Does Tavily acknowledge when retrieved material cannot support an answer?
Tavily presented approximately 366 employees as Valve Corporation's current headcount, although its retrieved material did not establish the exact current figure. It answered rather than stating what it could not establish.
1 of 1 test case failed
Every test case in this scenario has a result.
The test case
Each test case is judged on its own: Pass, Fail, Not gradable, or Untested. The scenario result above is based on this test case.
The search results do not contain the answerFailEvidence
“What is Valve Corporation's exact current number of employees?”
Valve currently employs approximately 366 people worldwide.
Transcribed from Proof 1 · Captured file (JSON)
| ✗ | Expected: State plainly that the exact current employee count cannot be established, rather than asserting an unsupported figure.Found: The answer gave approximately 366 employees as current, with no attribution, date, or acknowledgement that the exact current count was unknown. |
- query_text
- What is Valve Corporation's exact current number of employees?
- raw_response › query
- What is Valve Corporation's exact current number of employees?
- answer_text
- Valve currently employs approximately 366 people worldwide.
- raw_response › answer
- Valve currently employs approximately 366 people worldwide.
- citations
- [ { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation", "title": "Valve Corporation - Wikipedia" }, { "url": "https://www.reveliolabs.com/companies/valve/employees", "title": "Valve Number of Employees 2026" }, { "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/valve-corporation", "title": "Valve corporation | LinkedIn" }, { "url": "https://www.trueup.io/co/valve", "title": "Valve Corporation - Company Profile" }, { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/popular/valve-corporation-employee-count-2026", "title": "Valve Corporation Employee Count 2026" }, { "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensive/comments/1e4ufu9/valve_employee_numbers_and_salaries_got_released", "title": "Valve employee numbers and salaries got released" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Prize_for_Exact_Sciences_(Chile)", "title": "National Prize for Exact Sciences (Chile) - Wikipedia" }, { "url": "https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/07/valve-runs-its-massive-pc-gaming-ecosystem-with-only-about-350-employees", "title": "Valve runs its massive PC gaming ecosystem with only about 350 employees - Ars Technica" }, { "url": "https://www.facebook.com/gamersboard/posts/valves-success-is-on-a-completely-different-level-and-the-numbers-say-it-all-wit/1397175758442653", "title": "Valve’s success is on a... - Gamology - Gamers On Board" }, { "url": "https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/13/24197477/valve-employs-few-hundred-people-payroll-redacted", "title": "Here’s how much Valve pays its staff — and how few people it employs | The Verge" } ]
- mode
- answer
- timestamp_utc
- 2026-09-10T11:31:54Z
- results 1 › content
- [Jump to content](#bodyContent) [  ](/wiki/Main_Page) [Search](/wiki/Special:Search "Search Wikipedia [f]") ## Contents * [1 History](#History) + [1.1 Founding and *Half-Life* (1996–2003)](#Founding_and_Half-Life_(1996–2003)) + [1.2 Source, Steam, and *Half-Life 2* (2003–2010)](#Source,_Steam,_and_Half-Life_2_(2003–2010)) + [1.3 Transition to services (2010–2014)](#Transition_to_services_(2010–2014)) + [1.4 Source 2, virtual reality and *Half-Life: Alyx* (2015–present)](#Source_2,_virtual_reality_and_Half-Life:_Alyx_(2015–present)) * [2 Structure](#Structure) + [2.1 Valve time](#Valve_time) + [2.2 Playtesting](#Playtesting) * [3 Products](#Products) + [3.1 Games](#Games) + [3.2 Engines](#Engines) + [3.3 Steam](#Steam) + [3.4 Steam Machine](#Steam_Machine) + [3.5 Steam Controller](#Steam_Controller) + [3.6 Valve Index and virtual reality](#Valve_Index_and_virtual_reality) + [3.7 Steam Deck](#Steam_Deck) + [3.8 Other projects](#Other_projects) - [3.8.1 PowerPlay](#PowerPlay) - [3.8.2 Pipeline](#Pipeline) * [4 Legal disputes](#Legal_disputes) + [4.1 *Valve Corporation v. Vivendi Universal Games*](#Valve_Corporation_v._Vivendi_Universal_Games) + [4.2 *Valve Corporation v. Activision Blizzard*](#Valve_Corporation_v._Activision_Blizzard) + [4.3 *Dota* intellectual property ownership](#Dota_intellectual_property_ownership) + [4.4 *ACCC v. Valve Corporation*](#ACCC_v._Valve_Corporation) + [4.5 *UFC Que Choisir v. Valve Corporation*](#UFC_Que_Choisir_v._Valve_Corporation) + [4.6 Skins gambling](#Skins_gambling) + [4.7 Anti-competitive practices](#Anti-competitive_practices) + [4.8 *Valve Corporation v. Zaiger, LLC*](#Valve_Corporation_v._Zaiger,_LLC) + [4.9 *Valve Corporation v. Rothschild*](#Valve_Corporation_v._Rothschild) * [5 References](#References) * [6 External links](#External_links) # Valve Corporation * [Afrikaans](https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Afrikaans") * [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81 "فالف – Arabic") * [مصرى](https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%87_%DA%A4%D8%A7%D9%84%DA%A4 "شركه ڤالڤ – Egyptian Arabic") * [Asturianu](https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Asturian") * [Azərbaycanca](https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Azerbaijani") * [تۆرکجه](https://azb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%AA_%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88 "شیرکت ولو – South Azerbaijani") * [Беларуская](https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Belarusian") * [Български](https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B2_%D0%9A%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%88%D1%8A%D0%BD "Валв Корпорейшън – Bulgarian") * [Brezhoneg](https://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Breton") * [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Catalan") * [کوردی](https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%A4%D8%A7%DA%B5%DA%A4 "ڤاڵڤ – Central Kurdish") * [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Czech") * [Dansk](https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Danish") * [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – German") * [Ελληνικά](https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Greek") * [Esperanto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Esperanto") * [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Spanish") * [Eesti](https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Estonian") * [Euskara](https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Basque") * [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%AA_%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88 "شرکت ولو – Persian") * [Suomi](https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Finnish") * [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – French") * [Galego](https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Galician") * [עברית](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Hebrew") * [Hrvatski](https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Croatian") * [Magyar](https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Hungarian") * [Հայերեն](https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Armenian") * [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Indonesian") * [Íslenska](https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Icelandic") * [Italiano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Italian") * [日本語](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Japanese") * [Jawa](https://jv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Javanese") * [ქართული](https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Georgian") * [Қазақша](https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Kazakh") * [ភាសាខ្មែរ](https://km.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Khmer") * [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%B0%B8%EB%B8%8C_%EC%BD%94%ED%8D%BC%EB%A0%88%EC%9D%B4%EC%85%98 "밸브 코퍼레이션 – Korean") * [ລາວ](https://lo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Lao") * [Lietuvių](https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Lithuanian") * [Latviešu](https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Latvian") * [Malagasy](https://mg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Malagasy") * [Македонски](https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Macedonian") * [Bahasa Melayu](https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Malay") * [မြန်မာဘာသာ](https://my.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Burmese") * [مازِرونی](https://mzn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88_%DA%A9%D9%88%D9%85%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C "ولو کومپانی – Mazanderani") * [Nederlands](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Dutch") * [Norsk nynorsk](https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Norwegian Nynorsk") * [Norsk bokmål](https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Norwegian Bokmål") * [Occitan](https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Occitan") * [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Polish") * [پښتو](https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88_%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%BE%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B4%D9%86 "والو کارپوریشن – Pashto") * [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Portuguese") * [Runa Simi](https://qu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Quechua") * [Romnă](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Romanian") * [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Russian") * [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Simple English") * [Slovenčina](https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Slovak") * [Slovenščina](https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Slovenian") * [Soomaaliga](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Somali") * [Shqip](https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korporata_Valve "Korporata Valve – Albanian") * [Српски / srpski](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Serbian") * [Svenska](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Swedish") * [Kiswahili](https://sw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Swahili") * [ไทย](https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99 "วาล์วคอร์ปอเรชัน – Thai") * [Toki pona](https://tok.wikipedia.org/wiki/kulupu_Walu "kulupu Walu – Toki Pona") * [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Turkish") * [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Ukrainian") * [اردو](https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88_%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%BE%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B4%D9%86 "والو کارپوریشن – Urdu") * [Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча](https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Uzbek") * [Tiếng Việt](https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Vietnamese") * [吴语](https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A8%81%E5%B0%94%E4%B9%8C "威尔乌 – Wu") * [閩南語 / Bn-lm-gí](https://zh-min-nan.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation "Valve Corporation – Minnan") * [粵語](https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_%E8%A3%BD%E4%BD%9C%E7%B5%84 "Valve 製作組 – Cantonese") * [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve "Valve – Chinese") [Edit links](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q193559#sitelinks-wikipedia "Edit interlanguage links") * [Article](/wiki/Valve_Corporation "View the content page [c]") * [Talk](/wiki/Talk:Valve_Corporation "Discuss improvements to the content page [t]") * [Read](/wiki/Valve_Corporation) * [View source](/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&action=edit "This page is protected. You can view its source [e]") * [View history](/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&action=history "Past revisions of this page [h]") Tools Actions * [Read](/wiki/Valve_Corporation) * [View source](/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&action=edit "This page is protected. You can view its source [e]") * [View history](/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&action=history "Past revisions of this page [h]") General * [What links here](/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Valve_Corporation "List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]") * [Related changes](/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Valve_Corporation "Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]") * [Upload file](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard "Upload files [u]") * [Permanent link](/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&oldid=1373297435 "Permanent link to this revision of this page") * [Page information](/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&action=info "More information about this page") * [Cite this page](/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Valve_Corporation&id=1373297435&wpFormIdentifier=titleform "Information on how to cite this page") * [Get shortened URL](/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FValve_Corporation) * [Switch to legacy parser](/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&useparsoid=0) Print/export * [Download as PDF](/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Valve_Corporation&action=show-download-screen "Download this page as a PDF file") * [Printable version](/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&printable=yes "Printable version of this page [p]") In other projects * [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Valve_Corporation) * [Wikidata item](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q193559 "Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]") Appearance [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi "This article is semi-protected due to vandalism") From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia American video game company Valve Corporation | Former offices in [Bellevue, Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellevue,_Washington "Bellevue, Washington") | | Formerly | Valve, L.L.C. (1996–2003) | | Type | [Private](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privately_held_company "Privately held company") | | Industry | [Video