Former Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra has expressed his desire for players to have the option to “tip” developers after completing a game. While he acknowledges that this idea may not be popular with everyone, Ybarra believes that there are games that leave players in awe and make them wish they could give more than the initial purchase price. He mentioned titles like Horizon Zero Dawn, Gears of War, and Elden Ring as examples of games that he considers worth more than what he originally paid.
In a series of tweets, Ybarra shared his thoughts on the concept of tipping developers, particularly after playing single-player games that deliver exceptional experiences. He emphasized that this proposed tipping option would be different from the pressure to tip that is often seen in other industries. Ybarra’s suggestion has sparked discussions among players, with some expressing concerns about how tips would be shared among developers and publishers.
Ybarra’s proposal comes at a time of transition for Blizzard, with the company recently announcing its new president, Johanna Faries. Faries, the former general manager of Activision’s Call of Duty franchise, takes on this leadership role following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. The gaming industry continues to evolve, with ideas like developer tipping raising questions about the relationship between players, developers, and publishers in the future.