Tag: Valve

Gabe Newell denies that Valve has a monopoly, demonstrating that he doesn't know what a monopoly is

In 2021, Wolfire Games sued Valve under antitrust laws. This has led to a long legal battle, which is still ongoing, and has had huge ramifications that, depending on how it is resolved, could have significant consequences for Gabe Newell’s company. Worse now, thanks to Bloomberg, we have statements from Newell himself after he testified in court in 2023 about the idea that Valve is a monopoly. Demonstrating that either he does not know what a monopoly is or he has good lawyers. The discussion about what a monopoly is “Users have a huge amount […]

In 2021, Wolfire Games sued Valve under antitrust laws. This has led to a long legal battle, which is still ongoing, and has had enormous ramifications that, depending on how it is resolved, could have significant consequences for Gabe Newell’s company.

Worse now, thanks to Bloomberg, we have statements from Newell himself after he testified in court in 2023 about the idea that Valve is a monopoly. Demonstrating that he either does not know what a monopoly is or has good lawyers.

The discussion about what a monopoly is

“Users have a huge number of options,” he said about the possibility of where to buy games. “Whether it’s buying a game on Xbox, buying it on Steam, buying it on the Epic Games Store, or buying it directly from software developers,” thus denying that there is any kind of monopoly by Valve due to the existence of other possibilities in the market.

The problem is that the market does not work that way. Monopoly does not mean that a single company controls the market, with no competition at all, but something much more subtle: monopoly is when a company has the ability to control the market, whether or not there are other companies selling the same products or services.

In fact, that is what is being studied in court and what they are being accused of. David Rosen, founder of Wolfire Games, accused Steam of that, when trying to lower the price of his game Overgrowth in other stores, Steam “responded by saying they would remove Overgrowth from Steam if I allowed it to be sold cheaper anywhere else, even on my own website without Steam keys and without Steam DRM”. This makes Newell’s defense not only weak but also counterproductive.

Although Newell has denied that this rule exists, stating that “Valve does not have a policy or practice of dictating the prices of software developed by third parties on other platforms“, it also does not deny that they will remove such software if certain specific conditions are not met.

While it doesn’t seem that the trial will conclude soon, it could have significant ramifications for Valve. In addition to the antitrust actions that could be taken against Valve and the compensation that could be awarded to Wolfire Games, another lawsuit in the UK for $900 million for violation of consumer rights is closely tied to the success of this case. Therefore, Valve is very interested in winning this lawsuit. Because if it doesn’t, it could find itself in trouble.

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Valve wants a lawsuit against them to be dismissed "because people enjoy surprises"

In February, New York City’s Attorney General, Letitia James, filed a lawsuit against Valve for the use of loot boxes in their games. In her own words, in Counter-Strike 2 “children and adults alike are illegally gambling for the chance to win virtual prizes.” Arguing that loot boxes are essentially unregulated gambling, and that they should be treated by law as such. Valve with questionable arguments The legal department of Valve has responded with a tremendously weak defense. Claiming that “people enjoy surprises” and that “part of the appeal […]

Last February, New York City Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Valve for the use of loot boxes in their games. In her own words, in Counter-Strike 2 “children and adults alike are illegally gambling for the chance to win virtual prizes”. She argues that loot boxes are essentially unregulated gambling and should be treated by law as such.

Valve with questionable arguments

Valve’s legal department has responded with a tremendously weak defense. Claiming that “people enjoy surprises” and that “part of the appeal of many popular collectibles, such as baseball cards or cereal boxes, is the possibility of opening a closed box and being surprised with a rare item”. Stating that “no legislature or court has ever condemned this act as illegal gambling”.

The problem is that this is not true. The European Parliament declared that loot boxes are gambling in 2023, tightening its PEGI this past March in relation to this legislation. So it doesn’t seem that this defense has much ground to stand on.