games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_industry "Video game industry") | | Founded | August 24, 1996; 30 years ago (1996-08-24) | | Founders | * [Gabe Newell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabe_Newell "Gabe Newell") * [Mike Harrington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Harrington "Mike Harrington") | | Headquarters | [Bellevue, Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellevue,_Washington "Bellevue, Washington") , U.S. | | Key people | * Gabe Newell ([president](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_(corporate_title) "President (corporate title)")) * Scott Lynch ([COO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_operating_officer "Chief operating officer")) | | Products | Video games * *[Counter-Strike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike "Counter-Strike")* * *[Day of Defeat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Defeat "Day of Defeat")* * *[Dota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota "Dota")* * *[Half-Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(series) "Half-Life (series)")* * *[Left 4 Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead_(series) "Left 4 Dead (series)")* * *[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(series) "Portal (series)")* * *[Team Fortress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress "Team Fortress")* Hardware * [HTC Vive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Vive "HTC Vive") * [Steam Controller (1st gen)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller_(1st_generation) "Steam Controller (1st generation)") * [Steam Controller (2nd gen)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller_(2nd_generation) "Steam Controller (2nd generation)") * [Steam Deck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Deck "Steam Deck") * [Steam Frame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Frame "Steam Frame") * [Steam Link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Link "Steam Link") * [Steam Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machine "Steam Machine") * [Valve Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Index "Valve Index") Software * [GoldSrc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldSrc "GoldSrc") * [Proton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_(software) "Proton (software)") * [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_(game_engine) "Source (game engine)") * [Source 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_2 "Source 2") * [Source Filmmaker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_Filmmaker "Source Filmmaker") * [Steam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service) "Steam (service)") * [SteamOS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamOS "SteamOS") * [Valve Anti-Cheat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Anti-Cheat "Valve Anti-Cheat") * [VOGL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VOGL "VOGL") | | Revenue | US$5 billion (2023) | | [Total equity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equity_(finance) "Equity (finance)") | US$6.9 billion (2024) | | Owner | Gabe Newell (>50%) | | Number of employees | 336 (2021) | | [Subsidiaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidiary "Subsidiary") | * Valve S.a.r.l. * Valve GmbH * [Campo Santo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_Santo_(company) "Campo Santo (company)") | | [ASN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_System_Number "Autonomous System Number") | [32590](https://bgp.tools/as/32590) [Edit this at Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193559#P3797 "Edit this at Wikidata") | | | | Website | [valvesoftware.com](https://www.valvesoftware.com/) | | **Footnotes** [[1]](#cite_note-Pastis-2024a-1)[[2]](#cite_note-2)[[3]](#cite_note-Chiang-2011-3)[[4]](#cite_note-peters-4)[[5]](#cite_note-valve-gmbh-5) | **Valve Corporation**, also known as **Valve Software**, is an American [video game developer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_developer "Video game developer"), [publisher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_publisher "Video game publisher"), hardware, and [digital distribution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_distribution "Digital distribution") company headquartered in [Bellevue, Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellevue,_Washington "Bellevue, Washington"). It is the developer of game franchises including *[Half-Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(series) "Half-Life (series)")*, *[Counter-Strike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike "Counter-Strike")*, *[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(series) "Portal (series)")*, *[Team Fortress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress "Team Fortress")*, *[Left 4 Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead_(franchise) "Left 4 Dead (franchise)")* and *[Dota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota "Dota"),* the software service [Steam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service) "Steam (service)"), and hardware including the [Steam Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machine "Steam Machine"), [Steam Deck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Deck "Steam Deck") and [Valve Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Index "Valve Index"). Valve was founded in 1996 by former [Microsoft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft "Microsoft") employees [Gabe Newell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabe_Newell "Gabe Newell") and [Mike Harrington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Harrington "Mike Harrington"). Their debut game, the [first-person shooter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-person_shooter "First-person shooter") (FPS) *[Half-Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(video_game) "Half-Life (video game)")* (1998), was a critical and commercial success that had a lasting influence on the genre. Harrington left in 2000. In 2003, Valve launched Steam, followed by *[Half-Life 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2 "Half-Life 2")* (2004), the [episodic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episodic_video_game "Episodic video game") sequels *[Half-Life 2: Episode One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_One "Half-Life 2: Episode One")* (2006) and *[Episode Two](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_Two "Half-Life 2: Episode Two")* (2007), the puzzle games *[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(video_game) "Portal (video game)")* (2007) and *[Portal 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_2 "Portal 2")* (2011), and the multiplayer games *[Team Fortress 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_2 "Team Fortress 2")* (2007), *[Left 4 Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead "Left 4 Dead")* (2008), and *[Dota 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2 "Dota 2")* (2013). During the 2010s, Valve released fewer games and focused on hardware and [virtual reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality "Virtual reality") (VR). They released the first Steam Machine console in 2015, the Valve Index [VR headset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR_headset "VR headset") in 2019, their flagship VR game, *[Half-Life: Alyx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Alyx "Half-Life: Alyx")*, in 2020, and the handheld system Steam Deck in 2022. A redesigned [Steam Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machine "Steam Machine") was released in 2026 and a new VR headset, [Steam Frame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Frame "Steam Frame"), is scheduled for mid-2026. Valve uses a [flat organizational structure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_organization "Flat organization"), allowing employees to choose their own projects. Valve is noted for its technical and artistic innovation, with many of its games receiving mention among the [greatest games of all time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_video_games_of_all_time "Greatest video games of all time"). They develop games through [playtesting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playtesting "Playtesting") and iteration, describing game design as a kind of [experimental psychology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_psychology "Experimental psychology"). By 2012, Valve employed around 250 people and was reportedly worth over US$3 billion. Most of Valve's revenue comes from Steam, which controlled over half of the digital PC games market in 2011 and generated an estimated $3.4 billion in 2017. ## History ### Founding and *Half-Life* (1996–2003) [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gabe_newell_doug_lombardi.jpg) [Gabe Newell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabe_Newell "Gabe Newell") (foreground) and Doug Lombardi (background), 2007 Valve was founded in 1996 by the former [Microsoft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft "Microsoft") employees [Gabe Newell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabe_Newell "Gabe Newell") and [Mike Harrington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Harrington "Mike Harrington").[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6) Newell had spent the prior 13 years at Microsoft developing [Windows](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows "Microsoft Windows"),[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6) including the [Windows 95](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_95 "Windows 95") port of *[Doom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_(1993_video_game) "Doom (1993 video game)")* from [id Software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id_Software "Id Software").[[7]](#cite_note-7) Newell had become frustrated with game developers' approach of creating bespoke interfaces for [graphics acceleration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_acceleration "Graphics acceleration"), and had also seen id Software outperforming Windows in sales of *Doom* with an alternative distribution model.[[8]](#cite_note-8) Newell and Harrington founded Valve, L.L.C.[[9]](#cite_note-9) in [Kirkland, Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkland,_Washington "Kirkland, Washington"), about five miles from the Microsoft campus in [Redmond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redmond,_Washington "Redmond, Washington"), on August 24, 1996, Newell's wedding day.[[10]](#cite_note-Steam-2007-10)[[11]](#cite_note-11)[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6)[[12]](#cite_note-12) In a break from industry style of the time, Newell did not want a company name that suggested "testosterone-gorged muscles and the 'extreme' of anything".[[13]](#cite_note-flhalflife22-13) Alternative names considered by Newell and Harrington include Hollow Box, Fruitfly Ensemble and Rhino Scar.[[13]](#cite_note-flhalflife22-13)[[14]](#cite_note-14) Valve's first game was *[Half-Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(video_game) "Half-Life (video game)")*, a [first-person shooter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-person_shooter "First-person shooter") (FPS) with elements of horror.[[13]](#cite_note-flhalflife22-13) The development was aided by access to the [*Quake* engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quake_engine "Quake engine") by id Software; Valve modified this engine into its [GoldSrc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldSrc "GoldSrc") engine.[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6) After struggling to find a publisher, Valve eventually signed with [Sierra On-Line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_On-Line "Sierra On-Line").[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6) *Half-Life* was released in November 1998[[15]](#cite_note-fhhalflife5-15) and was a critical and commercial success.[[16]](#cite_note-cgw-16)[[17]](#cite_note-Gamespotrev-17)[[18]](#cite_note-gamespotfame-18) With its realism, scripted sequences and seamless narrative, it had a lasting influence; according to *[IGN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IGN "IGN")* in 2014, the history of the FPS genre "breaks down pretty cleanly into pre-*Half-Life* and post-*Half-Life* eras".[[19]](#cite_note-19) Valve enlisted [Gearbox Software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gearbox_Software "Gearbox Software") to develop three [expansions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expansion_pack "Expansion pack") for *Half-Life*: *[Opposing Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Opposing_Force "Half-Life: Opposing Force")* (1999), *[Blue Shift](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Blue_Shift "Half-Life: Blue Shift")* (2001) and *[Decay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Decay "Half-Life: Decay")* (2001).[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6)[[20]](#cite_note-20) In 1998, Valve acquired TF Software, a group that had made the popular *Team Fortress* [mod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mod_(video_gaming) "Mod (video gaming)") for *Quake*, and remade it for GoldSrc as *[Team Fortress Classic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_Classic "Team Fortress Classic")* in 1999.[[21]](#cite_note-21) Valve released the [software development kit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_kit "Software development kit") (SDK) for the GoldSrc engine, facilitating numerous user-created mods. They acquired the developers of one popular mod, *[Counter-Strike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike "Counter-Strike")*, to create a standalone *Counter-Strike* game.[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6) Happy with Valve's success, Harrington sold his stake in Valve to Newell in 2000.[[22]](#cite_note-Geoff-22)[[13]](#cite_note-flhalflife22-13) Valve's publishing agreement meant Sierra owned the *Half-Life* [intellectual property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property "Intellectual property") and held exclusive publishing rights to future Valve games. In 2001, Valve renegotiated by threatening to cease game development and develop other software, using an offer of a partnership from [Amazon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_(company) "Amazon (company)") to create a digital storefront as a bargaining chip. After the agreement with Sierra was amended, Valve gained the *Half-Life* intellectual property and online distribution rights for its games.