The one monopoly that at least I have no problem with but things could be better

[igor_kavinski]

In 2018 a group of Valve staff tried to figure out just how efficient they were being—and found they were making more money per head than Apple, Facebook, and nearly every tech giant out there

A well-oiled Steam machine.

www.pcgamer.com

in 2018, Valve was raking in, at minimum, over $780,400 net income per employee based on Facebook's second-place numbers—while Apple came in third place with $476,160.

I wish them more and more continued success. Of course things could turn very sour for me if I have a bad experience with them but so far, I think they deserve whatever they are making. However, I do believe that nothing good can go on forever. We need blockchain based digital goods economy with the ability to pass over or sell something we feel we don't need anymore. It would be the revolution we need to free ourselves from the hell of multiple online digital subscription services.

 

[nakedfrog]

Are you describing Valve as a monopoly when GOG and the Epic game store are out there?

 

[igor_kavinski]

GoG and EGS are nowhere near as big as Steam. They also have a bigger chance of going down for good due to various issues. GoG could go down if CD Projekt folded. Same for EGS if Tim Sweeney decided to bail on it and took his billions to start some other venture.

 

[manly]

Ruh roh.

Microsoft Reportedly Readies $16 Billion Bid to Acquire Valve / Steam

Rumors have recently surfaced suggesting that Microsoft is considering a significant acquisition bid valued at approximately $16 billion for Valve Corporation, the entity behind major gaming franchises such as Half-Life and Portal, and operator of the Steam Store, the leading digital...

www.guru3d.com

 

[nakedfrog]

 

[igor_kavinski]

That would be the end of gaming as we know it. All the games you have in your library? Prepare to start paying a subscription to play them! And if your account is inactive for three years without any payments, you lose your entire account! That's what these ghouls do for fun and relaxation!

And seriously, $16 billion sounds insulting. Valve should be worth at least half a trillion.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Ruh roh.

Microsoft Reportedly Readies $16 Billion Bid to Acquire Valve / Steam

Rumors have recently surfaced suggesting that Microsoft is considering a significant acquisition bid valued at approximately $16 billion for Valve Corporation, the entity behind major gaming franchises such as Half-Life and Portal, and operator of the Steam Store, the leading digital...

www.guru3d.com

Gross, Microsoft has a reverse midas touch with everything they get their hands on in gaming.

 

[bbhaag]

Gross, Microsoft has a reverse midas touch with everything they get their hands on in gaming.

So I'm trying to put a positive spin on it but if the deal goes through there is no doubt we will finally get a Half Life 3. Microsoft will wring that franchise out just like Disney has done with Star Wars.

 

[pcslookout]

Will not happen I guarantee it

 

[SteveGrabowski]

So I'm trying to put a positive spin on it but if the deal goes through there is no doubt we will finally get a Half Life 3. Microsoft will wring that franchise out just like Disney has done with Star Wars.

No thanks, don't want a bland Microsoft Half Life 3 that'll probably be way worse than Episode 1 of Star Wars was.

 

[igor_kavinski]

The first one may actually be decent. It's the sequels they'll bungle. But Gabe is not selling out. He knows Microsoft too well. He felt threatened by Microsoft Store and created SteamOS. Why would he give his company to a vampire like Microsoft with a bottomless appetite?

 

[dlerious]

Thank god neither Valve or Steam are publicly traded. MS can't use stock purchases to try and get control. Would they try to migrate the Steam Deck from SteamOS to Windows or stop working on proton?

 

[igor_kavinski]

I think Valve should buy Microsoft instead.