"Nintendo America's Director Emphasizes Great Work Relationship with Microsoft"

During an interview with Inverse, Doug Bowser, the director of Nintendo America, highlighted the company's "great" working relationship with Microsoft. He described Microsoft as partners in many ways and demonstrated their cooperation through projects such as Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch and the inclusion of Banjo-Kazooie in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Bowser made these remarks in response to leaked information from Microsoft's lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission suggesting that Microsoft once considered acquiring Nintendo. There have been rumors that Microsoft visited Nintendo to discuss a possible takeover, which Nintendo executives allegedly laughed off.

However, the collaboration between Microsoft and Nintendo seems far from over. Earlier this year, the companies struck a deal to bring the Call of Duty series to Nintendo consoles for ten years. Microsoft currently owns Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard, even though the Call of Duty games have not been released on Nintendo platforms for years.

Elsewhere in the interview, when asked about potential backward compatibility for the Nintendo Switch successor, Bowser refrained from providing specifics since the next Nintendo console is yet to be announced. He did, however, emphasize the role of the Nintendo Accounts linked to customers.

"With the Switch, we introduced Nintendo Accounts. Previously, each device we launched had a completely new account system. Nintendo Accounts allow us to continue communicating with our customers as and when we transition to a new platform, easing the transition period," Bowser said.

He added that their goal is to minimize the typical dip seen at the end of an older console's lifecycle and the start of a new one. Although he couldn't discuss any potential features of a new console, he affirmed that Nintendo Accounts provide a strong foundation for communication during the transition. This echoes previous statements made by Nintendo director Shuntaro Furukawa, highlighting the significant role Nintendo Accounts will have in transitioning to a new console.