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.
Quoting: tonRIf GoG is "near perfect" as some people says why don't CD Projekt show us their faith by making their games as GoG exclusively only?
Because it's a disgusting approach which disrespects users. Think about it yourself. Exclusivity means you exclude some potential customers on purpose. It's quite good CDPR aren't doing it for their major releases. Their Gwent is GOG only as far as I know.
Last edited by Shmerl on 31 January 2018 at 9:15 pm UTC
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Quoting: Mountain ManIf Microsoft acquired Steam, they would immediately invoke that second clause against Linux users (us being "similarly situated Subscribers generally" ) which would kill Linux gaming almost on the spot, unless somebody like GoG stepped in to fill the void, and they've been rather lukewarm towards Linux in general.
a) Microsoft is not that stupid.
b) This would be illegal at least in the European Union (and probably beyond).
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GustyGhost Jan 31, 2018
Quoting: tonRAnd my biggest doubt: If GoG is "near perfect" as some people says why don't CD Projekt show us their faith by making their games as GoG exclusively only? Why need to put their games anywhere even on EA Origin?
Exclusivity is no good for anybody. In fact, I would not wish for any game to be exclusive to an OS or storefront regardless of whether or not I personally use it. I fail to see how making the Witcher exclusive to GOG would make it a better platform.
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Quoting: PatolaAs Mohandevir said, such would be gradual. There's always ways to functionally make things unworkable without actually leaving your legal butt uncovered. And there's certainly no way to legally force MS to continue putting NEW Linux games on.Quoting: Mountain ManAnd is that really believable? Lots of Steam users already bought lots of games (me included) and have the legal right to continue using the platform on their OS and have the game updates. If they just shut it down, it would likely involve them in a whole amount of legal trouble, if not a downright scandal. Adding an OS to Steam is easy, stopping supporting it when you're already in legal ties with its users is not.QuoteObviously if Microsoft somehow convinced Gabe and co to sell up, Linux gaming would change significantly..."Change significantly" is an understatement. It would cease to be. Microsoft would kill all support for Linux gaming and force all developers to support Windows exclusively.
Not that any of this is going to happen. I really don't see Gabe deciding to dump his career and his massive revenue stream (and for that matter, his superstar status in certain communities) for a lump sum.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 31 January 2018 at 9:45 pm UTC
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Quoting: ShmerlQuoting: tonRIf GoG is "near perfect" as some people says why don't CD Projekt show us their faith by making their games as GoG exclusively only?
Because it's a disgusting approach which disrespects users. Think about it yourself. Exclusivity means you exclude some potential customers on purpose. It's quite good CDPR aren't doing it for their major releases. Their Gwent is GOG only as far as I know.
Quoting: GustyGhostQuoting: tonRAnd my biggest doubt: If GoG is "near perfect" as some people says why don't CD Projekt show us their faith by making their games as GoG exclusively only? Why need to put their games anywhere even on EA Origin?
Exclusivity is no good for anybody. In fact, I would not wish for any game to be exclusive to an OS or storefront regardless of whether or not I personally use it. I fail to see how making the Witcher exclusive to GOG would make it a better platform.
Damn I should read my comment before post it. I mean timed exclusive, 6 month GoG exclusive then launch it on other client store afterwards. For me that is the great way to promote your store. And yes, total exclusive (like PSN) does not making gaming industry any better.
FYI, I really dislike EA Origin for many reasons. I'll never write Origin without EA at front.
I need to edit my previous comment.
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Quoting: lijuXDXD. If Lord gaben could acquire the cash to buy MS that would certainly be interesting indeed.Quoting: fractalIf MS paid $2.5B to buy basically a one trick pony company (I admit, a very profitable pony) in 2015, I can't imagine how much would they have to pay GAYBEN for Valve IP and their store when Valve had a net worth of $3.0B in 2012 and he alone went from $1.5B net worth in 2012 to $5.5B in 2018 according to Forbes.
In general it would have been a bad deal to tie your extremely profitable corporation to another corporation known for their reverse Midas touch regarding anything other than their flagship product and making less money off entire games on their equivalent of Steam than you make off digital hats.[/rant]
I hope one day we can see the option for Valve to buy M$. How cool that would be (would it be?)? If the pace of earning compared to spending is faster for Valve than M$ then at some point in time it could happen ( : Its difficult to even imagine the consequences.