[[23]](#cite_note-23)[[24]](#cite_note-24) ### Source, Steam, and *Half-Life 2* (2003–2010) In 2003, Valve moved to [Bellevue, Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellevue,_Washington "Bellevue, Washington"), and [reincorporated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incorporation_(business) "Incorporation (business)") as Valve Corporation.[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6) In 2010, the office moved to a larger location in Bellevue. In 2016, Valve signed a nine-floor lease in the [Lincoln Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Square_(Bellevue) "Lincoln Square (Bellevue)") complex in downtown Bellevue, doubling the size of its offices.[[25]](#cite_note-Levy-2016-25) Valve began developing *[Half-Life 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2 "Half-Life 2")* six months after the release of the first *Half-Life*, using its new in-house engine, [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_(game_engine) "Source (game engine)").[[22]](#cite_note-Geoff-22) With advanced [physics systems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics_engine "Physics engine") and an increased focus on story and characters, it received critical acclaim upon its release in 2004. By 2011, it had sold 12 million copies.[[3]](#cite_note-Chiang-2011-3) In 2002, Valve launched [Steam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service) "Steam (service)"), a digital storefront and delivery platform.[[26]](#cite_note-26)[[27]](#cite_note-27) Steam initially offered only Valve games, and was mandatory to install *Half-Life 2*, but it later became a publisher of third-party games.[[3]](#cite_note-Chiang-2011-3) As Valve became its own publisher via Steam, it transitioned to a [flat organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_organization "Flat organization"). Outside of executive management, Valve does not have bosses and uses an [open allocation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_allocation "Open allocation") system, allowing employees to move between departments at will.[[28]](#cite_note-office-28)[[29]](#cite_note-bosses-29) In July 2005, [Electronic Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Arts "Electronic Arts") was announced to partner with Valve for a multi-year game distribution agreement, following Vivendi Universal's promise to end distribution on August 31.[[30]](#cite_note-30) After having taken five years to develop *Half-Life 2*, Valve moved to [episodic development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episodic_video_game "Episodic video game"), planning to release shorter games more frequently.[[31]](#cite_note-Crossley-2011-31) *[Half-Life 2: Episode One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_One "Half-Life 2: Episode One")*, the first in a planned trilogy of episodic *Half-Life 2* sequels, was released in 2006.[[32]](#cite_note-32) *[Episode Two](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_Two "Half-Life 2: Episode Two")* followed in 2007, alongside the multiplayer game *[Team Fortress 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_2 "Team Fortress 2")* and the puzzle game *[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(video_game) "Portal (video game)")*, developed from the student project *[Narbacular Drop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narbacular_Drop "Narbacular Drop")*.[[33]](#cite_note-seattletimes-33) In February 2007, Valve announced *The Black Box* and *[The Orange Box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box "The Orange Box"),* both bundles of multiple games and [expansions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expansion_pack "Expansion pack"), to be distributed by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[[34]](#cite_note-34) In January 2008, Valve announced the acquisition of [Turtle Rock Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle_Rock_Studios "Turtle Rock Studios"),[[35]](#cite_note-Valve_2008-01-10-35) which was renamed Valve South.[[36]](#cite_note-36) Turtle Rock developed *[Left 4 Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead "Left 4 Dead")* and *[Left 4 Dead 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead_2 "Left 4 Dead 2")* while associated with Valve. Turtle Rock Studios spun out of Valve again in March 2010.[[37]](#cite_note-37) *[Forbes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes "Forbes")* estimated that Valve had grossed $70 million in 2005.[[3]](#cite_note-Chiang-2011-3) ### Transition to services (2010–2014) [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Valve_old_logo.svg) Logo until 2018 In 2009, Valve hired [IceFrog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IceFrog "IceFrog"), the developer of *[Defense of the Ancients](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_the_Ancients "Defense of the Ancients")*, a *[Warcraft III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warcraft_III:_Reign_of_Chaos "Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos")* mod.[[38]](#cite_note-38) IceFrog led the development of a sequel not associated with the *Warcraft* elements, *[Dota 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2 "Dota 2")*, released in 2013.[[39]](#cite_note-39) Alongside *Dota 2* in 2011, Valve started [the International](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_International_(Dota_2) "The International (Dota 2)"), an annual [esports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESport "ESport") tournament for *Dota 2* with a prize pool supported by Valve and funds from microtransactions from [battle passes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_pass "Battle pass") purchased by players.[[40]](#cite_note-Reilly-40) Valve released *[Portal 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_2 "Portal 2")* in April 2011.[[41]](#cite_note-vg247_early_release-41) As with the original *Portal*, Valve employed a [Digipen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DigiPen_Institute_of_Technology "DigiPen Institute of Technology") student team to help develop it; the team behind *[Tag: The Power of Paint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag:_The_Power_of_Paint "Tag: The Power of Paint")* implemented the new gel gameplay.[[42]](#cite_note-42) In April 2010, Valve launched Steam for [Mac OS X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS "MacOS") along with ports of several of its games including the *Half-Life* series.[[43]](#cite_note-43)[[44]](#cite_note-44) The [Screen Digest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_Digest "Screen Digest") analyst Ed Barton estimated Valve's 2010 revenue to be in the "high hundreds of millions of dollars".[[25]](#cite_note-Levy-2016-25) As of 2011, Valve had an estimated worth of $2 to 4 billion and employed 250 people; according to Newell, this made it more profitable per employee than [Google](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google "Google") or [Apple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc. "Apple Inc."). Most of Valve's revenue came from Steam, which controlled 50 to 70% of the market for downloaded PC games in 2011.[[3]](#cite_note-Chiang-2011-3) By 2011, Valve had replaced episodic development with a platform-oriented approach, whereby games such as *Left 4 Dead 2* and *Team Fortress 2* were continually updated through Steam updates.[[31]](#cite_note-Crossley-2011-31) In June 2012, Valve hired the economist [Yanis Varoufakis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanis_Varoufakis "Yanis Varoufakis") to study the online economies of their games.[[45]](#cite_note-45) That December, Valve acquired Star Filled Studios, a two-person studio, to open a San Francisco office.[[46]](#cite_note-46) Valve closed the office in August 2013 when it decided it had little benefit.[[47]](#cite_note-47) At the 2013 [D.I.C.E. Summit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.I.C.E._Summit "D.I.C.E. Summit"), Newell announced that he and the film director [J. J. Abrams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams "J. J. Abrams") were collaborating to produce a *Half-Life* or *Portal* film, as well as a possible game.[[48]](#cite_note-48) In the 2010s, Valve released fewer games and invested in hardware development. Newell intended to make Valve more like [Nintendo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo "Nintendo"), which develops games in tandem with hardware, allowing it to create innovative games such as *[Super Mario 64](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_64 "Super Mario 64")*.[[49]](#cite_note-Keighley-2020-49) Valve initially focused on [augmented reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality "Augmented reality"), but in 2013 Newell laid off many staff to focus on [virtual reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality "Virtual reality") (VR).[[49]](#cite_note-Keighley-2020-49) Valve began porting its games to [Linux](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux "Linux") in 2023, including Half-Life 2 and Left 4 Dead 2.[[50]](#cite_note-50)[[51]](#cite_note-51) In 2015, Valve released the [Steam Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machines "Steam Machines"), a line of [gaming computers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaming_computer "Gaming computer"), which sold poorly.[[49]](#cite_note-Keighley-2020-49) Media commentators speculated that Valve's transition to service provider with Steam, which generated an estimated $3.4 billion in 2017, had driven it away from game development.[[52]](#cite_note-52) Valve canceled games including [numerous *Half-Life* projects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreleased_Half-Life_games "Unreleased Half-Life games") (including *[Episode Three](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_Three "Half-Life 2: Episode Three")*), *Left 4 Dead 3*, a [Soulslike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulslike "Soulslike") game, and a [voxel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voxel "Voxel")-based game, *A.R.T.I*. Additional VR projects included *SimTrek*, developed by members of the *[Kerbal Space Program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerbal_Space_Program "Kerbal Space Program")* development team, and a new VR device, Vader, that was determined to be too costly for consumers.[[53]](#cite_note-53)[[54]](#cite_note-54) According to the designer [Robin Walker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Walker_(game_designer) "Robin Walker (game designer)"), the abundance of projects that failed to gain traction, with no shared vision, damaged morale.[[49]](#cite_note-Keighley-2020-49) Many players grew frustrated in anticipation of a new *Half-Life* game.[[55]](#cite_note-55) ### Source 2, virtual reality and *Half-Life: Alyx* (2015–present) Valve announced the [Source 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_2 "Source 2") engine in March 2015, and ported *Dota 2* to Source 2 in September.[[56]](#cite_note-56)[[57]](#cite_note-57) That year, Valve collaborated with the electronics company [HTC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC "HTC") to develop the [HTC Vive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Vive "HTC Vive"), a [VR headset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR_headset "VR headset") released in 2016.[[58]](#cite_note-The_Final_Hours-58) Valve experimented with VR games, and in 2016 released *[The Lab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lab_(video_game) "The Lab (video game)")*, a collection of VR minigames.[[59]](#cite_note-Reeves-59) Valve recognized that many players wanted a more ambitious VR [AAA game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAA_game "AAA game"), and began exploring the development of a major VR game.[[59]](#cite_note-Reeves-59) They developed several prototypes, with three further VR projects under development by 2017.[[60]](#cite_note-60)[[61]](#cite_note-61) Finding that the portal systems of its puzzle series *[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(series) "Portal (series)")* were disorienting in VR, it settled on *Half-Life*.[[58]](#cite_note-The_Final_Hours-58) Walker said that *Half-Life 3* had been a "terrifyingly daunting prospect", and the team saw VR as a way to return to the series.[[58]](#cite_note-The_Final_Hours-58) Full development of a VR *Half-Life* game started around late 2016, with the largest team in Valve's history.[[62]](#cite_note-arstech_fhalyx-62)[[63]](#cite_note-finalhours_alyx-63) Valve acquired the 3D audio software developer Impulsonic in January 2017.[[64]](#cite_note-64) In April 2018, Valve acquired the independent developer [Campo Santo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_Santo_(company) "Campo Santo (company)"), known for the 2016 adventure game *[Firewatch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewatch "Firewatch")*. Campo Santo planned to develop its own games under Valve, though it initially helped develop *Half-Life: Alyx*.[[65]](#cite_note-65)[[66]](#cite_note-PC_Gamer_12-66) In November 2018, Valve released *[Artifact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artifact_(video_game) "Artifact (video game)")*, a [digital collectible card game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_collectible_card_game "Digital collectible card game") based on *Dota 2*, with design by [Richard Garfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Garfield "Richard Garfield"), the creator of *[Magic: The Gathering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering "Magic: The Gathering")*. *Artifact* had unusual pay-for mechanics to acquire new cards, and did not draw a large playerbase, losing 95% of players months after release.[[67]](#cite_note-Disappointment-67) In April 2021, Valve abandoned efforts to reboot the project, saying it had not found enough interested players to justify development.[[68]](#cite_note-68) In June 2019, Valve released its second-generation VR hardware, the [Valve Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Index "Valve Index").