people talking. Many analysts assumed that the Xbox Game Pass would be available on Nintendo Switch, believing that it would be a fantastic opportunity or both gaming companies.

An earlier rumor about talks between Xbox and legendary game developer Hideo Kojima also had fans pumped up about the speculated collaboration

Nintendo Xbox Collaboration: Not Happening

On Thursday, Apr. 22, TechRadar reported that an insider laid the Nintendo-Xbox collaboration to rest, after tweeting that the anticipated partnership will not happen.

Astris Advisory Japan analyst David Gibson replied to a tweet on Wednesday, Apr. 21, revealing that Nintendo confirmed that Switch would not feature any streaming services in the future.

Would make a lot of sense @MatPiscatella , but I have had @Nintendo tell me directly they would not put other streaming services on the Switch. Lost opportunity...... https://t.co/Qbs97Z2Ugn
— David Gibson (@gibbogame) April 21, 2021

The statement comes after video game analyst Mat Piscatella repeatedly said that allowing Xbox Game pass on Nintendo Switch is a financial win-win for both companies.

Many backed Piscatella's speculation, including The Verge's Senior Editor Tom Warren, who spotted a Nintendo Switch sitting on a shelf during Microsoft's Game Stack event on Apr. 20.

Microsoft's Game Stack event is starting now and there's a shelf!!! *opens Photoshop to examine the pixels* pic.twitter.com/oahucc1gKG
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) April 20, 2021

Xbox boss Phil Spencer also seemed to be eager to collaborate with Nintendo, after saying in an October 2020 interview with GameReactor that he is open for discussions.

In addition, Nintendo's previous collaboration with Ubitus had fans hoping for more partnerships in the future.

However, Microsoft's previous decision to stop developing games for other platforms is believed to have contributed to Nintendo's recent decision.

Also Read: Nintendo Switch System Software Update 12.0.1 is Now Out for Switch and Switch Lite

Hideo Kojima in the Talks With Xbox?

Warren's Twitter post had not only teased a possibility of a Nintendo-Xbox collaboration, but it also had eagle-eyed gaming fans believe that legendary game developer Hideo Kojima did approach Xbox for his next game's release.

The tweet, which also shows a Kojima Productions' mascot at Microsoft's Game Stack event , revived a long-standing rumor that Sony rejected Kojima's latest game proposal due to "Death Stranding's" mediocre sales performance on PlayStation 4.

Xbox Game Pass Reaches 23 Million Subscribers

Xbox Game Pass had been rapidly increasing since the start of 2021, from 18 million on Jan. 27 and jumping to 23 million in Apr. 20.

Windows Central Senior Editor Jez Corden posted the remarkable statistics on Twitter, following it up with a report probing on the Xbox Game Pass's success and shutting down rumors it has been losing money recently, like streaming giants Netflix and Spotify.

He pointed out that, unlike Netflix or Spotify, Xbox Game Pass does not need to pay for ongoing royalties for every download, which ultimately attributed it its financial success.