What would happen if the New York justice system sided with the attorney general? That Valve would have problems. The lawsuit demands the equivalent of three times the profits Valve has made from loot boxes and to prevent them from selling them in the future in the state of New York. With the logistical issues this would entail, not to mention the legal precedent it would set. So Valve could be in trouble. If their attempt to pull a Saul Goodman doesn’t end up backfiring.

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Hideo Kojima wanted to go to space and Gabe Newell talked to Elon Musk to make it happen

In 2018, Hideo Kojima, the renowned creator of the Metal Gear series, visited Valve’s headquarters to discuss his new project, Death Stranding. Recently, emails have been made public in the context of the lawsuit between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, revealing the personal and professional connection between Kojima and Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve. After the meeting, Newell offered to introduce Kojima to people at OpenAI and Musk, highlighting Kojima’s interest in artificial intelligence and space. A trial that is providing us with interesting information Kojima, known for […]

In 2018, Hideo Kojima, the renowned creator of the Metal Gear series, visited Valve’s headquarters to discuss his new project, Death Stranding. Recently, emails have been made public in the context of the lawsuit between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, revealing the personal and professional connection between Kojima and Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve. After the meeting, Newell offered to introduce Kojima to people at OpenAI and Musk, highlighting Kojima’s interest in artificial intelligence and space.

A trial that is giving us interesting information

Kojima, known for being a true visionary in the field of video games, expressed his fervent desire to travel to space. In his book, The Creative Gene, he mentions: “If I could make a wish, it would be to go to space before I die”. The intensity of this aspiration has even led him to consider sacrificing his career and personal relationships for a brief experience in Earth’s orbit.

Despite Musk showing interest in facilitating a tour of the SpaceX factory for Kojima, the meeting never materialized. Even in 2020, Kojima’s desire to visit SpaceX remained strong, as affirmed by Musk himself on Twitter: “He is always welcome.” Thus, the Japanese creator’s desire to explore the cosmos has been made clear on multiple occasions, highlighting his passion for space exploration.

Regarding his interest in OpenAI, Musk expressed in an email that his involvement with the organization is limited, although he remains in contact. This exchange also highlighted Newell’s concerns about the potential of neuromodulation, a topic that later led him to found his own neuroscience company: Starfish Neuroscience.

The emails, which also reveal intriguing technical aspects about Neuralink, are a testament to the intersection between entertainment technology and scientific advancements today.

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The suspect of attempting to kill Trump was a video game developer… and not very good

Current events never rest. A third assassination attempt has occurred in the US this decade, all three against the same person: President Donald Trump. With his popularity falling even further after this assassination attempt, it does not seem that the president is gaining sympathy among his voters or compatriots. Not only because they have already tried to kill him three times. The most curious thing about the whole situation, leaving possible conspiracies aside, is the identity of the accused. Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from California, does not seem to align with any political extreme and appears to have been motivated by his perspective of […]

The news never rests. A third assassination attempt has occurred in the US this decade, all three against the same person: President Donald Trump. With his popularity plummeting even further after this assassination attempt, it does not seem that the president is garnering sympathy among his voters or compatriots. Not only because they have already tried to assassinate him three times.

The most curious thing about the whole situation, leaving possible conspiracies aside, is the identity of the accused. Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from California, does not seem to align with any political extreme and appears to have been motivated by his perspective that Trump is “a pedophile and a rapist,” something the president has categorically denied in an interview with journalist Norah O’Donnell on CBS.

Although what stands out the most about this situation is that Thomas Allen also had a hobby. Developing video games. At least one of these video games was published on Steam and, although it wasn’t exactly popular before his assassination attempt, it gained popularity once the events of April 25 occurred. This has led Valve to take action.

A video game that has caused controversy

Under the name Cole Allen, on December 20, 2018, he released a game called Bohrdom on Steam. Defined as “an atomic fighting game,” it is an asymmetric fighting game based on chemical models where we have to choose to play as a nucleus or an electron and try to dodge the attack patterns of the opponent, or use the attack patterns to take them down. Mixing elements of pinball and shoot ’em up, the game is basic, graphically underdeveloped, and not very fun; it’s easy to understand why it didn’t stand out among the multitude of games on Steam.