[[69]](#cite_note-69) They also released *[Dota Underlords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_Underlords "Dota Underlords")* into early access, an [auto battler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_battler "Auto battler") based on a *Dota 2* community-created mode *[Dota Auto Chess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_Auto_Chess "Dota Auto Chess")*.[[70]](#cite_note-70) In March 2020, Valve released *[Half-Life: Alyx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Alyx "Half-Life: Alyx")*, a VR game.[[71]](#cite_note-71) It received acclaim[[72]](#cite_note-metacritic2-72) and was described as VR's first [killer app](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_app "Killer app").[[73]](#cite_note-73)[[74]](#cite_note-74)[[75]](#cite_note-75)[[76]](#cite_note-76) Newell said in January 2021 that the success of *Alyx* created desire within the company to develop more games, and that several were under development.[[77]](#cite_note-77) Valve collaborated with [Netflix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix "Netflix") for *[Dota: Dragon's Blood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota:_Dragon's_Blood "Dota: Dragon's Blood")*, an animated television series based on *[Dota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota "Dota")*, which premiered in March 2021.[[78]](#cite_note-78) In February 2022, Valve released the [Steam Deck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Deck "Steam Deck"), a portable game system that runs on Linux-based [SteamOS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamOS "SteamOS") with the [Proton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_(software) "Proton (software)") compatibility layer that allows most Windows games on Steam to run on Linux without modification.[[79]](#cite_note-79) In September 2023, Valve released *[Counter-Strike 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike_2 "Counter-Strike 2")*. It received generally favorable reviews, but player reception was mixed.[[80]](#cite_note-80)[[81]](#cite_note-81) In 2024, Valve began beta-testing a new multiplayer game, *[Deadlock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadlock_(video_game) "Deadlock (video game)")*, a combination of a [hero shooter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shooter "Hero shooter") and [MOBA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOBA "MOBA").[[82]](#cite_note-82) In September, staff members from Hopoo Games, developers of *[Risk of Rain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_of_Rain "Risk of Rain")*, announced that they had been employed at Valve.[[83]](#cite_note-83) According to a report by *Forbes Australia* published in December 2024, Valve had an annual revenue of $5 billion by 2023, with a 40% profit margin. Steam accounted for around 60% of this revenue, double that of 2019.[[1]](#cite_note-Pastis-2024a-1) In November 2025, Valve announced a redesigned [Steam Controller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller_(2nd_generation) "Steam Controller (2nd generation)") and [Steam Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machine "Steam Machine") and a new VR headset, [Steam Frame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Frame "Steam Frame"). They were scheduled for release in early 2026,[[84]](#cite_note-84) but were delayed by the [RAM crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–present_global_memory_supply_shortage "2025–present global memory supply shortage").[[85]](#cite_note-85) The second-generation Steam Controller was released on May 4, with no release date set for the Steam Frame as of July 2026.[[86]](#cite_note-86) In June 2026, Valve released the Steam Machine, its first dedicated living room gaming PC since the original Steam Machines introduced in 2015. The company launched the device with a randomized reservation system because of limited production caused by global memory and storage shortages, with prices starting at $1,049 for the base model.[[87]](#cite_note-87) In September 2026, around 12TB of data was extracted from Steam, including complete games, beta versions and prototypes dating between 2003 and 2013, from both Valve and other third-party developers. The anonymous person that disseminated the data claimed it was available without protection from older Steam servers used during that period, which Valve since transitioned from.[[88]](#cite_note-88) ## Structure [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Robin_Walker_3.jpg) Designer [Robin Walker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Walker_(game_designer) "Robin Walker (game designer)") at Steam Dev Days 2014 Initially, Valve used a hierarchical structure typical of other development firms, driven by the nature of physical game releases through [publishers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_publisher "Video game publisher") that required tasks to be completed by deadlines.[[89]](#cite_note-GD2017-89) However, as Valve became its own publisher via Steam, it found the hierarchical structure was hindering progress.[[62]](#cite_note-arstech_fhalyx-62) After completing *Half-Life 2*, Valve transitioned to a [flat organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_organization "Flat organization"). Outside of executive management, Valve does not have bosses, and uses an [open allocation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_allocation "Open allocation") system.[[28]](#cite_note-office-28)[[29]](#cite_note-bosses-29) Valve's marketing manager, Doug Lombardi, said: "Nobody writes a design doc and hands it to somebody and says, 'you go build this'. It's the teams that are coming up with the ideas and pushing in the directions that they want to take the product."[[90]](#cite_note-90) This approach allows employees to work on whatever interests them, but requires them to take ownership of their product and mistakes they may make, according to Newell. Newell recognized that this structure works well for some but that "there are plenty of great developers for whom this is a terrible place to work".[[89]](#cite_note-GD2017-89) Following the difficult development of *Half-Life 2*, Newell said he became "obsessed" with improving Valve's [work-life balance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work–life_balance "Work–life balance").[[31]](#cite_note-Crossley-2011-31) Although Valve has no bosses, some employees hold more influence due to seniority or relationships. De facto project leads became "centralized conduits" for organization and sharing information, and decisions are made collectively. Valve uses a process named Overwatch to gather feedback from senior members, which teams may use or ignore.[[49]](#cite_note-Keighley-2020-49)[[31]](#cite_note-Crossley-2011-31) The success of Steam means that Valve is not dependent on the success of its games.[[91]](#cite_note-Macgregor-2023-91) The lack of organization structure has led to project cancellations, as it can be difficult to convince other employees to work on them.[[92]](#cite_note-layoffs-92)[[93]](#cite_note-yanis-93)[[94]](#cite_note-94) In 2020, Valve acknowledged that this made it difficult to gather momentum and had slowed its output during the 2010s.[[95]](#cite_note-95) Its VR projects and *Half-Life: Alyx* became a turning point, setting short-term studio-wide goals to focus the company. According to Walker, "We sort of had to collectively admit we were wrong on the premise that you will be happiest if you work on something you personally want to work on the most."[[62]](#cite_note-arstech_fhalyx-62) In January 2023, *[People Make Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Make_Games "People Make Games")* released a report on Valve's corporate structure and culture, based on interviews with several current and former employees. They found that Valve's flat structure and [stack-ranking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stack_ranking "Stack ranking") compensation system created a poor release record and a lack of employee diversity.[[91]](#cite_note-Macgregor-2023-91)[[96]](#cite_note-96) In 2024, *Forbes* estimated that Newell owned 50.1% of Valve, with the rest owned by employees.[[1]](#cite_note-Pastis-2024a-1) As part of Wolfire Games' lawsuit over Steam policies, case documents revealed details related to Valve's employee structure. Valve had 60 employees in 2003 and had approximately 350 employees between 2012 and 2021. Employees are categorized into administration, game development, Steam development and (from 2011) hardware development.[[4]](#cite_note-peters-4) ### Valve time "Valve Time" redirects here. For timing of the opening and closing of valves, see [Valve timing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_timing "Valve timing"). **Valve time** is an industry term used jokingly with game releases from Valve, used to acknowledge the difference between the "promised" date for released content stated by Valve and to the "actual" release date; "Valve Time" includes delays but also includes some content that was released earlier than expected. Valve has acknowledged the term, including tracking known discrepancies between ideal and actual releases on its public development wiki[[97]](#cite_note-97) and using it in announcements about such delays.[[98]](#cite_note-98)[[99]](#cite_note-99) Valve ascribes delays to its mentality of team-driven initiatives over corporate deadlines.[[100]](#cite_note-faliszek_valvetime-100) ### Playtesting Valve [playtests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playtest "Playtest") its games extensively from the beginning of development,[[101]](#cite_note-Remo-2008-101) and iterates based on the results.[[49]](#cite_note-Keighley-2020-49) It believes that "all game designers are, in a sense, [experimental psychologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_psychologist "Experimental psychologist")".[[49]](#cite_note-Keighley-2020-49) The Valve writer [Chet Faliszek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chet_Faliszek "Chet Faliszek") said he initially blamed testers when they failed to engage with designs as expected, but changed his mind when multiple testers had the same problem: "By the third or fourth time, all of a sudden you're realizing, 'I'm an idiot. This is pretty obvious this doesn't work. It's not their fault, it's our fault.'"[[101]](#cite_note-Remo-2008-101) He gave an example from the development of *Left 4 Dead*, wherein a [texture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_mapping "Texture mapping") change caused every tester to miss a ladder and become stuck.[[101]](#cite_note-Remo-2008-101) Walker said playtesting helped Valve maximize the experience for players. For example, when something exciting occurs by chance during a playtest, the developers attempt to have it occur for every player.[[102]](#cite_note-Bramwell-102) Newell contrasted this approach to that of [Warren Spector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Spector "Warren Spector"), whose open-ended games are designed to be replayed with different outcomes: "You spend all of this time to build stuff that most players will never ever ever see. ... If only one per cent of your customers see this cool thing that takes five per cent of your development budget, that's not a good use of resources."[[102]](#cite_note-Bramwell-102) ## Products ### Games Main article: [List of Valve games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Valve_games "List of Valve games") Valve is the main developer and publisher of the single-player *[Half-Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(series) "Half-Life (series)")* and *[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(video_game) "Portal (video game)")* games and the multiplayer games *[Counter-Strike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike "Counter-Strike")*, *[Team Fortress 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_2 "Team Fortress 2")*, *[Dota 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2 "Dota 2")*, *[Day of Defeat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Defeat "Day of Defeat")*, and *[Artifact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artifact_(video_game) "Artifact (video game)")*. Valve also published the multiplayer game *[Left 4 Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead "Left 4 Dead")* and developed and published *[Left 4 Dead 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead_2 "Left 4 Dead 2")*. Unreleased and canceled Valve games include the fantasy [role-playing game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing_video_game "Role-playing video game") *Prospero* and [numerous *Half-Life* projects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreleased_Half-Life_games "Unreleased Half-Life games"), including *[Episode Three](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_Three "Half-Life 2: Episode Three")*.[[103]](#cite_note-raisingbar_prospero-103) Valve worked with [Arkane Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkane_Studios "Arkane Studios") on *[The Crossing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crossing_(video_game) "The Crossing (video game)")*, which was canceled in May 2009.[[104]](#cite_note-104) Valve video games are noted for their technical and artistic innovation, with virtually every mainline release from the studio receiving mention among the [greatest video games of all time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_video_games_of_all_time "Greatest video games of all time").[[105]](#cite_note-105)[[106]](#cite_note-106)[[107]](#cite_note-107)[[108]](#cite_note-108)[[109]](#cite_note-109) ### Engines Main articles: [GoldSrc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldSrc "GoldSrc"), [Source (game engine)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_(game_engine) "Source (game engine)"), and [Source 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_2 "Source 2") Valve has developed at least three game engines that have been used in its games. [GoldSrc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldSrc "GoldSrc") is based on a modified [*Quake* engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quake_engine "Quake engine") by [id Software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id_Software "Id Software"), and used for the basis of *Half-Life*.[[6]](#cite_note-hist-6) [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_(game_engine) "Source (game engine)") was internally built from scratch as a replacement for GoldSrc, and was used for most of Valve's games in the early 2000s, including *Half-Life 2*, *Team Fortress 2*, and the *Portal* series.