Ex-Blizzard President Ybarra Faces Backlash for Suggesting Gamers Should Start Tipping

Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra sparked a lot of attention by suggesting gamers tip their favorite games.

In January of this year, Microsoft trimmed 1900 jobs at Activision Blizzard, Zenimax, and Xbox-related divisions. Mike Ybarra, then President of Blizzard, also decided to step down. Now with more free time, Ybarra is leaning towards single-player games like BG3, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Elden Ring.

After finishing a game, he sometimes thinks that game publishers are able to earn more than the standard $70 price you pay for the game, by using a tipping system.

This has stirred controversy mostly in the US, a nation with a well-established tipping culture that some argue is spiraling out of control. The Times published an article on tipping, concluding with a question: Has tipping gone too far in America? Out of 19,000 votes, 99% answered yes.

I’ve thought about this idea for a while, as a player, since I’ve been diving into single player games lately.

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…

— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) April 11, 2024

It’s somewhat controversial that this suggestion came from him, the ex president of Blizzard, a company that recently faced significant layoffs and allegedly withheld bonuses from employees. According to Gamedeveloper.com, Ybarra led a Q&A session with staff in early 2023, where he announced reduced bonuses and insisted on returning to office requirements.

RELATED: Blizzard’s President Mike Ybarra leaves as Microsoft cuts 1900 jobs

Or… wait… you could share more of the profit with the devs instead of asking more from the consumer.

— ⚔Wandering Dutch🇳🇱 ᚴᚱᛁᛘᚠᚱᚬᛋᛏ (@WanderingDutchX) April 12, 2024

I think the billion and trillion dollar companies can handle compensating their employees fairly instead of relying on a tip from me. Because it’s not like my money goes to the combat designer or level artist. It goes into the corporate piggy bank. https://t.co/UKOamXzZny

— Destin (@DestinLegarie) April 11, 2024

If this became a thing I could see the industry abusing it heavily lol, never let this happen for the love of God

— FPSthetics (@FPSthetics) April 14, 2024