More evidence is pointing to a possible collaboration between Nintendo and Xbox. An official piece of artwork was just shared on the Halo Instagram page, and it features characters from the Super Mario universe. Whether this is just fun and games or something else is yet to be determined, but it could be pointing to some sort of collaboration between the Xbox or Halo and Nintendo or Mario.
Nintendo and Xbox have been playing nice over the past few years, from Microsoft publishing Minecraft Dungeons on the Nintendo Switch to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate bringing Banjo-Kazooie into the roster, characters now owned by Microsoft. The art that was just shared on Instagram itself is rather remarkable, as characters from the Mushroom Kingdom and even Donkey Kong are seen donning Halo gear and weaponry.
In the image, Mario looks to be wearing Spartan gear while holding the iconic Pistol and Assault Rifle from the games. Bowser is dressed like an Elite and is grasping an Energy Sword. Donkey Kong has just smashed through a wall and is using a Gravity Hammer. And even a Koopa Troopa looks like a Grunt from Halo. With the art being posted on the official Halo Instagram, it raises the question of whether this is a hint of things to come. Perhaps some type of crossover could be announced at E3. But this could also simply be silly and entertaining artwork. That being said, Nintendo would have likely even had to "okay" the artwork before it was posted as well.
Just a few days ago, the rumor mill really started turning when a leaker teased that Nintendo and Microsoft had struck a big deal, one that would be officially revealed later this year. According to that report, fans will not know the details of what went down until the fall of 2021.
All of these rumors and rumbles should be taken with a grain of salt for now, but the old "where there is smoke there is fire" analogy often holds true, and the evidence is starting to pile up that something is going on behind the scenes between Nintendo and Microsoft. Interestingly enough, Microsoft attempted to purchase Nintendo in the past, in what would have been a joint venture; that offer was "laughed at" by Nintendo.
Since then, however, the two video game behemoths appear to have at least become relatively close in terms of a working partnership for collaborations and deals. So whether it is the Master Chief in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a Nintendo game on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass on the Switch, something else entirely, or nothing at all, it is certainly interesting to speculate about.
Source: Instagram