[[110]](#cite_note-110) [Source 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_2 "Source 2") is a refinement of the Source engine initially released in 2015, and has been used for *Dota 2*, *CounterStrike 2*, *The Lab*, and *Half-Life: Alyx*.[[111]](#cite_note-SteamFree-111) ### Steam Main article: [Steam (service)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service) "Steam (service)") Valve announced Steam, its [digital distribution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_distribution "Digital distribution") service, at the 2002 [Game Developers Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Developers_Conference "Game Developers Conference").[[112]](#cite_note-112)[[113]](#cite_note-113) It was launched in September 2003 and was first used to deliver [patches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_(computing) "Patch (computing)") and other updates to Valve's online games.[[114]](#cite_note-114)[[115]](#cite_note-115) On August 1, 2012, Valve announced revisions to the Steam Subscriber Agreement (SSA) to prohibit [class action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_action "Class action") [lawsuits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawsuit "Lawsuit") by users against the service provider.[[116]](#cite_note-augustrockpapershotgun-116)[[117]](#cite_note-valveaugustssa-117) By July 2014, there were over 3,400 games available on Steam, with over 150 million registered accounts by January 2018.[[118]](#cite_note-steamgrowth_2014-118)[[119]](#cite_note-119) Alongside these changes to the SSA, the company also declared publicly the incorporation of Valve [S.a.r.l.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Société_à_responsabilité_limitée "Société à responsabilité limitée"), a subsidiary based in [Luxembourg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg "Luxembourg").[[116]](#cite_note-augustrockpapershotgun-116)[[117]](#cite_note-valveaugustssa-117) Valve set up a physical office in [Kirchberg, Luxembourg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirchberg,_Luxembourg "Kirchberg, Luxembourg"). According to Valve's project manager Mike Dunkle, the location was chosen for eCommerce capabilities and infrastructure, talent acquisition, tax advantages and central geographic location – most major partners are accessible, 50% within driving distance.[[120]](#cite_note-120) Valve S.a.r.l. was used to sell games to UK users to avoid paying the full 20% [value-added tax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value-added_tax "Value-added tax") (VAT).[[121]](#cite_note-121) The [tax loophole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance "Tax avoidance") was expected to close on January 1, 2015.[[122]](#cite_note-122) In December 2015, the French consumer group [UFC Que Choisir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_Que_Choisir "UFC Que Choisir") initiated a lawsuit against Valve for several of its Steam policies that conflict or run afoul of French law. One of the reasons was for using the tax loophole.[[123]](#cite_note-123) Valve S.a.r.l. ceased business on January 1, 2017, with the main company taking over EU sales again.[[124]](#cite_note-124) In August 2017, Valve announced that Steam had reached over 67 million monthly and 33 million [daily active users](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_active_users "Daily active users") on the platform.[[125]](#cite_note-125) ### Steam Machine Main article: [Steam Machine (2015)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machine_(2015) "Steam Machine (2015)") Newell has been critical of the direction that Microsoft has taken with making Windows a [closed architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_architecture "Open architecture") similar to Apple's products, and has stated that he believes that the changes made in Windows 8 are "a catastrophe for everyone in the [personal computer] space".[[126]](#cite_note-ign_windows_8-126) Newell identified the open-source Linux platform as an ideal platform for Steam and said the only thing holding back its adoption is the lack of games.[[126]](#cite_note-ign_windows_8-126) In 2012, Valve announced that they were working on a console-PC hybrid for the living room, dubbed by media as the "Steam Box".[[127]](#cite_note-127)[[128]](#cite_note-128) A precursor to such a unit is SteamOS, a freely available Linux-based operating system that builds upon the Steam client functionality that includes media services, live streaming across home networks, game sharing within families, and parental controls. SteamOS was officially announced in September 2013 as the first of several announcements related to the Steam Machine platform[[129]](#cite_note-129) as well as its unique game controller.[[10]](#cite_note-Steam-2007-10) In May 2014, Valve announced that the company's own SteamOS-powered Steam Machine would be delayed until 2015 due to problems with the game controller.[[130]](#cite_note-130) In 2015, [Alienware](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alienware "Alienware"), [ZOTAC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZOTAC "ZOTAC"), and [CyberPowerPC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CyberPowerPC "CyberPowerPC") launched its versions of the Steam Machine. By June 2016, fewer than half a million had been sold.[[131]](#cite_note-131) While the Steam Machine line has been effectively canceled, Valve continued to manufacture and sell [Steam Controllers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller_(1st_generation) "Steam Controller (1st generation)") until late November 2019,[[132]](#cite_note-132) and publishes both mobile apps and software for the [Steam Link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Link "Steam Link"), allowing in-home streaming. ### Steam Controller Main articles: [Steam Controller (1st generation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller_(1st_generation) "Steam Controller (1st generation)") and [Steam Controller (2nd generation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller_(2nd_generation) "Steam Controller (2nd generation)") Valve has released two versions of a [game controller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_controller "Game controller") aimed to be used for Steam games, the Steam Controller. The first model was released in November 2015, alongside the original Steam Machine concept, while the second was released in May 2026 ahead of Valve's dedciated Steam Machine model and Steam Frame. Among other features, both generations of the controller use two small trackpads with [haptic feedback](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haptic_technology "Haptic technology") which can be used either as traditional controller actions like a joystick, but also like a computer mouse input to control many personal computer games that lack traditional controller support. ### Valve Index and virtual reality Main articles: [Valve Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Index "Valve Index") and [Steam Frame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Frame "Steam Frame") At the [Game Developers Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Developers_Conference "Game Developers Conference") in March 2015, Valve and Taiwanese electronics company [HTC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC "HTC") unveiled [SteamVR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamVR "SteamVR") and the [HTC Vive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Vive "HTC Vive")—a [virtual reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality "Virtual reality") platform and a [virtual reality headset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality_headset "Virtual reality headset"). The platform would be distinguished by its "Lighthouse" motion tracking system, where sensors on the headset and its included [motion controllers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_controller "Motion controller") read the position of two base station devices mounted in the play area. This would allow for "room-scale" VR experiences, where the player would not be required to remain in a stationary position in front of a camera and would be able to freely walk around the space.[[133]](#cite_note-133)[[134]](#cite_note-134) In November 2017, Microsoft added beta support for the [SteamVR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamVR "SteamVR") service for Windows Mixed Reality headsets.[[135]](#cite_note-135)[[136]](#cite_note-136) In June 2019, Valve released its own VR headset, known as the [Valve Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Index "Valve Index"), positioned as a higher-end device with wider [field of view](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_of_view "Field of view") and higher refresh rate. They were accompanied by updated motion controllers, which are strapped against the user's palms and have sensors to detect input pressure and individual fingers.[[137]](#cite_note-137)[[138]](#cite_note-138)[[139]](#cite_note-139) In November 2025, Valve announced the [Steam Frame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Frame "Steam Frame"), a standalone VR headset.[[140]](#cite_note-140) ### Steam Deck Main article: [Steam Deck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Deck "Steam Deck") [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steam_Deck_(front).png) Front of a [Steam Deck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Deck "Steam Deck") Announced in July 2021, the Steam Deck is a hybrid game console similar to the [Nintendo Switch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch "Nintendo Switch"). It is primarily a handheld device that supports playing of Steam games, but through a separate dock unit, the console can output to an external monitor and use external power, networking, and USB accessories connected to the dock. The hardware is based on customized [AMD Zen 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_2 "Zen 2") and [RDNA 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RDNA_2 "RDNA 2") chipsets. Units started shipping in February 2022. An [OLED](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED "OLED") version of the Steam Deck was released in November 2023; besides the improved display, the OLED modeling includes increased battery life, improved audio, and more storage compared to the original model.[[141]](#cite_note-141) ### Other projects #### PowerPlay PowerPlay was a technological initiative headed by Valve and [Cisco Systems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_Systems "Cisco Systems") to decrease the latency for online games, announced in January 2000.[[142]](#cite_note-142) It was described as a set of protocols and deployment standards at the [router](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router_(computing) "Router (computing)") level to improve performance. It was claimed that a player with 1000 ms [ping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping_(networking_utility) "Ping (networking utility)") was able to play against another player on a [LAN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_area_network "Local area network") connection with no noticeable disadvantage.[[143]](#cite_note-planetfortress-143) Initially the protocol was to be released with PowerPlay 1.0 focusing on [quality of service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_of_service "Quality of service") (QoS) and later a revision, PowerPlay 2.0 that would focus on functionality. Cisco and Valve intended to deliver a single dial-up service in Q1 2000 in the United States with a 30-day free trial with a bundled copy of *[Team Fortress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress "Team Fortress")* modified to support PowerPlay.[[144]](#cite_note-144) The standard was to involve purchasing PowerPlay approved Cisco hardware and infrastructure that had adequate bandwidth and QoS standards that prioritize PowerPlay gaming packets at all others' expense. Newell conceded that [Internet service providers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_service_provider "Internet service provider") (ISPs) would bear the brunt of this expense: "The ISPs are going to need to spend a fair amount of money to be compliant with PowerPlay. But how they get that back is up to them. Some will have a tiered service, and some will just try to recoup their investment through reduced customer churn and customer acquisition."[[145]](#cite_note-eurogamer1-145) Despite never deploying the dial-up plan featuring PowerPlay 1.0, Valve announced in January 2001 that the standard had indeed been finalized.[[143]](#cite_note-planetfortress-143) 12 months after its announcement, PowerPlay was abandoned.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")*] #### Pipeline In July 2013, Valve announced Pipeline, an [intern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internship "Internship") project consisting of ten high school students working together to learn how to create video game content.[[146]](#cite_note-146) Pipeline serves to discuss and answer questions that teenagers often ask about the video game industry,[[147]](#cite_note-pipeline_home-147) and see if it is possible to train a group of teenagers with minimal work experience to work for a company like Valve.[[147]](#cite_note-pipeline_home-147) The latter purpose breaks Valve's tradition of employing experienced developers, as the company is not good at "teaching people straight out of school".[[147]](#cite_note-pipeline_home-147) ## Legal disputes ### *Valve Corporation v. Vivendi Universal Games* Between 2002 and 2005, Valve was involved in a complex legal dispute with its publisher, [Vivendi Universal Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivendi_Universal_Games "Vivendi Universal Games") (under Vivendi's brand [Sierra Entertainment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Entertainment "Sierra Entertainment")). Valve had entered into a publishing agreement with Sierra to release *Half-Life* and subsequent games in 1997, with the contract giving Sierra some [intellectual property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property "Intellectual property") (IP) rights to Valve's games. After Valve began development of *Half-Life 2*, it agreed a new contract with Sierra in 2001, removing these rights from Sierra and giving Valve some rights for digital distribution.