„I want to give the developer €30 because it damn slaps.” Baldur's Gate 3 creator hopes Steam adds tipping feature for beloved devs
Michael Douse of Larian Studios regrets that Steam doesn't give the option to support developers with additional funds. The creator of Baldur's Gate 3 would be happy to tip developers on games he has particularly enjoyed.
As players, you might have occasionally felt that a certain outstanding game was worth more than what you spent on it. In such a situation, would you be interested in having the option for tipping devs, for instance, via Steam? Such a solution is supported by Michael Douse - the publishing director of Larian Studios (Baldur’s Gate 3, Divinity series). He would gladly give extra money to the developers of games that he greatly enjoyed. He shared his thoughts on X.
Sometimes I stumble on an indie game (could be any economic level but often indie for me) that I love so much. For example this last one costs €8. I want to give the developer €30, for example, because it fu***ng slaps. It’s curious to me that via Steam, you’re unable to do that. I’m not suggesting anyone should pay more than the listed price for a game, but I want to give this dude €30 because his game fu***ng slaps. Probably a sensible reason as to why Steam can’t (or hasn’t) allowed this, but it seems like an option that should exist - argues the publishing director of Larian Studios.
Michael Douse, who often speaks about the industry, realizes that his statements can evoke many emotions and objections. Nonetheless, he stresses that no one is forced to compensate developers in this manner. As alternative solutions, he is considering launching a fundraiser on Kickstarter or seeking support through Patreon. However, operating these platforms requires additional work.
The publishing director of Larian Studios is also considering buying favorite titles as a gift, to then distribute them as part of promoting their creators. Judging by the comments under Douse's posts, this is an option that many people are currently using. He himself tends to avoid the word "tip," as it doesn't fully reflect his intentions.
[...] What I’m talking about is more the ability to say, actually, I like this a whole lot and would like to give you [developers] more. Not because you “offered me great service” but because I like your studio and would like you to make more games. But again, my choice alone - we read in the previous post.
This is not the first time we've heard about "tipping" game developers. Last year, a similar solution was proposed by the former CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Ybarra. In his statement, however, he focused not on independent teams, but on studios responsible for major titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Elden Ring. Ybarra's idea didn't receive a warm reception in the gaming community.
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