With just two reviews after its release, the game was buried for years among the tens of thousands of video games available on the platform. Until the assassination attempt on Donald Trump brought the game to light. This gave it a new life.

In just over 24 hours after the attack, the game accumulated a significant amount of sales, which translated into just over 120 reviews of the game. Most of them were humorous comments about the assassination attempt on the US president, jokes about the relationship between the game and assassinations, or political comments, very few of them talked about the game itself. This led Valve to remove the game from the store and block reviews made after April 24.

Although Valve has not issued any kind of statement regarding this, it seems logical that they would withdraw the game from circulation when it is made by someone accused of murdering a high-profile public figure. Especially since Valve has a policy, since 2019, that in the event of a flood of reviews that do not correspond to the content of the game, they reserve the right to remove the reviews from a certain date, or even withdraw the game until they speak with the developers. Something that is now impossible for obvious reasons.

Right now, it is impossible to buy Bohrdom on Steam or any other platform. Although it is little more than a curiosity, since the game is not going to win any awards for its originality or quality, it demonstrates two things: how everyone is more about what they know and how the Internet will always turn everything into a joke. Although it may not necessarily amuse Valve.

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If you are waiting for new content for this Steam game, you will have to be patient

Windrose, the latest survival phenomenon on Steam, has had a notable impact on Valve’s platform since its early access launch. However, the studio Kraken Express has announced that no major content update will be released for at least six months. Instead of rushing to offer new features, the team has decided to focus on improving the stability and existing systems of the game. First, some minor issues need to be resolved. This decision was made after observing that many players have already completed the current narrative missions, generating high expectations and a certain urgency for […]

Windrose, the latest survival phenomenon on Steam, has had a notable impact on Valve’s platform since its early access launch. However, the studio Kraken Express has announced that no major content update will be released for at least six months. Instead of rushing to offer new features, the team has decided to focus on improving the stability and existing systems of the game.

First, we need to solve some little problems

This decision has been made after observing that many players have already completed the current narrative missions, generating high expectations and a certain urgency to receive new content. Our philosophy now is to enrich the current game, rather than just adding new biomes, stated a representative of the studio. In this way, the team aims to ensure a more robust experience for players before expanding the map or introducing new significant elements.

Meanwhile, as part of its commitment to improving communication and user experience, Kraken Express has launched a new official support website. This website is designed to centralize solutions to common problems and facilitate interaction with the community, thus replacing the support that was previously provided through Discord.

In addition, the developers are working on a patch that is expected to be released in early May. This patch will address several critical issues, including connectivity problems, CPU usage, and overall performance. The efforts are aimed at resolving minor bugs that have been reported by the community in recent weeks.

Windrose continues to capture the attention of players, but the current focus of the development team is to ensure that the game runs optimally before expanding its content. The community will continue to wait, at least for now, while improvements are implemented and the groundwork is laid for future developments.

Valve announces the price of the Steam Controller and opens reservations immediately

Valve has announced that the updated price of the Steam Controller will be $99, which translates to €99 for the European Union and £85 for the United Kingdom. In the case of Australia and Canada, the price will be set at $149. This controller is scheduled for release next Monday, May 4, but will not be available for pre-order until that date, raising expectations about the demand that may arise at retail outlets. 99 euros for a premium controller Despite the fact that Monday promises to be a busy day for enthusiasts of the […]

Valve has announced that the updated price of the Steam Controller will be $99, which translates to €99 for the European Union and £85 for the United Kingdom. In the case of Australia and Canada, the price will be set at $149. This controller is scheduled for release next Monday, May 4th, but it will not be available for pre-order until that date, raising expectations about the demand that may arise at retail locations.

99 euros for a premium controller

Despite Monday promising to be a hectic day for video game enthusiasts, Valve assures that they have enough inventory prepared to handle the anticipated high demand. However, with the lack of a pre-order option, some experts and fans warn that the launch could be chaotic, especially if the number of interested parties exceeds expectations.

