Former Xbox and Blizzard exec thinks you should be able to tip devs after beating a game

Former Xbox and Blizzard exec Mike Ybarra believes that games should have an option for players to tip developers when finishing a game they think is "special."

Tom West

Published 15 Apr 2024

Mike Ybarra says he'd like it if games, such as Elden Ring achievements or one of the best games on Game Pass offered an option to tip the developer once you've beaten it. Ybarra says that he knows the initial $70 price for a game is "already a lot," but sometimes he wishes he could "give these folks another $10 or $20."

Former Blizzard exec suggests having an option to tip developers in games

Former Blizzard exec thinks games should offer ways to tip developers

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

Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, and Horizon: Zero Dawn were mentioned as some of the games that have sparked the thought, although Ybarra does acknowledge that $70 to purchase the game in the first place is already a good chunk of money. "I know $70 is already a lot, but it's an option at the end of the game I wish I had at times," Ybarra says. "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."

With the rise of services like Xbox Game Pass expanding the reach for many smaller studios, a tipping system could be a fantastic way for the studios to reap some additional rewards when their games are enjoyed by millions of players.

We've seen so many brilliant games arrive in the Xbox Game Pass library over the years, and there are so many more to come. Check out our list of confirmed games coming to Game Pass for a glimpse at just some of the games joining the service in the future.

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Written by Tom West

Tom has been playing video games since he was old enough to hold a controller, experimenting with a number of systems until he eventually fell in love with Xbox. With a passion for the platform, he decided to make a career out of it, and now happily spends his days writing about that which he loves. If he’s not hunting for Xbox achievements, you’ll likely find him somewhere in The Elder Scrolls Online or fighting for survival in Battlefield.