The rumour mill is spinning rather quickly lately, with rumours about Microsoft apparently looking at buying Valve, EA and others.
Polygon cites a "reliable source" for this information:
Some of the names being thrown around as possible acquisitions by Microsoft are, frankly, astounding, even unthinkable. But the fact that they are doing the rounds is instructive. The most recent one we heard (from a reliable source close to Microsoft) was, in fact, Electronic Arts. We also heard a whisper about Valve and about Korean outfit PUBG Corp., which Microsoft last year signed to a timed exclusive for its hit survival shooter, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
Considering Valve has a majority grip on the PC gaming market, constant growth and quite likely more money than they know what to do with, it would obviously be a target for Microsoft. However, to me, those are also all reasons why it just wouldn't happen. On top of that, Valve is privately owned and I doubt Gabe Newell will suddenly give it all over to Microsoft.
Let's not forget how Valve has also been paying people to improve Linux gaming. Valve has people working on SDL, Mesa, SteamOS (multiple updates this year already), Virtual Reality and plenty more towards making Linux a more attractive gaming platform. There's also this recent interview with Timothee Besset from our friends at BoilingSteam which gives a little glimpse into the work Valve is doing behind the scenes for Linux gaming too. It also seems from that, the Linux port of Street Fighter V is not actually dead. It seems they have a habit of announcing things too early!
Obviously if Microsoft somehow convinced Gabe and co to sell up, Linux gaming would change significantly, but I'm telling you now—it just won't happen.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
wow, interesting times, my friends. We live in very interesting times.
4 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle Jan 30, 2018
*shudders*
I couldn't care less if they buy EA (one nasty big corporation buying another is a zero sum game, I guess?), but Valve would be a total blow not only to Linux gaming, but gaming entirely. Valve is borderline too powerful in the market all by itself, but with Microsoft's added muscle, their market power would be unimaginable.
The last thing this planet needs is more monopolies.
I am generally curious when the world is going to realize that unregulated wild-west markets do not work, and the economy needs meaningful competition to function... *sigh*
I couldn't care less if they buy EA (one nasty big corporation buying another is a zero sum game, I guess?), but Valve would be a total blow not only to Linux gaming, but gaming entirely. Valve is borderline too powerful in the market all by itself, but with Microsoft's added muscle, their market power would be unimaginable.
The last thing this planet needs is more monopolies.
I am generally curious when the world is going to realize that unregulated wild-west markets do not work, and the economy needs meaningful competition to function... *sigh*
30 Likes, Who?
I don't know. The whole Linux push from Valve could have been a play to drive a hard bargain with Microsoft. I guess we'll find out how dedicated to Linux Valve actually is soon enough.
7 Likes, Who?
Microsoft is pissing their pants because they plan to move everything to UWP and they are starting to realize that noone actually uses Windows for anything else but x86_64 legacy software and games. Also companies like EA, Ubisoft, Valve, Blizzard all have their own clients and would never agree to put things on MS's store, so we see a pretty obvious move from MS... their philosophy is everything can be done if we offer some money.
Let's just hope that companies are smart enough since MS ruined pretty much every company they've bought.
We can only hope that money won't be as appealing to Valve as freedom is, though we don't know what sums are in the game here... Valve is probably better and makes more money on their own anyway...
Let's just hope that companies are smart enough since MS ruined pretty much every company they've bought.
We can only hope that money won't be as appealing to Valve as freedom is, though we don't know what sums are in the game here... Valve is probably better and makes more money on their own anyway...
15 Likes, Who?
If Microsoft's UWP had a Linux version, then for us Linux fans this takeover would be really interesting.
1 Likes, Who?
Let's not forget these are rumors, at best, and buying EA, PUBG Corp., or Valve would be a huge difference from any of their past acquisitions, including Mojang at "only" $2.5 billion. Wake me up when it's not just unfounded rumors about what people think the company should do instead of actual offers being made or buyouts occurring.
4 Likes, Who?
So that shows how beautiful GNU/Linux is.
No one can lockdown this system.
MS had their eyes opened wide at Windows 8 era.
MS: I'm producing this system and everythings runs on it. All software , games etc. Yet we're only selling licenses but with percentage wise ; these scumbag companies making much more money with less effort on our very own system. Our Windows is just a tool for them so if i start to unify all those services on my systems store ; i can make much more "easy" money. Let's change our way to rather than being monopol on OS wise , being monopol on services wise.