In its statement, Valve highlights the features of the Steam Controller without going into much detail, leaving consumers wanting more information. However, it is expected that this controller will position itself as a competitive option in the list of the best PC gaming controllers. This is good news for gamers looking to enhance their gaming experience on Steam.

On the other hand, the much-anticipated Steam Machine was not mentioned in the announcement, raising some concerns about the future of that product line. The company has faced production issues and uncertainty regarding pricing, which has led to speculation about its launch and viability in the current market. Additionally, Valve joked about its search for materials and resources, like “a little bit of RAM,” in a complicated market.

With the Steam Controller in sight, it will be interesting to see how the market reacts and if this new device can meet the high expectations that players have. It remains to be seen whether the launch of this controller will capture the attention that Valve hopes for in a competitive environment.

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At Valve, they are interested in the possible uses of AI to develop games

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a topic of interest in video game creation, focusing on its potential to enhance narrative and character reactions. However, this technology is not expected to replace human creative writing, as noted by Erik Wolpaw, a renowned developer at Valve. In recent statements, Wolpaw has pointed out that although he has been experimenting with AI, these efforts are independent and not part of the company’s official policies. Valve wants to test AI In a discussion on the MinnMax channel, Wolpaw emphasized that AI, while […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a topic of interest in video game creation, focusing on its potential to enhance storytelling and character reactions. However, it is not expected that this technology will replace human creative writing, as indicated by Erik Wolpaw, a renowned developer at Valve. In recent statements, Wolpaw has noted that although he has been experimenting with AI, these efforts are independent and are not part of the company’s official policies.

Valve wants to test AI

In a discussion on the MinnMax channel, Wolpaw emphasized that AI, while it can be useful for generating quick responses from non-playable characters (NPCs) based on player interactions, is still far from matching the quality of human writing. “Right now, I’m not worried that AI will replace creative writing because it’s pretty bad at it,” he stated, underscoring that the technology needs more development before being considered serious for screenwriting.

Wolpaw’s vision focuses on AI as a tool that could enrich the gaming experience, encouraging NPCs to react more dynamically during gameplay, as seen in examples of social chaos in titles like Grand Theft Auto. However, his experiments are still in their early stages and have not been implemented in any official Valve project.

At the same time, the gaming community has reacted mixedly to the use of generative AI in video games. While some have expressed rejection, a recent report suggests that most remain neutral on the matter. As large companies like Electronic Arts and Square Enix explore AI as a tool to reduce costs, Wolpaw maintains a clear stance: the use of technology should focus on enhancing the player experience, not on cutting expenses.

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Steam could surpass more revenue than all consoles combined by 2028

Since its launch in 2003, Steam has experienced exponential growth in the number of users, establishing itself as the main pillar of the video game industry. According to a report by Newzoo, it is expected that the revenue generated by gaming on PC will surpass that of all consoles combined starting in 2028, thanks to the increasing market penetration in Asia and among Generation Z and Alpha. This trend suggests that the PC will increasingly position itself as the platform of choice for gamers in the near future. A monopoly on PC gaming Despite […]

Since its launch in 2003, Steam has experienced exponential growth in the number of users, establishing itself as the main pillar of the video game industry.

According to a report by Newzoo, it is expected that revenues generated by gaming on PC will surpass those of all consoles combined starting in 2028, thanks to the increasing market penetration in Asia and among Generation Z and Alpha. This trend suggests that the PC will increasingly position itself as the platform of choice for gamers in the near future.

A monopoly on PC gaming

Despite the fact that the PC audience has historically been larger than that of consoles, the reason it had not manifested in higher revenues was the low average spending per player.

However, there has been a notable increase in spending on premium video games, which now represents 29% of the total, even though microtransactions and subscriptions continue to dominate at 71%. This change allows us to glimpse a future where paid content could be more relevant than ever on this platform.

An interesting fact revealed in the study is the increase in playtime dedicated to titles that are not in the top 20 most played, highlighting a greater diversity in the available gaming options. 56% of gaming hours were allocated to these less popular works, indicating a shift in player preferences.

