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.
If M$ buy valve then linux gaming could be stay more closer to death without forget china entry hurts linux gaming on steam
Could be begins of GFWL returns
Hopefully valve dont consider this
^_^
Could be begins of GFWL returns
Hopefully valve dont consider this
^_^
0 Likes
GustyGhost Jan 30, 2018
One thing is for sure, it would be hilarious watching all of you guys who are so deeply embedded in Steam freak out over a Microsoft acquisition. A little lesson in all your eggs in one basket if you know what I mean.
2 Likes, Who?
GustyGhost Jan 30, 2018
Quoting: ShmerlAnd regarding exclusive releases - this dumb and insulting approach should die out already. Normal game creators should strive to increase their reach, not to insult users by excluding them.
And not just that, but outside of the gaming industry the concept is completely preposterous. Just imagine: "Daewoo signs exclusive contract with Lionsgate Films for timed exclusive movie releases only to compatible™ Daewoo DVD players."
0 Likes
Quoting: BlackBloodRumAlmost can't believe Microcrap own Valve now :'(.....what?
So, what's going to happen to the games we own? Are Microcrap going to disable the Linux versions? :-(
This is a sad day indeed!
You might want to re-read the article. Microsoft do not own Valve, they're rumours about companies MS could look to try and buy, with Valve being a "whisper".
It won't happen.
Quoting: michaTo easy all your fears about Valve being owned by Microsoft:Don't remember seeing this one, I doubt his stance has changed :)
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.)
2 Likes, Who?
Microsoft have proven themselves to be rather decent towards Linux as of late. They also haven't blocked Minecraft from opposing platforms, so I don't think there's much to worry about no matter who they decide to buy out.
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ElectricPrism Jan 30, 2018
Valve is privately owned and as such is immune to 3rd parties investing in the corporation via stock to manipulate and increase their own profits.
The Valve Ethos and the Microsoft Ethos are fundamentally incompatible.
Anyone who has ever had wealth knows there are MANY MANY MANY things money can't buy. You can't build a house in 1 day by spending extra money. You can't solve world hunger with money. You can't fix the driver and tool-chain game development problems on Linux with money (without also investing the required proportion of time including money to develop said tool-chain.)
All that I learn from these rumors is that Microsoft publicly admits to having a interest in what Steam is doing, which likely confirms my suspicions of Microsoft Shills paroling Steam Community spreading their foolish Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.
If Steam ever sold I would snapshot every game and pull the fuck out of Steam forever. But since I can't live my life with total pessimism, waiting for people to victimize me constantly, and mount motion sensor machine gun turrets outside my house, I think I will just stay chill and continue to put faith in Gabe Newell loathing Microsoft and him having absolutely no incentive to sell as he already posses all the wealth he could ever want.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 30 January 2018 at 10:47 pm UTC
The Valve Ethos and the Microsoft Ethos are fundamentally incompatible.
Anyone who has ever had wealth knows there are MANY MANY MANY things money can't buy. You can't build a house in 1 day by spending extra money. You can't solve world hunger with money. You can't fix the driver and tool-chain game development problems on Linux with money (without also investing the required proportion of time including money to develop said tool-chain.)
All that I learn from these rumors is that Microsoft publicly admits to having a interest in what Steam is doing, which likely confirms my suspicions of Microsoft Shills paroling Steam Community spreading their foolish Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.
If Steam ever sold I would snapshot every game and pull the fuck out of Steam forever. But since I can't live my life with total pessimism, waiting for people to victimize me constantly, and mount motion sensor machine gun turrets outside my house, I think I will just stay chill and continue to put faith in Gabe Newell loathing Microsoft and him having absolutely no incentive to sell as he already posses all the wealth he could ever want.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 30 January 2018 at 10:47 pm UTC
3 Likes, Who?
stretch611 Jan 30, 2018
MS buying Valve? Not likely. It would be too expensive and not really fit their needs. Gabe probably would sell at a certain price, but only if it far exceeds the real value and I doubt MS will drop that much cash for essentially a game platform when they already have their own software store.