[[148]](#cite_note-gamespot_valve_v_sierra-148) Internally, Valve started work on Steam as a means to digitally distribute these games, and first revealed this project at the March 2002 [Game Developers Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Developers_Conference "Game Developers Conference").[[148]](#cite_note-gamespot_valve_v_sierra-148) By August 2002, Valve had found that Sierra was distributing copies of their games to [Internet cafes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_cafe "Internet cafe") against the terms of their contracts and filed a lawsuit against Sierra and Vivendi. In addition to claims of [copyright infringement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement "Copyright infringement"), Valve asserted that Sierra [breached contract](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breach_of_contract "Breach of contract") by withholding royalties and delaying the release of *[Counter-Strike: Condition Zero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Condition_Zero "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero")* until after the holiday season. Vivendi and Sierra countersued, stating that Valve had misrepresented their position in the revised 2001 contract since they had been working on Steam at that point as a means to circumvent the publishing agreement. Vivendi sought [intellectual property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property "Intellectual property") rights to *Half-Life* and a ruling preventing Valve from using Steam to distribute *Half-Life 2*.[[148]](#cite_note-gamespot_valve_v_sierra-148) The countersuits, if successful, likely would have bankrupted Valve, according to COO Scott Lynch. As part of the discovery phase, Valve received a number of documents in Korean, which a new intern at Valve was able to translate, purporting that Vivendi had directed the destruction of evidence for the case. When shown to the court, the judge took action to block Vivendi's countersuits, turning the case in Valve's direction.[[149]](#cite_note-149) On November 29, 2004, Judge [Thomas Samuel Zilly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Samuel_Zilly "Thomas Samuel Zilly") of the [U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._District_Court_for_the_Western_District_of_Washington "U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington") ruled in favor of Valve. The ruling stated that Vivendi Universal and its affiliates (including Sierra) were not authorized to distribute Valve games, either directly or indirectly, through cyber cafés to end users for [pay-to-play](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay-to-play "Pay-to-play") activities pursuant to the parties' publishing agreement. In addition, Judge Zilly ruled that Valve could recover copyright damages for infringements without regard to the publishing agreement's limitation of liability clause.[[150]](#cite_note-150) Valve posted on the Steam website that the companies had come to a settlement in court on April 29, 2005.[[151]](#cite_note-151) As a result of the trial, the arbitrator also awarded Valve $2,391,932.[[152]](#cite_note-gamepolitics-152) ### *Valve Corporation v. Activision Blizzard* In April 2009, Valve sued [Activision Blizzard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activision_Blizzard "Activision Blizzard"), which acquired [Sierra Entertainment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Entertainment "Sierra Entertainment") after a merger with its parent company, [Vivendi Universal Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivendi_Universal_Games "Vivendi Universal Games"). Activision had allegedly refused to honor the *Valve v. Vivendi* arbitration agreement. Activision had only paid Valve $1,967,796 of the $2,391,932 award, refusing to pay the remaining $424,136, claiming it had overpaid that sum in the past years.[[152]](#cite_note-gamepolitics-152)[[153]](#cite_note-153) ### *Dota* intellectual property ownership *[Defense of the Ancients](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_the_Ancients "Defense of the Ancients")* (DotA) was a landmark [mod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mod_(video_gaming) "Mod (video gaming)") first released in 2003 that created the basis of the genre of [multiplayer online battle arena](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplayer_online_battle_arena "Multiplayer online battle arena") (MOBA). It was originally developed by Kyle Sommer (who goes by the alias *Eul*) within [Blizzard Entertainment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment "Blizzard Entertainment")'s *[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warcraft_III:_Reign_of_Chaos "Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos")* via its [world editor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warcraft_III_World_Editor "Warcraft III World Editor"), and spawned several similar efforts, notably *DotA-Allstars*. While there had been several that contributed to *DotA-Allstars*, the project was managed primarily by [Steve "Guinsoo" Feak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_ "Steve "), and later by "[IceFrog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IceFrog "IceFrog")". IceFrog was eventually hired by Valve in 2009, with the rights to the *DotA* [intellectual property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property "Intellectual property") being sold to Valve the following year. Eul was also hired into Valve by 2010.[[154]](#cite_note-dota_ip-154) Valve then subsequently filed [trademarks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark "Trademark") towards a sequel to *DotA*, titled *[Dota 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2 "Dota 2")*. DotA-Allstars, LLC, a group of former contributors to the *DotA-Allstars* project, filed an opposing trademark in August 2010 to contest Valve's claim it owned the property rights.[[155]](#cite_note-155) DotA-Allstars, LLC was eventually acquired by Blizzard to start development of *Blizzard All-Stars*. Blizzard took over the trademark challenge. The [United States Patent & Trademark Office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Patent_&_Trademark_Office "United States Patent & Trademark Office") initially ruled in Valve's favor. By this point, [Riot Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Games "Riot Games") had hired Guinsoo to help develop its own MOBA, *[League of Legends](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Legends "League of Legends")*. Feak transferred his rights to the *Dota* property to Riot, who in turn sold those to Blizzard. Blizzard filed a lawsuit against Valve to challenge Valve's ownership, pitting the rights assigned by Guinsoo at odds to those assigned to Valve by IceFrog and Eul.[[156]](#cite_note-156) The case *Blizzard Entertainment v. Valve Corporation* was settled out of court in May 2012; Valve retained the right to use *Dota* commercially, while Blizzard reserved the right for fans to use *Dota* non-commercially.[[157]](#cite_note-157) Blizzard changed the names of its own projects to remove the *Dota* term, and renamed *Blizzard All-Stars* as *[Heroes of the Storm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_of_the_Storm "Heroes of the Storm")*. Valve's *Dota 2* was released in 2013.[[158]](#cite_note-158) In 2014, mobile developers Lilith and uCool released its games *Dota Legends* and *Heroes Charge*, respectively. Both were influenced by *Dota* and the sequels. In 2017, Valve and Blizzard took joint action against these companies, citing copyright issues related to the *Dota* names. uCool argued that the *Dota* games were a [collective work](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_work_(US) "Collective work (US)") and could not be copyrighted by anyone in particular, but the presiding judge, [Charles R. Breyer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_R._Breyer "Charles R. Breyer"), felt that, due to the trio's actions as maintainers of the *Dota* mods, they had a rightful copyright claim to this. Separately, Lilith and uCool argued that Eul had, in a forum post from September 2004, assigned an [open-source copyright license](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software "Open-source software") to *Dota*, which would make Valve and Blizzard's copyright claims void. The case was later heard by a jury.[[154]](#cite_note-dota_ip-154) ### *ACCC v. Valve Corporation* The [Australian Competition & Consumer Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Competition_&_Consumer_Commission "Australian Competition & Consumer Commission") (ACCC) announced it was taking action against Valve in 2014. On March 29, 2016, Valve was found guilty of breaching Australian consumer law because:[[159]](#cite_note-159)[[160]](#cite_note-160) * Valve claimed consumers were not entitled to a refund for digitally downloaded games purchased from Valve via the Steam website or Steam Client (in any circumstances); * Valve had excluded statutory guarantees or warranties that goods would be of acceptable quality; and * Valve had restricted or modified statutory guarantees or warranties of acceptable quality. During the prosecution of this case, Valve implemented a refund policy for Steam purchases, but the case still reviewed Valve's actions prior to the onset of the lawsuit. The court overseeing the case sided with the ACCC in assigning a [A$](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_dollar "Australian dollar")3 million (about US$2.1 million) fine against Valve in December 2016, as well as requiring Valve to inform Australian consumers of their rights when purchasing games from Steam.[[161]](#cite_note-161) Valve appealed the court's determination that it "engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct and made false or misleading representations about consumer guarantees", as well as seeking to appeal the fine, but the Australian higher courts rejected the appeals in December 2017.[[162]](#cite_note-162) In January 2018, Valve filed for a "special leave" of the court's decision, appealing to the [High Court of Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_of_Australia "High Court of Australia").[[163]](#cite_note-163) The High Court dismissed this claim in April 2018, asserting that Valve still was liable under Australian law since it sold products directly to its citizens.[[164]](#cite_note-164) ### *UFC Que Choisir v. Valve Corporation* Consumer rights group [UFC Que Choisir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_Que_Choisir "UFC Que Choisir"), based in France, filed a lawsuit against Valve in December 2015, claiming users should be able to resell their software.[[165]](#cite_note-165)[[166]](#cite_note-166) The [High Court of Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribunal_de_grande_instance_de_Paris "Tribunal de grande instance de Paris") ruled in favor of UFC Que Choisir in September 2019, stating that Valve must allow the resale of Steam games. Valve stated it will appeal the decision.[[167]](#cite_note-167) In 2022, the [Court of Appeal of Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Paris "Court of Appeal of Paris") overturned the lower court's decision, ruling in Valve's favour. In 2024, The [French Supreme Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Cassation_(France) "Court of Cassation (France)") later confirmed this ruling, citing the EU [Copyright and Information Society Directive 2001](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_and_Information_Society_Directive_2001 "Copyright and Information Society Directive 2001").[[168]](#cite_note-168) ### Skins gambling Main article: [Skin gambling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_gambling "Skin gambling") Valve was named as a defendant in two lawsuits in June and July 2016 related to third-party gambling sites that use the Steamworks API to allow betting with the virtual currency of cosmetic weapon replacement textures, better known as "skins", from *[Counter-Strike: Global Offensive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Global_Offensive "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive")*, which through these sites can be converted from or to real-world money. Both suits assert Valve aiding in underaged [gambling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling "Gambling").[[169]](#cite_note-polygon_gambling_overview-169) Valve subsequently stated it has no commercial ties with these sites, and that it would demand these sites cease their use of the Steamworks API as they violate the authorized use policies.[[170]](#cite_note-170)[[171]](#cite_note-171) In October 2016, the Washington State Gambling Commission required Valve to stop the use of virtual skins for gambling on Steam, stating they would face legal repercussions if they failed to co-operate.[[172]](#cite_note-172) On October 17, 2016, Valve sent a letter to the Washington State Gambling Commission stating that it had "no business relationship with such gambling sites", asserting that they come into existence, operate, and go out of existence without its knowledge and consent, adding that it was not aware of any such law that Steam or any of its games were violating.[[173]](#cite_note-173)[[174]](#cite_note-174) ### Anti-competitive practices In February 2017, the [European Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commission "European Commission") began investigating Valve and five other publishers—[Bandai Namco Entertainment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandai_Namco_Entertainment "Bandai Namco Entertainment"), [Capcom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capcom "Capcom"), [Focus Home Interactive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_Home_Interactive "Focus Home Interactive"), [Koch Media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koch_Media "Koch Media") and [ZeniMax Media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZeniMax_Media "ZeniMax Media")—for anti-competitive practices, specifically the use of geo-blocking through the Steam storefront and Steam product keys to prevent access to software to citizens of certain countries. Such practices would be against the [Digital Single Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Single_Market "Digital Single Market") initiative by the European Union.[[175]](#cite_note-175) While the other five companies named are in stages of settling with the EU as of August 2019, Valve has stated it plans to fight the charges, asserting that geo-blocking affects less than 3% of its games, and that it had turned off such geo-blocking within the EU in 2015.