The low-end hardware, no AAA 3rd support Nintendo you love or hate today, use to be ALOT worst than Microsoft in the 80s.
In the 80s, Nintendo didn't just take "saving the gaming industry" as a 1UP; they used that to control the market.
They were arrogant to developers in what and how games should run on their system and bullied retail stores in what their layout should look like to bottleneck any competitors.
They monopolize gaming or at least saw it in clear view.
But if you think the Nintendo today is an old-fashioned samurai who lost to the likes of Microsoft with online games or Sony with the Playstation having dual analog, no.
Nintendo is more of an Old Yakuza boss looking down on those two today with it 30+ years of protecting its IPs (they may have lost the fight to pirating, but while Microsoft tries to get rid of console exclusives, Nintendo IPs have stood the test of gaming.) But every Yakuza boss, every Company like Nintendo, has a rival that challenges them.
Sega.
While Microsoft today cry bullies its way to power and with money, Sega went to work in the 80s by producing better games and better hardware.
"They have a mascot; we have a mascot; they have a final fantasy; we have Phantasy Star".
It's that determination that stopped Nintendo's power trip from monopolizing gaming. (
and with the recent news that Microsoft actually wanted to acquire SEGA, this theory gives a possible reason why)
(I'm paraphrasing history here for a narrative discussion)