Culture Former video game executive sparks debate after claiming players should tip developers - Tipping has seemingly ended up everywhere, with gaming now even being mooted as an option

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Featured Image Credit: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images, Stock Image via Getty

With video games costing around $70 nowadays, most players are not thinking: "If only I could pay a bit more..."

Yet one former video game exec thinks gamers are thirsting to tip developers.

Yep, as well as tipping your waiter, delivery driver, barista, hairdresser, etc., this guys thinks you should be tipping video game developers too.

Mike Ybarra, the former president of the major gaming company Blizzard Entertainment and ex-Xbox executive too, floated the concept on X last week.

While acknowledging that most people won't be a fan of the tipping idea, he said the idea could players support games they are 'in awe of'.

"I've thought about this idea for a while, as a player, since I've been diving into single player games lately," Ybarra began in a tweet posted on 11 April.

"When I beat a game, there are some that just leave me in awe of how amazing the experience was.

"At the end of the game, I've often thought 'I wish I could give these folks another $10 or $20 because it was worth more than my initial $70 and they didn't try to nickel and dime me every second.'"

For context as to how that compares to tipping at a meal - a 20 percent tip on a $70 bill is $14.

The ex video game exec added: "Games like HZD, GoW, RDR2, BG3, Elden Ring, etc. I know $70 is already a lot, but it's an option at the end of the game I wish I had at times. Some games are that special.

"I know most will dislike this idea. :) BTW, I realize we are tired of 'tipping' in everything else - but I view this different from a pressure to tip type scenario many face and give feedback on."

Many gamers have since flocked to the comments section of the video to provide their thoughts - and the feelings are certainly mixed.

"Unless you're tipping an independent Dev.. aren't you really just giving the publisher the money? With the Dev on a set wage?" one person asked.

"Larian is the only game studio that deserves to be tipped imo, but even then it would feel more disrespectful and unipersonal," a second added, while a third remarked: "I like this idea if a game is good and up to our standards, we should have an option to tip the studio/devs."

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I know this is obvious as hell, but tipping a mechanic or plumber for doing a good job when you normally wouldn't tip them becoming more common is not the same as paying a partially state funded mega-corporation for buying a $70-$90 video game with micro transactions and piecemealed content!

I do view spending like 5 dollars once in a high effort "free to play" game like Genshin Impact as an equivalent of tipping though. if you ever played the game you'd realize you literally don't have to pay anything for the gacha shit and the open world gameplay is better than shit that costs more I've played despite being pretty much just as simple. This though? Not the same as a one time "good job for making this thing" in a game where dumbasses are whaling and never actually playing the game.
 
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Dude's retarded as all hell but I can see this happening, especially if GAAS goes away. Publishers will do anything to siphon more from wallets.

- Credits roll : "How bout a tip for the heckin awesome devs that made this masterpiece!?"

If you want to support an indie dev, buy merch.
 
I tip when its warranted. Hell I tipped the plumber $150 extra last winter for driving to my mothers house for 2 hours in a blizzard on the weekend to fix some blocked pipes cause shes disabled and not being able to use the toilet would have been a serious issue. People who go above and beyond like that absolutely deserve to be tipped and tipped well. So do alot of servers. But game developers? They want people to pay $80 for a stripped down base game, $30+ per dlc for a year or two and who make a point of insulting their customers and shoving political shit in your face after that and a still want to be tipped afterwards?

Why am I not surprised. This is peak and this is why its a good thing bs. These people really do think they're your betters. I'm surprised this isn't coming from somebody at paradox, EA or bethesda. But it figures blizzard would have this kind of attitude. Especially after the shitshow that was diablo after the second game
 
I want whatever he is smoking.

Imagine tipping a game dev with the current state of the industry and the slop most of them offer, ah my sides.
 
I'm sure a company like Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard would forward those tips to the people who make the game and not just keep it for themselves. They have several decades of excellent employer/employee relations.

The same Blizzard that crowdfunded a prize pool for a tournament and then slowly reduced their own contribution as it was doing well - they'd spread the wealth around.

It's also an offensive idea to tip when a Japanese person (aka the people who made Armored Core 6, Elden Ring, Breath of the Wild/TOTK, FF7R2, Like a Dragon) would find it offensive and turn you down anyhow - as would any studio with actual integrity. The best tip a dev can get (and what has been the norm for ~30 years) is you liking a game so much you recommend it to someone else.

Also very comical when describing games that left an amazing/lasting impression - none of them were from his former studio.
 
Corporation: PLEASE give us more money so we can piecemeal it to our workers.

I bought the game, I've played it, you're asking me to buy microtransactions and you want MORE for your product?
 
I always thought working for tips was something scammy businesses did to low-wage workers to get out of paying them better on their hourly pay? Everybody and their dog are looking for handouts! :stress:
 
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