Nintendo, Sega, Sony etc took a cut of each program sale at the time. It was not really unfeasible technically, but socially. Like selling "hats" or lootboxes

Nintendo, Sega, Sony etc took a cut of each program sale at the time. It was not really unfeasible technically, but socially. Like selling "hats" or lootboxes to gamers were not unfeasable, but they refused to pay even the tiniest amount.