I have friends who work for Ubisoft, and I'm not spending any of my money on their games. It's not like the few pennies my purchase would contribute to their paycheck really matters.

Hell, if it's about supporting your mate specifically, give them the money directly and pirate the game you want. More chance they'll see so much as a dime for it.

Buying the game and making it successful, wpuld get him fired not paid better, like any other dev team that recently dropped banger games.

Every time a good game comes out, and it sells well, the dev team is laid off.