The Surprising Early Misstep of Bill Gates in the Gaming Industry

April 29, 2025 - 22:40

The whole world knows the name of Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, which was founded alongside Paul Allen. One might imagine that his path has never been strewn with pitfalls. Yet in 1981, at the age of 26, Bill Gates was looking for partners for his little-known start-up: Microsoft. While the company would go on to revolutionize the tech industry, its early foray into video gaming was far from successful.

Gates and his team developed a game called "Donkey.bas," which was intended to be a simple and entertaining experience. However, it quickly gained a reputation as one of the worst video games ever created. Critics panned its simplistic graphics and lack of engaging gameplay, leading many to question Gates's vision for the gaming world. Despite its poor reception, "Donkey.bas" surprisingly generated significant revenue, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the gaming market.

This early misstep did not deter Gates; instead, it became a stepping stone in his journey toward becoming a tech mogul. The experience taught him valuable lessons about innovation and market dynamics, which would later contribute to Microsoft's monumental success in the software industry.