Anyway - I also do not believe this gossip. If it comes from M$ itself, means they are really doing worse and worse in all terms.
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stretch611 Feb 1, 2018
FIRST... These are rumours... and while Valve was mentioned even the rumours are suggesting EA. Please do not go all chicken little thinking that steam is already dead.
Even if MS buys Valve, which I highly doubt, that does not mean MS will immediately drop linux support. Minecraft still runs on linux, so does skype. Admittedly, linux is far on the back burner for updates, but they do work. Hell, SQL server was ported to linux, and I know they have considered porting Visual Studio.
Admittedly, advancing linux drivers would be stopped... but this is linux... it is quite amazing how one part of the community will take over an important project if another part stops support. Again... this is only on the rare chance Valve is bought... which I do not expect at all regardless of what these idiot analysts say.
Even if MS buys Valve, which I highly doubt, that does not mean MS will immediately drop linux support. Minecraft still runs on linux, so does skype. Admittedly, linux is far on the back burner for updates, but they do work. Hell, SQL server was ported to linux, and I know they have considered porting Visual Studio.
Admittedly, advancing linux drivers would be stopped... but this is linux... it is quite amazing how one part of the community will take over an important project if another part stops support. Again... this is only on the rare chance Valve is bought... which I do not expect at all regardless of what these idiot analysts say.
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Hmm, did your timed article publication bug out when it was supposed to wait until April 1st?
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slaapliedje Feb 3, 2018
Ha, can't help but think that if EA sold out to MS, then we'd get G4WL part two.
These are the 'We make too much money to sell out' type companies. None of them are hurting for cash. Now maybe if MS bought out what's left of Atari and the next Xbox was the AtariBox.... maybe we would at least get more taco jokes?
These are the 'We make too much money to sell out' type companies. None of them are hurting for cash. Now maybe if MS bought out what's left of Atari and the next Xbox was the AtariBox.... maybe we would at least get more taco jokes?
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If Microsoft acquired Valve I think it would mean the end of Linux gaming, or at least the beginning of the end.
Though I thought the same when they acquired Skype, but look Microsoft committed to providing an updated Linux client. Would never have thought they would.
Though I thought the same when they acquired Skype, but look Microsoft committed to providing an updated Linux client. Would never have thought they would.
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Quoting: STiATPah, Valve sold? Not if Gabe has a saying in it. It's his baby.Also no need to steam spits out money every ten seconds for valve they are not going to give that up without a fight. They dont make games anymore because well they dont need to anymore. I appreciate the assistance of vr and drivers etc on linux but am still not going to white knight them. Valve is a corporation and no matter what the well paid pr people say corporations do not not give one shit about any of their install base.
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[quote=Whitewolfe80]
This doesn't mean Mr. Newell isn't motivated by money. But it does mean that Valve is run by personal motivations, not by the structural imperatives of the corporate form. It probably wouldn't be wise to trust Valve, in the same sense that it's not wise to trust an individual you don't know personally, and especially a rich one. But it's different from a corporation, where you shouldn't trust it in the sense that you know for certain it would betray you to make 2% interest on a penny.
Quoting: STiATValve is a corporationI'm not sure it actually is. At any rate not in the typical sense of a thing owned by shareholders, where the shares are sold on the open market. My understanding is that Valve is owned by Gabe and a few other Valve employees, with Gabe holding the biggest single chunk and maybe a majority. Something like that. This means that the management and ownership are basically the same, and therefore that the management does not in effect have a fiduciary duty to the shareholders to maximize profits, unless we're expecting Gabe to sue himself.
This doesn't mean Mr. Newell isn't motivated by money. But it does mean that Valve is run by personal motivations, not by the structural imperatives of the corporate form. It probably wouldn't be wise to trust Valve, in the same sense that it's not wise to trust an individual you don't know personally, and especially a rich one. But it's different from a corporation, where you shouldn't trust it in the sense that you know for certain it would betray you to make 2% interest on a penny.
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[quote=Purple Library Guy]
True enough I still do not trust Valve any further than i could throw Gabe Newell. I am happy when they help bring something to Linux, but i mistrust the motivation valve has. I cannot shake this feeling that eventually they will look at the accounting spreadsheet and start deciding to cut losses.At this point i doubt they would pull the client from Linux but I could easily see them turning off the development tap. On a pety note valve is actually listed as Valve Corporation on the wiki and on the steam store under the help/contact tab.