For its part, Valve remains the biggest beneficiary of this expansion, facing competition that has not managed to offer a service comparable to Steam. The current situation seems to have led PlayStation to consider abandoning singleplayer game releases on PC, while Microsoft focuses on a consolidated PC strategy, highlighting that the gaming landscape is in constant evolution, with all players trying to adapt to a new paradigm.

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We are already getting to know more details about the two new devices from Valve

Valve has successfully presented at the Game Developers Conference, where it highlighted two of its upcoming devices: Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Both products have generated great anticipation among developers and gamers, and the company has shared crucial information about its verification system specifically designed for Steam Machine. Also betting on VR, the new system will classify games as ‘Verified Games for Steam Machine’, ensuring they meet a minimum performance of 30 FPS and a resolution of 1080p. Titles that have been certified for the Steam Deck, Valve’s current portable device, […]

Valve has successfully presented at the Game Developers Conference, where it highlighted two of its upcoming devices: Steam Machine and Steam Frame.

Both products have generated great anticipation among developers and gamers, and the company has shared crucial information about its verification system specifically designed for Steam Machine.

Also betting on VR

The new system will allow games to be classified as ‘Verified Games for Steam Machine’, ensuring they meet a minimum performance of 30 FPS and a resolution of 1080p.

Titles that have been certified for the Steam Deck, Valve’s current portable device, will also work on Steam Machine, which promises six times the performance of its predecessor, providing access to the vast Steam library from the comfort of your sofa.

Additionally, Valve introduced Steam Frame, a virtual reality headset that allows playing in both 2D and VR. In this regard, virtual reality games can reach up to 90 FPS, while 2D experiences will operate at a resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 FPS.

These devices represent a significant evolution compared to the Valve Index, as Steam Frame will operate independently, without the need for a connection to a PC or base stations for motion tracking.

As Valve progresses in the development of these devices, the company has also committed to improving SteamOS, its open-source operating system designed to enhance console-like PCs.

However, many questions remain, such as the price and the exact release date, expected in 2026. This aspect is crucial, especially in a context of RAM and technology component shortages, raising concerns about final costs.

Valve returns to Steam one of its most beloved games after two years of absence

Valve has surprised the gaming community by relaunching Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) on Steam, two years after having removed it from the platform. This move comes after the arrival of Counter-Strike 2 as a free and mandatory update in September 2023, a change that left CS:GO out of circulation and difficult for players to access. The king returns for his crown Despite its removal, CS:GO had not completely disappeared, as users could access it through CS2 launch parameters. However, this method was not practical and […]

Valve has surprised the gaming community by relaunching Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) on Steam, two years after removing it from the platform. This move comes after the arrival of Counter-Strike 2 as a free and mandatory update in September 2023, a change that left CS:GO out of circulation and difficult for players to access.

The king returns for his crown

Despite its removal, CS:GO had not completely disappeared, as users could access it through CS2 launch parameters. However, this method was impractical and lacked essential functionalities, causing the game to be practically ‘dead’ for many. With the recent relaunch, CS:GO has regained its own page in the store and some key tools, although Valve has still not introduced an official ‘matchmaking’ system. Nevertheless, the search for community servers has been reactivated, allowing players to access classic matches and alternative modes like ‘surf’.

The reception has been remarkable, reaching 8,000 concurrent users shortly after its launch, which took place almost silently at 01:00 Spanish mainland time. The reviews have been “extremely positive,” reflecting a strong desire from the community to revive the title. Additionally, the relaunch has generated an increase in interest on social media, where players have expressed their satisfaction in experiencing some options that are still not available in Counter-Strike 2.

The reason behind this decision by Valve remains a mystery. Some analysts believe that the relaunch could be accidental, given that the product page shows inconsistencies. Moreover, what many speculate is that Valve might have sought to maximize the reach of Counter-Strike 2 without losing CS:GO users in the process. Ultimately, the company, known for its focus on implicit communication through its products, continues to surprise its followers with unexpected moves.

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