„I want to give the developer €30 because it damn slaps.” Baldur’s Gate 3 creator hopes Steam adds tipping feature for beloved devs

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In your experience as a gamer, you might have found some exceptional games so captivating that their value seemed greater than what you initially paid for them. Would it interest you if these developers could provide additional support after the purchase, perhaps through platforms like Steam? This idea is endorsed by Michael Douse, the publishing director of Larian Studios (Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity series). He expressed his willingness to invest extra funds in the creators of games he deeply appreciated. He voiced these thoughts during X.

Occasionally, I come across an indie game that I adore so deeply, such as the recent one priced at €8, which is absolutely fantastic. In my opinion, I’d like to reward the developer with €30 (or more) because it really hits the mark. It’s puzzling to me that on Steam, you can’t do this. I understand that no one should pay beyond the listed game price, but I feel compelled to give this creator €30 due to the outstanding quality of their work. It seems like a feature that could be implemented – as suggested by the publishing director at Larian Studios.

Michael Douse acknowledges that his comments may stir various feelings and disagreements among listeners. Yet, he reiterates that no one is compelled to financially support developers in this specific way. Instead, he’s exploring alternatives such as organizing a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter or seeking patronage through Patreon. However, managing these platforms demands extra effort.

The director of Larian Studios is also contemplating purchasing popular titles with the intention of sharing them, thereby supporting and promoting their creators. Based on comments under Douse’s posts, it appears that this approach is being employed by many individuals at present. He prefers not to use the term “tip” as he feels it doesn’t accurately represent his motivations.

What I’m referring to is expressing my enthusiasm for what you’re doing, specifically saying that I really enjoy it and would appreciate if you could produce even more. It’s not just about the service you provided, but rather my appreciation for your studio and my hope that you continue creating games. However, this preference is solely mine, as mentioned in our previous discussion.

This isn’t the first occasion where the notion of “tipping” game developers has been brought up. Previously, the former CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Ybarra, suggested something similar last year. His emphasis wasn’t on small, independent teams, but rather large studios developing popular games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 or Elden Ring. However, Ybarra’s idea didn’t receive much support within the gaming community.

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2025-01-27 12:33