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Xbox boss Phil Spencer 'would love to see Mario on Xbox'

Microsoft and Nintendo worked together on Minecraft for Wii U, and Spencer hopes to carry that collaboration even further.

David Craddock

November 23, 2016 1:24 PM

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Xbox executive Phil Spencer spoke highly of Nintendo's and Microsoft's collaboration to bring Minecraft to Wii U, and said he'd love to see Nintendo games on the Xbox platform one day.

"I’d love to see Mario on Xbox," Spencer said in an interview with AusGamers. "As someone who’s been in this industry and played games forever, I’ll still say it: Nintendo has the strongest first-party of anybody. They’re just fantastic and the memories that they have instilled in so many of us, who’ve played their games and had those delightful experiences, having those on Xbox would be great."

Spencer would love to see Microsoft's partnership with Nintendo bear other fruit. Fans constantly ask if he thinks it'll be possible to play as Banjo Kazooie in a Super Smash Bros. game, and Spencer is open to the idea.

"Continuing to work with them on that and building a stronger relationship... I mean if that paid dividends down the road that lead to something else, that would be fantastic."

Back in the halcyon days of 16-bit wars, console manufacturers rarely interacted unless they had occasion to trade barbs or malign one another in court. Fortunately, that's changing. Nintendo recently congratulated Microsoft on the original Xbox's 15-year anniversary in a tweet, and Sony and Microsoft congratulated one another on launching PS4 and Xbox One in 2013, respectively.

David Craddock

Long Reads Editor

David L. Craddock writes fiction, nonfiction, and grocery lists. He is the author of the Stay Awhile and Listen series, and the Gairden Chronicles series of fantasy novels for young adults. Outside of writing, he enjoys playing Mario, Zelda, and Dark Souls games, and will be happy to discuss at length the myriad reasons why Dark Souls 2 is the best in the series. Follow him online at davidlcraddock.com and @davidlcraddock.