If you've ever loved a game so much that you wish you could pay even more for it to support the developers, then you're not alone, as a Baldur's Gate 3 developer has criticized Steam for not offering the option to do just that.
When he's not busy as Editorial Director of Larian Studios, Michael Douse is often seen on social media, where he is an outspoken critic of the games industry's nefarious practices, as well as a proud supporter of the best the industry has to offer. In one of those supportive moments, he reflected on Twitter why he couldn't pay more than the retail price of a game simply for it being a great game.
Sometimes I come across an indie game (it can be at any financial level, but for me it's usually indie) that I love. For example, the latter costs €8. I want to give the promoter €30, for example, because it's a fucking slap in the face. I find it curious that you can't do it through Steam…January 22, 2025
“Sometimes I come across an indie game that I love,” he begins. “This last one, for example, costs €8. I want to give the promoter €30, for example, because it's a fucking slap in the face.” He then goes on to ask why this isn't an option, stating, “It's funny to me that through Steam you can't do that.”
He is quick to clarify that this isn't a call for everyone to pay more for their games (after all, not all games are worth more than the asking price), but that the option should be there. “I'm not suggesting that anyone should pay more than the listed price for a game, but I want to pay more than the listed price for a game, but I want to give this guy €30 because his game is a fucking slap in the face. Probably a sensible reason “Which is why Steam can't (or hasn't) allowed this, but it seems like an option that should exist.”
This is not the first time an idea like this has arisen. Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra notably faced backlash for suggesting that gamers should tip game developers on top of what they pay for a game. That said, gamers would certainly be more open to tipping a solo developer and their cheap indie title than a giant like Blizzard, so maybe the idea has traction after all.
Until then, Douse has a possible backup option in mind. “Maybe I'll start buying a bunch of copies of my favorite independent films and putting the keys in here as some sort of cultural enrichment plan.”
If you want to support smaller developers, why not check out our list of best indie games of 2024?