Nintendo and Xbox have become increasingly close over recent years, starting with the two companies working together to pioneer console cross-play in 2018. Now, after hints dropped from both sides, many fans think that another collaboration between Nintendo and Xbox is coming, but it apparently won't be Xbox Cloud Gaming on Switch.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is part of the Xbox Game Pass program that allows players to play certain games entirely through the cloud. While currently available on Android phones, Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to iOS and PC as well, leading some to theorize that the service could make its way to the Nintendo Switch.

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The possibility of this is not as unlikely as it may immediately seem. Firstly, Xbox has been very open about wanting to expand its Xbox Game Pass program as much as possible, with even Valve reportedly trying to convince Xbox to put the program on Steam. Secondly, the Switch already has cloud gaming capability as some new releases, such as Hitman 3 use cloud streaming to run on the less powerful console. Unfortunately, games industry analyst David Gibson says that somebody at Nintendo flat out told him that it wouldn't even consider letting Xbox Cloud Gaming make the jump to the Switch. David Gibson is a very well-known analyst who has various connections throughout the industry, so his claim is likely accurate.

The Tweet comes as a response to Mat Piscatella, the executive director for The NPD Group, a market research company. Piscatella was musing about how much sense the move would make for both companies, as it would help Nintendo increase the library on the console with the sizable Xbox Game Pass library while also allowing Xbox to get access to millions of more consumers. Unfortunately, Gibson already considers the idea a lost opportunity, meaning if his sources are accurate it likely isn't going to happen anytime soon.

The news will likely come as a disappointment to many Xbox and Nintendo fans, and it does seem like a missed opportunity for a great new addition to both companies' offerings. If this possible explanation for the hinted at Xbox and Nintendo collaboration really is false, it does beg the question of just what the two companies could be planning. There are many theories out there, including the addition of Master Chief to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and hopefully, with the approaching summer of game events and conferences, something will be announced soon.

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Source: Nintendo Life