As for buying it to deter Linux gaming... even less likely. Linux has what, roughly 1-2% share on steam? Microsoft has only a 90% desktop share, and roughly a 40-50% server share... Linux may be a thorn in their side, but not because of gaming. Truth be told, they probably don't even notice linux gamers. If they wanted to come after us, it would most likely be in the server space.
The article mentioned that it wanted exclusive releases on XBOX. I son't see how Valve fits into this. Valve is mostly rent-seeking on its steam platform. It does have games and IP that it develops... but how often does it actually release software? DOTA gets updated, but I don't see a lot of work done on things on their titles. Looking in steam(searching on Developer:Valve), the last release other than minor DLC, was an update to Half-Life 2... nearly 3 years ago.
If Microsoft wants exclusive titles, that means buying up a big AAA publisher, like EA, UBI, or Bethesda. In which case I don't see how linux gaming is changed at all... its not like we get much from those places anyway. Possibly a moderate sized publisher like Take Two... but even then, its not like console gamers are clamoring for Civilization. It would have to be a good fit.
A few indie game companies may be bought... after all they bought bungie and mojang... but how many indies have titles that would be a good draw for exclusive marketing? If they buy PUBG, how does this harm linux, its not like they are planning on porting it to linux anyway.
TL: DR; The story is an opinion piece... with opinions of industry analysts. They are all rumors and it is possible that it will happen. It may, it may not. I doubt it will happen to valve, and even if Microsoft goobles up a software house or two, I think it is likely not to have any effect at all on linux gaming.
As for buying it to deter Linux gaming... even less likely. Linux has what, roughly 1-2% share on steam? Microsoft has only a 90% desktop share, and roughly a 40-50% server share... Linux may be a thorn in their side, but not because of gaming. Truth be told, they probably don't even notice linux gamers. If they wanted to come after us, it would most likely be in the server space.
The article mentioned that it wanted exclusive releases on XBOX. I son't see how Valve fits into this. Valve is mostly rent-seeking on its steam platform. It does have games and IP that it develops... but how often does it actually release software? DOTA gets updated, but I don't see a lot of work done on things on their titles. Looking in steam(searching on Developer:Valve), the last release other than minor DLC, was an update to Half-Life 2... nearly 3 years ago.
If Microsoft wants exclusive titles, that means buying up a big AAA publisher, like EA, UBI, or Bethesda. In which case I don't see how linux gaming is changed at all... its not like we get much from those places anyway. Possibly a moderate sized publisher like Take Two... but even then, its not like console gamers are clamoring for Civilization. It would have to be a good fit.
A few indie game companies may be bought... after all they bought bungie and mojang... but how many indies have titles that would be a good draw for exclusive marketing? If they buy PUBG, how does this harm linux, its not like they are planning on porting it to linux anyway.
TL: DR; The story is an opinion piece... with opinions of industry analysts. They are all rumors and it is possible that it will happen. It may, it may not. I doubt it will happen to valve, and even if Microsoft goobles up a software house or two, I think it is likely not to have any effect at all on linux gaming.
2 Likes, Who?
stretch611 Jan 30, 2018
Quoting: GustyGhostQuoting: ShmerlAnd regarding exclusive releases - this dumb and insulting approach should die out already. Normal game creators should strive to increase their reach, not to insult users by excluding them.
And not just that, but outside of the gaming industry the concept is completely preposterous. Just imagine: "Daewoo signs exclusive contract with Lionsgate Films for timed exclusive movie releases only to compatible™ Daewoo DVD players."
Actually this does happen outside of games... but not often.
Occasionally Best Buy will have an exclusive movie release. They will either get a title 2 or 3 weeks before anyone else, or be the only one with the "special directors cut" or some other bs.
It does not happen often, but it does happen.
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Quoting: tmtvlMicrosoft have proven themselves to be rather decent towards Linux as of late. They also haven't blocked Minecraft from opposing platforms, so I don't think there's much to worry about no matter who they decide to buy out.Yeah they haven't killed of MC yet but that would take a rewrite. After all the game is Java. You'd have to try not to let it running everywhere. But wouldn't you know they happen to have a rewrite called bedrock edition which they're pushing over the java edition and there are rumors that the original java edition will be dropped. The bedrock edition is mobile, Xbox, and windows 10 only BTW.
5 Likes, Who?
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