If this happens and Valve acquired by Microsoft ; i will consider to buy a PlayStation for gaming and stop gaming on pc.
No one can lockdown this system.
MS had their eyes opened wide at Windows 8 era.
MS: I'm producing this system and everythings runs on it. All software , games etc. Yet we're only selling licenses but with percentage wise ; these scumbag companies making much more money with less effort on our very own system. Our Windows is just a tool for them so if i start to unify all those services on my systems store ; i can make much more "easy" money. Let's change our way to rather than being monopol on OS wise , being monopol on services wise.
If this happens and Valve acquired by Microsoft ; i will consider to buy a PlayStation for gaming and stop gaming on pc.
7 Likes, Who?
qptain Nemo Jan 30, 2018
I'm with Liam, I just don't see Valve selling to MS. Maybe I'm naive but I don't see what people in charge have to gain from it, I'd imagine they lead comfortable enough lives in the shadow of Steam the endless money machine to be tempted to exchange all the leverage they've got for just more instant money.
Also I actually don't see what MS has to gain for the stated goal of boosting the Xbox game library from buying Valve. Valve aren't particularly productive as a game developer these days... are they literally hoping to essentially cannibalize Steam and make every new good game that was coming to Steam an Xbox exclusive instead or something?
Their desire to buy Valve is an admission of weakness, though, which pleases me.
Oh, and yeah, Sony are very smart about their exclusives.
Last edited by qptain Nemo on 30 January 2018 at 8:09 pm UTC
Also I actually don't see what MS has to gain for the stated goal of boosting the Xbox game library from buying Valve. Valve aren't particularly productive as a game developer these days... are they literally hoping to essentially cannibalize Steam and make every new good game that was coming to Steam an Xbox exclusive instead or something?
Their desire to buy Valve is an admission of weakness, though, which pleases me.
Oh, and yeah, Sony are very smart about their exclusives.
Last edited by qptain Nemo on 30 January 2018 at 8:09 pm UTC
9 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jan 30, 2018
Quoting: Kimyrielleone nasty big corporation buying another is a zero sum game, I guess?
I call that a natural match. :)
The most effective thing Microsoft as ever done is to buy competition to make it disappear. It's probably something along this line that's about to happen, if ever the rumour reveals to be true. Which I highly doubt. Else, everything they touch, they destroy.
P.S. Maybe Microsoft wants Valve to be a game publisher again and make HL3 for Xbox one as an exclusive. Samsai, that one is for you. ;)
Last edited by Mohandevir on 30 January 2018 at 8:22 pm UTC
4 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Kimyrielle*shudders*
I am generally curious when the world is going to realize that unregulated wild-west markets do not work, and the economy needs meaningful competition to function... *sigh*
Careful there Kimy before the free-marketeers storm the thread
(Not taking any particular side btw)
Last edited by on 31 January 2018 at 2:43 pm UTC
0 Likes
MintedGamer Jan 30, 2018
Quoting: LeopardSo that shows how beautiful GNU/Linux is.
No one can lockdown this system.
MS had their eyes opened wide at Windows 8 era.
MS: I'm producing this system and everythings runs on it. All software , games etc. Yet we're only selling licenses but with percentage wise ; these scumbag companies making much more money with less effort on our very own system. Our Windows is just a tool for them so if i start to unify all those services on my systems store ; i can make much more "easy" money. Let's change our way to rather than being monopol on OS wise , being monopol on services wise.
If this happens and Valve acquired by Microsoft ; i will consider to buy a PlayStation for gaming and stop gaming on pc.
Same here, Microsoft are scum. If they bought Valve (which I'm sure Gabe would never allow) I would restrict my gaming to Playstation/Nintendo/Android, or give up entirety rather than give MS a single cent. I freaking detest Microsoft.
Last edited by MintedGamer on 30 January 2018 at 8:32 pm UTC
7 Likes, Who?
Everyone has their price, including Gaben. I suspect Valve is the most likely target for reasons already stated, and yes, I do think it's naive to think he wouldn't sell up to MS for sufficient billions. Everyone has their price.
Last edited by Sslaxx on 30 January 2018 at 8:40 pm UTC
Last edited by Sslaxx on 30 January 2018 at 8:40 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Gabe Newell left Microsoft... why should he go back there, or sell the company he built from ground up back to them?