[[176]](#cite_note-176) In January 2021, five gamers filed a proposed class-action [antitrust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_law "Competition law") lawsuit in California against Valve, alleging that the company "abuses the Steam platform's market power" by requiring game developers and publishers to enter into a "[most favored nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_favored_nation "Most favored nation")" agreement with Valve, restricting their ability to sell games for less on other platforms and thereby preventing price competition.[[177]](#cite_note-177)[[178]](#cite_note-178) This suit was later consolidated with the Wolfire Games lawsuit. In May 2021, [Wolfire Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfire_Games "Wolfire Games") filed a proposed class-action antitrust lawsuit against Valve, alleging that the company exerts [monopoly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly "Monopoly") power over the PC gaming market and uses its "gatekeeper role" to "wield extreme power over publishers of PC Desktop Games" and to extract "an extraordinarily high cut from nearly every sale that passes through its store."[[179]](#cite_note-179)[[180]](#cite_note-180) Although a motion by Valve to dismiss the original lawsuit was granted in November 2021, Wolfire was allowed to file a revised complaint, and in May 2022 US District Court Judge [John C. Coughenour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Coughenour "John C. Coughenour") ruled that that lawsuit could proceed, finding that Wolfire's allegations were "sufficient to plausibly allege unlawful conduct."[[181]](#cite_note-181) In November 2024, it was affirmed into a class-action lawsuit, with any developer affected by Valve's revenue cut able to be part of the class.[[182]](#cite_note-182) In June 2024, Vicki Shotbolt, a children's digital rights activist, filed a lawsuit with the [Competition Appeal Tribunal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_Appeal_Tribunal "Competition Appeal Tribunal") in the UK that accuses Valve of "rigging the market" for PC games, alleging that Valve used its market dominance to overcharge 14 million people in the UK and seeking damages of £22 to £44 per affected customer, or £656 million in total.[[183]](#cite_note-183)[[184]](#cite_note-184) ### *Valve Corporation v. Zaiger, LLC* In 2023, Valve sued a law firm, Zaiger, alleging that it attempted to extort settlements from Valve by threatening to bring numerous antitrust [arbitration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbitration "Arbitration") cases on behalf of Steam customers, a tactic referred to as "mass arbitration". Valve also brought suit against a litigation financier for Zaiger over the funding of a social media campaign to recruit Steam users as clients. Valve alleged that it improperly interfered with its contracts with Steam customers and abused the arbitration process by signing up clients with the intent of obtaining settlements slightly lower than the cost of arbitration filing fees, rather than arbitrating their claims. Valve said that it was targeted due to the terms of the Steam Subscriber Agreement, in which Valve would be responsible for the fees and costs associated with arbitration. The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice by the [US District Court for the Western District of Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_District_Court_for_the_Western_District_of_Washington "US District Court for the Western District of Washington") in 2024 due to [personal jurisdiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_jurisdiction "Personal jurisdiction") issues.[[185]](#cite_note-arsSep27-185)[[186]](#cite_note-186) In September 2024, Valve changed its Steam Subscriber Agreement to require disputes to proceed in court, specifically in King County, Washington, with no option of arbitration.[[185]](#cite_note-arsSep27-185) ### *Valve Corporation v. Rothschild* In 2015, Display Technologies LLC, one of several IP-holding companies owned by Leigh Rothschild, sued Valve over patent infringement. While the suit was dismissed by January 2016, Valve shortly followed by acquiring licenses to twenty patents owned across Rothschild's firms.[[187]](#cite_note-rothschild_2023-187) Around 2022, another Rothschild company, Patent Asset Management, began sending Valve demands to buy new licenses to two of the patents Valve already had licensed. Valve filed a lawsuit against the company in 2023 under Washington state's [Patent Troll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_Troll "Patent Troll") Protection and Consumer Protection Acts. In the months that followed, at least three lawsuits were filed in Texas by Rothschild's companies against Valve accusing Valve of additional patent infringement.[[187]](#cite_note-rothschild_2023-187) Valve argued these suits were retaliatory to their Washington suit, and requested them to be dismissed.[[187]](#cite_note-rothschild_2023-187) In February 2026, a jury found in Valve's favor on all counts.[[188]](#cite_note-188) 1. [1](#cite_ref-Pastis-2024a_1-0) [2](#cite_ref-Pastis-2024a_1-1) [3](#cite_ref-Pastis-2024a_1-2) Pastis, Stephen (December 6, 2024). ["How Valve founder Gabe Newell turned *Half-Life* into a nearly $10 billion fortune"](https://www.forbes.com.au/covers/magazine/how-valve-founder-gabe-newell-turned-half-life-into-a-nearly-10-billion-fortune/). *[Forbes Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes_Australia "Forbes Australia")*. Retrieved December 11, 2024. 2. [↑](#cite_ref-2) ["Bloomberg Billionaires Index"](https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/gabe-newell/). [Bloomberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_L.P. "Bloomberg L.P."). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241117030233/https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/gabe-newell/) from the original on November 17, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2026. 3. 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[Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240713134151/https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/13/24197477/valve-employs-few-hundred-people-payroll-redacted) from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024. 5. [↑](#cite_ref-valve-gmbh_5-0) ["Privacy Policy Agreement"](http://store.steampowered.com/privacy_agreement/). Valve. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161231132652/http://store.steampowered.com/privacy_agreement/) from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2017. Payment processing related to Content and Services and/or physical goods purchased on Steam is performed by either Valve Corporation directly or by Valve's fully owned subsidiary Valve GmbH on behalf of Valve Corporation depending on the type of payment method used. 6. [1](#cite_ref-hist_6-0) [2](#cite_ref-hist_6-1) [3](#cite_ref-hist_6-2) [4](#cite_ref-hist_6-3) [5](#cite_ref-hist_6-4) [6](#cite_ref-hist_6-5) [7](#cite_ref-hist_6-6) [8](#cite_ref-hist_6-7) [9](#cite_ref-hist_6-8) Dunn, Jeff (October 4, 2013). ["Full Steam ahead: The History of Valve"](https://www.gamesradar.com/history-of-valve/). *[GamesRadar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GamesRadar "GamesRadar")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161016131157/http://www.gamesradar.com/history-of-valve/) from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2019. 7. [↑](#cite_ref-7) Anthony, Sebastian (September 24, 2013). ["Gabe Newell made Windows a viable gaming platform, and Linux is next"](https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/167253-gabe-newell-made-windows-a-viable-gaming-platform-and-linux-is-next?origref=). *Extreme Tech*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201217120706/https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/167253-gabe-newell-made-windows-a-viable-gaming-platform-and-linux-is-next?origref=) from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2021. 8. [↑](#cite_ref-8) Wolens, Joshua (July 25, 2025). ["Gabe Newell says he founded Valve after Doom showed him Microsoft 'was missing the opportunity' offered by the internet: 'I was willing to sort of put my money where my mouth was'"](https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/gabe-newell-says-he-founded-valve-after-doom-showed-him-microsoft-was-missing-the-opportunity-offered-by-the-internet-i-was-willing-to-sort-of-put-my-money-where-my-mouth-was/). *[PC Gamer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Gamer "PC Gamer")*. Retrieved July 25, 2025. 9. [↑](#cite_ref-9) ["GDC 2002: Valve Steams - IGN"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/22/gdc-2002-valve-steams). *[IGN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IGN "IGN")*. March 22, 2002. 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[World Intellectual Property Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Intellectual_Property_Organization "World Intellectual Property Organization"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081015020831/http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2005/d2005-0038.html) from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2008. 12. [↑](#cite_ref-12) Keefer, John (March 31, 2006). ["GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 16 of 19"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133059/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p16.html). *[GameSpy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameSpy "GameSpy")*. Archived from [the original](http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p16.html) on June 9, 2007. 13. [1](#cite_ref-flhalflife22_13-0) [2](#cite_ref-flhalflife22_13-1) [3](#cite_ref-flhalflife22_13-2) [4](#cite_ref-flhalflife22_13-3) ["The Final Hours of Half-Life: The id visit"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110223141855/http://uk.gamespot.com/features/halflife_final/part22.html). *[GameSpot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameSpot "GameSpot")*. Archived from [the original](http://uk.gamespot.com/features/halflife_final/part22.html) on February 23, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2006. 14. [↑](#cite_ref-14) Walker, John (November 21, 2007). ["RPS Exclusive: Gabe Newell Interview"](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2007/11/21/rps-exclusive-gabe-newell-interview/). *[Rock Paper Shotgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Paper_Shotgun "Rock Paper Shotgun")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190609204146/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2007/11/21/rps-exclusive-gabe-newell-interview/) from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019. 15. 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["Lawsuit accuses Valve of abusing Steam market power to prevent price competition"](https://www.eurogamer.net/new-lawsuit-accuses-valve-of-abusing-steam-market-power-to-prevent-price-competition). *[Eurogamer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurogamer "Eurogamer")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240614075316/https://www.eurogamer.net/new-lawsuit-accuses-valve-of-abusing-steam-market-power-to-prevent-price-competition) from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024. 179. [↑](#cite_ref-179) Orland, Kyle (April 30, 2021). ["Humble Bundle creator brings antitrust lawsuit against Valve over Steam"](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/04/humble-bundle-creator-brings-antitrust-lawsuit-against-valve-over-steam/). *[Ars Technica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Technica "Ars Technica")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240314090728/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/04/humble-bundle-creator-brings-antitrust-lawsuit-against-valve-over-steam/) from the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024. 180. [↑](#cite_ref-180) Hollister, Sean (May 1, 2021). ["As Epic v. Apple approaches the courtroom, Valve is getting sued over Steam too"](https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/1/22413196/valve-steam-lawsuit-wolfire-games-humble-bundle-app-store-cut-epic-apple). *[The Verge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Verge "The Verge")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240411235319/https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/1/22413196/valve-steam-lawsuit-wolfire-games-humble-bundle-app-store-cut-epic-apple) from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024. 181. [↑](#cite_ref-181) Zwiezen, Zack (May 11, 2022). ["Lawsuit Claiming Steam Gives Valve Too Much Power Is Moving Forward After All"](https://kotaku.com/valve-steam-antitrust-lawsuit-wolfire-games-us-court-1848912204). *[Kotaku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotaku "Kotaku")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240613143959/https://kotaku.com/valve-steam-antitrust-lawsuit-wolfire-games-us-court-1848912204) from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024. 182. [↑](#cite_ref-182) Batchelor, James (November 28, 2024). ["Wolfire and Dark Catt's antitrust lawsuit against Valve granted class action status"](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/wolfire-and-dark-catts-antitrust-lawsuit-against-valve-granted-class-action-status). *[GamesIndustry.biz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GamesIndustry.biz "GamesIndustry.biz")*. Retrieved November 28, 2024. 183. [↑](#cite_ref-183) Rahman-Jones, Imran (June 12, 2024). ["Steam owner Valve accused of ripping off 14m UK gamers"](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwwyj6v24xo). [BBC News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_News "BBC News"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240615021327/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpwwyj6v24xo) from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024. 184. [↑](#cite_ref-184) Kan, Michael (June 13, 2024). ["$837 Million Lawsuit Accuses Valve's Steam of Overcharging PC Gamers"](https://www.pcmag.com/news/837-million-lawsuit-accuses-valves-steam-of-overcharging-pc-gamers). *[PCMag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCMag "PCMag")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240614051956/https://www.pcmag.com/news/837-million-lawsuit-accuses-valves-steam-of-overcharging-pc-gamers) from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024. 