Throughout its storied history, Nintendo has attracted the attention of numerous potential suitors eager to add the video gaming titan to their portfolios. Among the most notable was Microsoft, but surprisingly, interest has also come from sectors far removed from the gaming world.
Recently, Activision's founding figure, Bobby Kotick, opened up during a conversation on the Grit podcast, disclosing an unexpected twist in the acquisition saga. It turns out, investment giant Berkshire Hathaway cast its gaze on Nintendo at one point. At the time, the company was eyeing a stake in Activision when Vivendi was compelled to divest from it, and Kotick noted that vice chairman Charlie Munger ignited the discussion about Nintendo.
“He goes, ‘You know, I was looking at a couple other companies in your sector. I think if we bought yours, we should buy that company Nintendo, too.’” — Bobby Kotick
Continuing from that intriguing revelation, Kotick recounted Munger's comments during the discussion, mentioning, “He was like, ‘Have you guys looked at it? I was like, ‘Yeah.’ It was trading at the time at like 13 billion, with 7 billion in cash. He goes, ‘You know, I don’t think anything is gonna go really bad before I’m dead, and then if it goes bad after I’m dead, they’ll just chalk it up to the folly of an 82-year-old, so you don’t have to be so concerned about disappointing me.’”
Ultimately, the stars did not align for Berkshire Hathaway to acquire Nintendo. Instead, the acquisition landscape shifted when Activision paired up with Vivendi, forming Activision-Blizzard, before finding a new home with Microsoft. Kotick pointed out that Munger’s apparent distaste for the gaming industry played a significant role in these developments: “He didn’t like the business [of video games]. He thought it was a step removed from gambling. He’s like, ‘You know, you’re preying off people’s addictions.’ And I was like, ‘I’m not. I’m actually giving them joy and fun, and if you ever tried a video game, you’d see that. He always had this… little bit of an aversion.”
This year marked the passing of Munger, who lived a remarkable life until the age of 99. Meanwhile, Kotick transitioned into the role of CEO at Activision-Blizzard and retired in the same year, leaving Berkshire Hathaway silent on any new pursuits in the gaming sector since then.