Microsoft might want to buy Valve, that rumor could actually be true, but I hope they will never be able to do so. Otherwise... rip Linux gaming. Microsoft is struggling on the gaming sector, as the PS4 outran the XBox one... so yeah, as they did before when they couldn't do something on their own: buy others who can. From a business perspective totally fine.
And everything needs competition. So it's not even good that the PS4 is doing so much better than the XBox line. But as a Linux PC gamer, it doesn't really bother me what happens on the console sector. Though it probably has some side effects to PC gaming in general.
So let's hope Valve stays autarkic, as we need Linux gaming as a competitor to Windows gaming... and Linux gaming still has quite a way to go.
Microsoft might want to buy Valve, that rumor could actually be true, but I hope they will never be able to do so. Otherwise... rip Linux gaming. Microsoft is struggling on the gaming sector, as the PS4 outran the XBox one... so yeah, as they did before when they couldn't do something on their own: buy others who can. From a business perspective totally fine.
And everything needs competition. So it's not even good that the PS4 is doing so much better than the XBox line. But as a Linux PC gamer, it doesn't really bother me what happens on the console sector. Though it probably has some side effects to PC gaming in general.
So let's hope Valve stays autarkic, as we need Linux gaming as a competitor to Windows gaming... and Linux gaming still has quite a way to go.
0 Likes
If this *does* happen, goodbye to Linux gaming for me. Even if they would allow macOS and Linux client to be maintained, I don't like Micro$oft that much to completely give up on gaming on this platform. I'll still use it for other computing needs. I would have to be fine with consoles (primarily Nintendo) until the console industry goes on mostly digital downloads then I have nothing left in gaming period. I hope this doesn't happen, but only time will tell.
1 Likes, Who?
Philadelphus Jan 30, 2018
Microsoft wants to buy the money-printer that is Valve? Well, color me surprised! (Not!) :P
I'm sure Microsoft is pretty desperate to get Valve to stop funding improvements to gaming on Linux (not GamingOnLinux ;)), and they'd love to have access to the money fountain that is Steam, and I'm pretty sure they've felt this way for years now. But given that Valve already have the money-machine, I'm willing to bet that they're not short-sighted enough to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs for a one-time buyout. I'm not gonna be losing any sleep over this.
I'm sure Microsoft is pretty desperate to get Valve to stop funding improvements to gaming on Linux (not GamingOnLinux ;)), and they'd love to have access to the money fountain that is Steam, and I'm pretty sure they've felt this way for years now. But given that Valve already have the money-machine, I'm willing to bet that they're not short-sighted enough to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs for a one-time buyout. I'm not gonna be losing any sleep over this.
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Microsoft is hoarding 130 billion dollars overseas for reference.
But I don't see how Gabe Newell (and other co-owners of Valve) would sell it. He already has more money than he can possibly spend.
But I don't see how Gabe Newell (and other co-owners of Valve) would sell it. He already has more money than he can possibly spend.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: PhiladelphusMicrosoft wants to buy the money-printer that is Valve? Well, color me surprised! (Not!) :P
I'm sure Microsoft is pretty desperate to get Valve to stop funding improvements to gaming on Linux (not GamingOnLinux ;)), and they'd love to have access to the money fountain that is Steam, and I'm pretty sure they've felt this way for years now. But given that Valve already have the money-machine, I'm willing to bet that they're not short-sighted enough to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs for a one-time buyout. I'm not gonna be losing any sleep over this.
I won't lose any sleep over that either :P If by some miracle that happened I'd just buy a Console for AAA games and exclusives and keep playing on PC with Retro emulators and GOG... Wouldn't be the end of the world but I really can't see that actually coming.
1 Likes, Who?
To easy all your fears about Valve being owned by Microsoft:
https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/znna7/gaben_id_rather_see_valve_disintegrate_than_sell/
(It's 5 years old and related to an EA acquisition but I don't believe that his stance has changed much.)
Last edited by micha on 30 January 2018 at 9:15 pm UTC
https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/znna7/gaben_id_rather_see_valve_disintegrate_than_sell/
(It's 5 years old and related to an EA acquisition but I don't believe that his stance has changed much.)
Last edited by micha on 30 January 2018 at 9:15 pm UTC
7 Likes, Who?
Quoting: qptain NemoTheir desire to buy Valve is an admission of weakness, though, which pleases me.
Actually it would a strength to know your weaknesses and act accordingly. It would be a weakness to blindly fight until the bitter end when nothing can be gained. :)
"If you can't beat them, join them"
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