This month, indie developer Markus “Notch” Persson sold his company Mojang and his iconic game Minecraft to Microsoft for $2.5 bn. Citing the extreme pressure and public scrutiny the game had put him under, Persson claimed that “It’s not about the money. It’s about my sanity.”

Minecraft was the perfect example of an internet hit. An experimental game made by a passionate individual, it slowly grew through word of mouth and link-sharing into a fully-blown international phenomenon. Gamers liked what they saw and showed their appreciation by putting money into the game, and advising their friends to follow suit. Being an indie developer means having the love, conviction, and willingness to slave away on a dream project without any promise of success. In an ironic twist, Notch’s dream project has become so successful, and has been shared by so many, that it’s become a nightmare.

It’s a tricky problem, without an obvious solution. As consumers, all we can do to show our support for the developers we love is to buy their titles and spread the word. What are we to do when the success and popularity we wished upon those developers reaches toxic heights?