A pump claim of a former Disney Imagineer has resurfaced online, claiming that Disney explored the possibility of acquiring Nintendo in 2016. The claim, made in a YouTube interview (linked here), suggests the then CEO Bob Iger and the leadership of Disney “seriously considered” to buy the giant of the games. However, the proximity of the source to the executive decision -making of Iger and Disney is still clear, which causes skepticism.
Imagineer without a name, who worked on Disney theme parks projects, declared that Disney saw Nintendo as a strategic objective due to his iconic characters (Mario, Zelda) and alignment of the friendly brand for the family. While the idea of merging Disney’s narration with the innovation of the Nintendo game is tempting, no concrete evidence supports the claim. Neither Disney nor Nintendo have recognized such discussions.
In 2016, Nintendo market capitalization was around $ 20 billion. The acquisition of Nintendo would have been one of Disney’s largest purchases, along with its Lucasfilm agreement of $ 4 billion in 2012 and its acquisition of $ 7.4 billion in 2006. Such movement would have significantly expand the Disney portfolio.
However, Nintendo has fiercely kept its independence for more than 130 years, rarely collaborating deeply with external partners and purchases never entertaining. In addition, Japanese corporate law makes hostile acquisitions by foreign entities almost impossible. Even friendly acquisitions require an overwhelming approval of the Board, which Nintendo’s leadership will probably reject. This combination of fierce regulatory obstacles makes any acquisition attempt very unlikely.
