Microsoft Games on Nintendo Handhelds | looking through Microsoft's experimental years

It's no longer a rumour that Microsoft were experimenting with a portable Xbox console as many higher-ups at Microsoft have come out and stated. While this doesn't really doesn't have too much to do with the topic at hand, it does present a unique time in Microsoft's history. Whether they were actually testing public interest in their franchises or simply expanding their portfolio to a larger audience is still unknown. I've previously discussed the topic here if you're interested, but for now this is a look back at the Microsoft title's you can find on portable consoles.

Microsoft partnered with THQ and experimented with licencing out some of it's IP's to be used on the Gameboy Advance. The two games in question were Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee and Monster Truck Madness 2.0. with Microsoft stating the releases alongside "other best-selling franchises to the handheld platform". Within that year saw the release of Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge and marked a new leaf for Microsoft games on handheld devices. From 2004 to 2005 Rare developed three new titles for the GBA; Sabre Wulf, Banjo-Pilot and It's Mr. Pants. It's unclear whether Rare still had some connections with Nintendo, but regardless Microsoft and THQ continued their partnership in releasing handheld games of Microsoft's franchises.



In retrospect these selected titles and franchises make a lot of sense in the context of Bach's post about a proposed Xboy targeting younger audiences. While there is no date as to when the prototyping took place; rumours were still floating around near the mid 2000's, Microsoft may be simply testing the waters with these franchises. Former Rare titles already had established Nintendo fans back on the N64, so releasing their kid friendly franchise on a kid friendly platform which already has existing roots with Nintendo makes a ton of sense.

As the DS rolled around a tonal shift was present with more mature, strategic titles being more prevalent. The first of these titles were Zoo Tycoon DS in 2005 followed by Age of Empires: The Age of Kings in 2006. Sim like games were well suited to the DS touch screen and stylus which is probably why Microsoft released a few more in 2008 with; Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise and finally Age of Empires: Mythologies in 2009. Hell the DS even saw a spin-off sequel of the Mech Assault franchise which originated on the original Xbox.

The final game to be released by Microsoft on a handheld was Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow released 1 year after Blue Dragon Plus for the DS in 2009. My theory is Microsoft wanted to improve awareness of the franchise to more Japanese players and what better way to port it onto one of the best selling handhelds at the time. Sadly this was the last game in the franchise as well as being the last Microsoft handheld title published.

While an Xbox handheld never came to fruition, we are left with glimpses of the types of games that could have been on there if anything. These games Microsoft did publish aren't too bad and are dirt cheap if you're interested.