this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2025
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[–] marighost@piefed.social 56 points 2 days ago (11 children)

You think Gabe Newell hates Microsoft so much that he has his company contribute to Linux and open source, simply out of spite?

[–] tuckerm@feddit.online 66 points 2 days ago

I don't think that is true, but I certainly like the idea of it being true.

[–] sanpo@sopuli.xyz 64 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Yes, actually.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18996377

"We want to make it as easy as possible for the 2,500 games on Steam to run on Linux as well," said Mr Newell.
"Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space."

[–] grue@lemmy.world 36 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I don't think that was Gabe "hating" Microsoft; I think it was him recognizing that the Windows Store/appx stuff that Windows 8 pushed was a threat to his business model.

[–] rtxn@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

That is a completely valid reason to hate Microsoft. Who the fuck wants another Apple?

[–] Cricket@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

Yes, this is exactly the analysis that I read back then. The Windows Store presented a clear and present danger to Valve's business model, so it seems that he concluded that the best way to attack it was to make Linux a viable competitor. That's some long-term thinking right there, which seems to be rare in corporate leadership for a while now.

[–] Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago

No one liked Windows 8. This doesn't really prove anything.

[–] BigTrout75@lemmy.world 33 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I doubt it. On the Windows platform, Valve has to do what Microsoft decides. If Microsoft decides all apps are required to go through the Microsoft store app then Valve would be toast.

[–] ladicius@lemmy.world 20 points 2 days ago

Good reason to have an independent gaming OS, I suppose 😉

If Microsoft ever pulled this play at least EU probably would like to have a word. Microsoft already got kicked in the balls over here for such moves, and it hurt.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 33 points 2 days ago

I mean he quit working for Microsoft and started Valve because he disagreed with their direction.

[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 22 points 2 days ago

He has stated as much, so, yeah.

[–] XiberKernel@lemmy.world 19 points 2 days ago

Considering he helped create Windows while working at Microsoft, and allegedly left due to the direction it was going, yes.

[–] Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago

He doesn't want his company to be beholden to another for it's future.

Look at all the issues phone app companies have when Google or Apple just kills their businesses on a whim with a tweak of their terms of service language.

[–] jj4211@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

There was no mention of motive, just of the consequences. Microsoft going the Apple/Google path was/is an existential business threat to a company like Valve. Microsoft's coming up short on MS Store mitigated the risk, but still you have a platform that is geared toward Microsoft subscription revenue.

Just because those business concerns factor in, doesn't detract from the positive ways that it has gone so far.

[–] artyom@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago

95% of users are on Windows. If MS one day again decided they're going to try to limit apps to their own store, much like they did with Windows 8 (which is what kicked this whole thing off) or like Android is suddenly doing right now, Steam will be absolutely fucked without an alternative. So SteamOS exists to give them that parachute. They can keep the freedom of PC without the dedication of creating an entirely new desktop OS.

Not sure about hate, but the entire Steam Machine thing happened because Microsoft was making noise circa Windows 8 that they were going to take the platform more closed and require sourcing software from the Windows Store, which would shut out things like Steam. So they said "Okay, we'll make our own operating system with blackjack and hookers. We could take the PC gaming market with us, and we'll even come for the living room console market and threaten Xbox while we're at it." And if anyone in the world is going to get that done, it's Valve.

[–] stupidcasey@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Yes, but also money.