It would have been good for a while, but then Microsoft would have screwed everything up.
Like they did with Rare, Lionhead, Kinect, the Xbox One, and so many other things.

Brink of collapse?

And Conker's Bad Fur Day and Star Fox Adventures! I need these!

You know what the real "what if" is?

What if Switch is announced to have cross-play with the XBO?

Microsoft wants cross play and Nintendo needs it.

This is going to be controversial, so be prepared for what I'm about to say: I think Nintendo should put Mario on Xbox AND playstation. I don't think that putting Mario on XBO (and PS4) would be as bad idea if done right. In fact, I actively think Nintendo should. How?

The Orange Box. It was a collection of Valve games ported to consoles and it was awesome and beneficial for Valve. In an environment where Mario is on smartphones to spread brand awareness, I think a "Nintendo Selects: Gold Collection" would be just as effective for consoles. Maybe even moreso.

Give the project to Tantalus. Take Super Mario Galaxy, Ocarina of Time 3D, Metroid Prime, and Super Smash Bros. 64. Remaster them to all run at 1080p 60fps. Redo textures. Make the appropriate tweaks to the gameplay to work on a traditional controller. No waggle or pointer for Galaxy, no second touch screen for OoT3D and add camera control, dual analog controls for Metroid Prime (and remove the stupid fetch quest). Add online to Super Smash Bros. 64. Make the collection fucking awesome.

Then just release that collection on XBO/PS4. All of these games are at least 10 years old and have been sold multiple times already, so it's not the same thing as "going third party" since it's only one off and it's not releasing something completely new (it obviously is technically before someone mentions it). A game like that would obviously sell insane numbers just because of the novelty, and those four games are perfect for showing the best of what Nintendo has to offer while leaving people wanting more.

Playing Galaxy makes you want more Mario. Playing OoT makes you want to play more Zelda. Playing Metroid Prime makes you want to play more Metroid. Playing Smash makes you want to play more Nintendo. The games are the the most cinematic, "classic" representations of their respective franchises aside from Smash. People who buy those consoles are looking for those kinds of experiences.

That's also why I didn't chose something like WWHD, even though I think it's a better game. OoT is the most "classic" 3D Zelda experience. It's also why I didn't include 2D titles like Super Metroid, even though I think those are better. Purely from a marketing POV, these four games would attract the most people.

Putting these four games on one disk for $60 would send shockwaves, and would be even bigger than The Orange Box. And it's an even bigger deal because the context of the package makes it clear that it's a special, one off thing. If you end up loving it and want more Mario, Zelda, Metorid, Smash, or Nintendo, you'll have to buy a Switch. It's the ultimate Nintendo demo disk.

Alright, I'm readying myself to get crucified now lol.

It would have created even better competition as long as MS gave Nintendo artistic freedom and Nintendo gave MS the freedom to create the hardware of their choosing.

Isn't that precisely why Nintendo dumped Sony? Necause they felt they were getting a raw deal?

And isn't Nvidia being that for Nintendo now with the Switch?

1. How?

2. Why?

3. Not even remotely close to being true.

1. If course you will. No one was under the impression that there would be another Orange Box. Plus it would be incredibly easy for Nintendo to mention in advertisements that "for one time only," you can play Nintendo's iconic franchises on Xbox/Playstation.

2. Oh, I see. I still don't think it's that big of an investment. Wind Waker HD was indeed released quickly. The only update of thise ilk that took a while was Twilight Princess HD which only took 2 years. These games individually wouldn't need as much work because their artstyles haven't aged them the way TP did. There have been other games with much more work done and they had a quick enough turn around like the Crash Remastered collection. Games have alse added online to old games before. Either way, all in all I think that it would be well worth it.

It also wouldn't be competing against Nintendo's mobile efforts. It's doing the same thing somewhere else. It does absolutely have a lower audience reach, but it also has a more direct audience reach with a much higher chance for audience turnover.

3. I just think it's misguided to think that people who haven't played some of these games wouldn't be interested in playing them or that people who have played some of them before haven't moved on to other platforms.

A lot of people have never played OoT, but are well aware of its iconic status and the iconic status of Zelda. A lot of people have never played Galaxy, but are well aware of its iconic status and the iconic status of Mario. A lot of people have never played a Metroid game in general, but are well aware of it's iconic status. I think more people have played a Smash game, but even then more have been the guest and not the host. And for the people who haven't, they almost assuredly have a friend who has who will talk up how fun it is, because the games are iconic.

Maybe you played Mario 64 and haven't bought another Nintendo system since. Seeing Mario Galaxy in a collection with other games you've never played would obviously entice you to buy it again because of nostalgia, and the same would happen in similar situations. Now they have insentive to try everything else.

This gives those people a curiosity that will assuredly be elevated by the insane amount of exitement over a collection like this even existed. It would be like the NES Mini on steroids.

The problem is that Nintendo fears losing control of it's company and its products so it won't do a team up. I think Nintendo would have had the primary control of a Microsoft partnership believe it or not as long as Microsoft got it's money. They would obviously want a hand in hardware and software development and they would have laid out a brilliant online service.

The industry would be radically different today had this occurred. Microsoft and Nintendo kind of covers each others weaknesses. I'm sure Microsoft would be more than happy to handle the marketing and promotions if they saw a return for it.

Well, partially. A MS/Nintendo alliance would also mean that MS released games, a focus that Nvidia does not have. That changes the dynamic quite a bit I believe.