By Sagar V. Mankar 
Michael Douse, the publishing director of Larian Studios, best known for Baldur’s Gate 3, has voiced a unique idea for supporting indie game developers. He believes gamers should have the “option” to pay more than the listed price on platforms like Steam if they truly appreciate a game. Sharing his thoughts on Twitter, Douse highlighted his frustration with the current system that prevents players from “voluntarily” offering extra financial support to developers.
In his tweet, Douse explained that he occasionally stumbles upon indie games so impressive that he wishes he could pay more than their retail price. For example, he mentioned a game priced at €8 that he felt was worth much more, stating, “I want to give the developer €30… because it slaps.” He questioned why Steam doesn’t allow players to overpay voluntarily.
However, Douse clarified that his suggestion isn’t a call for everyone to pay extra for their games but rather for the “option’ to exist for those who want to show additional appreciation. He noted, “There’s probably a sensible reason why Steam hasn’t allowed this, but it feels like an option that should exist.”
This idea of supporting developers isn’t new. Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra faced criticism for suggesting players should tip developers. However, Douse’s approach differs, focusing on empowering players to voluntarily support smaller creators, especially indie developers, rather than giant studios like Blizzard.
Douse even suggested a workaround while waiting for platforms to embrace this feature. He mentioned buying multiple copies of his favorite indie games and sharing them as part of a “cultural enrichment scheme.” He also hinted at promoting the next game of the developer who inspired his tweet.
This proposal reflects the growing sentiment among gamers who wish to see indie developers thrive. It also sparks an interesting debate about how gaming platforms could evolve to better support smaller creators.