August 24, 1996 in Kirkland, Washington, U.S. Valve Corporation is an American video game developer and digital distribution company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington
Last edited by Whitewolfe80 on 4 February 2018 at 11:50 am UTC
Quoting: Whitewolfe80Quoting: STiATValve is a corporationI'm not sure it actually is. At any rate not in the typical sense of a thing owned by shareholders, where the shares are sold on the open market. My understanding is that Valve is owned by Gabe and a few other Valve employees, with Gabe holding the biggest single chunk and maybe a majority. Something like that. This means that the management and ownership are basically the same, and therefore that the management does not in effect have a fiduciary duty to the shareholders to maximize profits, unless we're expecting Gabe to sue himself.
This doesn't mean Mr. Newell isn't motivated by money. But it does mean that Valve is run by personal motivations, not by the structural imperatives of the corporate form. It probably wouldn't be wise to trust Valve, in the same sense that it's not wise to trust an individual you don't know personally, and especially a rich one. But it's different from a corporation, where you shouldn't trust it in the sense that you know for certain it would betray you to make 2% interest on a penny.
True enough I still do not trust Valve any further than i could throw Gabe Newell. I am happy when they help bring something to Linux, but i mistrust the motivation valve has. I cannot shake this feeling that eventually they will look at the accounting spreadsheet and start deciding to cut losses.At this point i doubt they would pull the client from Linux but I could easily see them turning off the development tap. On a pety note valve is actually listed as Valve Corporation on the wiki and on the steam store under the help/contact tab.
August 24, 1996 in Kirkland, Washington, U.S. Valve Corporation is an American video game developer and digital distribution company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington
Last edited by Whitewolfe80 on 4 February 2018 at 11:50 am UTC
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Quoting: Whitewolfe80On a pety note valve is actually listed as Valve Corporation on the wiki and on the steam store under the help/contact tab.
According to my dictionary, there's different meanings to "corporation". In the US, it seems connected to allotting shares (which Valve does not), while it is also used in a broader sense like company (which Valve obiously is)...
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GustyGhost Feb 5, 2018
Just a bit of an update to this topic for anyone who might still be lurking:
https://hothardware.com/news/gabe-newell-responds-to-outrageous-rumors-that-microsoft-is-buying-valve
https://hothardware.com/news/gabe-newell-responds-to-outrageous-rumors-that-microsoft-is-buying-valve
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stretch611 Feb 5, 2018
Quoting: GustyGhostJust a bit of an update to this topic for anyone who might still be lurking:
https://hothardware.com/news/gabe-newell-responds-to-outrageous-rumors-that-microsoft-is-buying-valve
Not surprising that Gabe is a fellow greybeard. (assuming that is him in the uncredited photo.)
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BlackBloodRum Feb 5, 2018
Yup, that picture is Gaben. His getting old :D. Not sure if he still uses Linux, he did for a while, but no idea if he stuck with it.
Also, I wonder who would take his place when he retires?
Also, I wonder who would take his place when he retires?
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Kuduzkehpan Feb 5, 2018
What if Valve buys microsoft first, then open sources it and removes found unsafe codes :D yea welcome to GNU/windows. maybe then we replace kernel and upstart bla bla bla. dx12 with Vulkan. Yea LoL for the night.
Last edited by Kuduzkehpan on 5 February 2018 at 9:04 pm UTC
Last edited by Kuduzkehpan on 5 February 2018 at 9:04 pm UTC
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slaapliedje Feb 6, 2018
Quoting: KuduzkehpanWhat if Valve buys microsoft first, then open sources it and removes found unsafe codes :D yea welcome to GNU/windows. maybe then we replace kernel and upstart bla bla bla. dx12 with Vulkan. Yea LoL for the night.
Ha, Then it is discovered that it has been BSD with a shell on it since Windows 8, because they copied Apple?
Just as likely...
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Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: KuduzkehpanWhat if Valve buys microsoft first, then open sources it and removes found unsafe codes :D yea welcome to GNU/windows. maybe then we replace kernel and upstart bla bla bla. dx12 with Vulkan. Yea LoL for the night.
Ha, Then it is discovered that it has been BSD with a shell on it since Windows 8, because they copied Apple?
Just as likely...
Well that would be history repeating itself given that Apple gave ms the GUI and the mouse interface while MS was being courted by apple way back in the late 70's
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