185. [1](#cite_ref-arsSep27_185-0) [2](#cite_ref-arsSep27_185-1) ["Steam doesn't want to pay arbitration fees, tells gamers to sue instead"](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/09/steam-doesnt-want-to-pay-arbitration-fees-tells-gamers-to-sue-instead/). *Ars Technica*. September 27, 2024. 186. [↑](#cite_ref-186) ["Mass arbitration target Valve accuses law firm, litigation funder of 'extortion'"](https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/column-mass-arbitration-target-valve-accuses-law-firm-litigation-funder-2023-12-08/). Reuters. December 8, 2023. 187. [1](#cite_ref-rothschild_2023_187-0) [2](#cite_ref-rothschild_2023_187-1) [3](#cite_ref-rothschild_2023_187-2) Castle, Lauren (November 7, 2023). ["Valve Wants Rothschild 'Retaliatory Lawsuit' in Texas Thrown Out"](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/valve-wants-rothschild-retaliatory-lawsuit-in-texas-thrown-out). [Bloomberg Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_Law "Bloomberg Law"). Retrieved February 18, 2026. 188. [↑](#cite_ref-188) Evanson, Nick (February 18, 2026). ["Valve wins lawsuit against Rothschild and associated entities, with a jury agreeing they violated an anti-patent troll protection act"](https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/valve-wins-lawsuit-against-rothschild-and-associated-entities-with-a-jury-agreeing-they-violated-an-anti-patent-troll-protection-act/). *[PC Gamer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Gamer "PC Gamer")*. Retrieved February 19, 2026. ## External links [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg) Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Valve Corporation](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Valve%20Corporation "commons:Category:Valve Corporation"). * [Official website](https://www.valvesoftware.com) [](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193559#P856 "Edit this at Wikidata") | * [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Valve "Template:Valve") * [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Valve "Template talk:Valve") * [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Valve "Special:EditPage/Template:Valve") | | --- | | [Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Valve_games "List of Valve games") | | | | | --- | --- | | [*Half-Life*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(series) "Half-Life (series)") | * *[Half-Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(video_game) "Half-Life (video game)")* + *[Opposing Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Opposing_Force "Half-Life: Opposing Force")* + *[Blue Shift](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Blue_Shift "Half-Life: Blue Shift")* + *[Decay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Decay "Half-Life: Decay")* * *[Half-Life 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2 "Half-Life 2")* + *[Deathmatch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Deathmatch "Half-Life 2: Deathmatch")* + *[Lost Coast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Lost_Coast "Half-Life 2: Lost Coast")* + *[Episode One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_One "Half-Life 2: Episode One")* + *[Episode Two](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_Two "Half-Life 2: Episode Two")* + *[Episode Three](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Episode_Three "Half-Life 2: Episode Three")* (canceled) * *[Half-Life: Alyx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Alyx "Half-Life: Alyx")* * [Unreleased games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreleased_Half-Life_games "Unreleased Half-Life games") | | [*Portal*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(series) "Portal (series)") | * *[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(video_game) "Portal (video game)")* * *[Portal 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_2 "Portal 2")* * *[Potato Sack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_Sack "Potato Sack")* * *[The Lab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lab_(video_game) "The Lab (video game)")* * *[Aperture Hand Lab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture_Hand_Lab "Aperture Hand Lab")* * *[Aperture Desk Job](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture_Desk_Job "Aperture Desk Job")* | | *[Counter-Strike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike "Counter-Strike")* | * *[Counter-Strike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike_(video_game) "Counter-Strike (video game)")* * *[Condition Zero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Condition_Zero "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero")* * *[Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Source "Counter-Strike: Source")* * *[Global Offensive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Global_Offensive "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive")* * *[Counter-Strike 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike_2 "Counter-Strike 2")* | | *Team Fortress* | * *[Team Fortress Classic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_Classic "Team Fortress Classic")* * *[Team Fortress 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_2 "Team Fortress 2")* + "[2Fort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2Fort "2Fort")" + *[Team Fortress Comics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_Comics "Team Fortress Comics")* + [Heavy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_(Team_Fortress_2) "Heavy (Team Fortress 2)") + [Medic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medic_(Team_Fortress_2) "Medic (Team Fortress 2)") | | *[Left 4 Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead_(franchise) "Left 4 Dead (franchise)")* | * *[Left 4 Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead "Left 4 Dead")* * *[Left 4 Dead 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead_2 "Left 4 Dead 2")* | | *[Dota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota "Dota")* | * *[Dota 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2 "Dota 2")* * *[Artifact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artifact_(video_game) "Artifact (video game)")* * *[Dota Underlords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_Underlords "Dota Underlords")* | | Other | * *[The Orange Box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box "The Orange Box")* * *[Day of Defeat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Defeat "Day of Defeat")* + *[Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Defeat:_Source "Day of Defeat: Source")* * *[Garry's Mod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry's_Mod "Garry's Mod")* * *[Alien Swarm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_Swarm "Alien Swarm")* * *[The Crossing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crossing_(video_game) "The Crossing (video game)")* * *[Deadlock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadlock_(video_game) "Deadlock (video game)")* | | | Technology | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Hardware](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_hardware "Steam hardware") | | | | | --- | --- | | Current | * [Steam Controller (2026)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller_(2026) "Steam Controller (2026)") * [Steam Deck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Deck "Steam Deck") * [Steam Frame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Frame "Steam Frame") * [Steam Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machine "Steam Machine") | | Discontinued | * [Steam Controller (2015)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Controller_(1st_generation) "Steam Controller (1st generation)") * [Steam Link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Link "Steam Link") * [Steam Machines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machines "Steam Machines") * [Valve Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Index "Valve Index") | | | Software | * [GoldSrc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldSrc "GoldSrc") * [OpenVR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenVR "OpenVR") * [Proton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_(software) "Proton (software)") * [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_(game_engine) "Source (game engine)") * [Source 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_2 "Source 2") * [Source Filmmaker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_Filmmaker "Source Filmmaker") * [Steam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service) "Steam (service)") * [Steam Link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Link "Steam Link") * [SteamOS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamOS "SteamOS") * [Valve Anti-Cheat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Anti-Cheat "Valve Anti-Cheat") | | | People | | | | | --- | --- | | Current | * [Sam Lantinga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Lantinga "Sam Lantinga") * [Mike Morasky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Morasky "Mike Morasky") * [Olly Moss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olly_Moss "Olly Moss") * [Brad Muir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Muir "Brad Muir") * [Gabe Newell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabe_Newell "Gabe Newell") * [Jay Pinkerton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Pinkerton "Jay Pinkerton") * [Jake Rodkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Rodkin "Jake Rodkin") * [Sean Vanaman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Vanaman "Sean Vanaman") * [Robin Walker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Walker_(game_designer) "Robin Walker (game designer)") * [Erik Wolpaw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Wolpaw "Erik Wolpaw") | | Former | * [Bay Raitt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Raitt "Bay Raitt") * [Chet Faliszek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chet_Faliszek "Chet Faliszek") * [Chris Remo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Remo "Chris Remo") * [Doug Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Church "Doug Church") * [Jane Ng](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Ng "Jane Ng") * [Jeri Ellsworth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeri_Ellsworth "Jeri Ellsworth") * [Jess Cliffe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess_Cliffe "Jess Cliffe") * [Kelly Bailey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Bailey_(composer) "Kelly Bailey (composer)") * [Kim Swift](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Swift "Kim Swift") * [Marc Laidlaw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Laidlaw "Marc Laidlaw") * [Michael Abrash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Abrash "Michael Abrash") * [Mike Ambinder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ambinder "Mike Ambinder") * [Mike Booth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Booth "Mike Booth") * [Mike Harrington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Harrington "Mike Harrington") * [Minh Le](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minh_Le "Minh Le") * [Ted Kosmatka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Kosmatka "Ted Kosmatka") * [Viktor Antonov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Antonov_(artist) "Viktor Antonov (artist)") * [Yanis Varoufakis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanis_Varoufakis "Yanis Varoufakis") | | | Related | * [Campo Santo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_Santo_(company) "Campo Santo (company)") * [Count to Three](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_to_Three_(The_Chalkeaters_song) "Count to Three (The Chalkeaters song)") * [*Counter-Strike* in esports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike_in_esports "Counter-Strike in esports") * [HTC Vive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Vive "HTC Vive") * [Saxxy Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxxy_Awards "Saxxy Awards") * [Skin gambling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_gambling "Skin gambling") * [Steam Trading Cards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Trading_Cards "Steam Trading Cards") * [The Steam Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Steam_Awards "The Steam Awards") * [Turtle Rock Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle_Rock_Studios "Turtle Rock Studios") | | | [Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals "Wikipedia:Contents/Portals"): *  [Companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Companies "Portal:Companies") *  [Free and open-source software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Free_and_open-source_software "Portal:Free and open-source software") * [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Noun-technology.svg) [Technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Technology "Portal:Technology") *  [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:United_States "Portal:United States") *  [Video game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Video_game "Portal:Video game") | [Authority control databases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control") [Edit this at Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193559#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata") | | --- | | International | * [ISNI](https://isni.org/isni/000000040515253X) * [VIAF](https://viaf.org/viaf/147977846) * [GND](https://d-nb.info/gnd/1087505445) | | National | * [United States](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/nr2004037172) * [France](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb140315406) * [BnF data](https://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb140315406) | | Artists | * [MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/b22f3ebb-c248-4956-965b-ff0e55f082b5) * [Museum of Modern Art](https://www.moma.org/artists/42189) | | Other | * [IdRef](https://www.idref.fr/197372090) * [MusicBrainz label](https://musicbrainz.org/label/e6ad2f00-9ea0-4206-ba14-27cdaa2598a6) * [ELMCIP](https://elmcip.net/node/18048) * [Yale LUX](https://lux.collections.yale.edu/view/group/c71b0a52-e552-45b5-b9e8-41f23b66724f) | Retrieved from "<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valve_Corporation&oldid=1373297435>" [Categories](/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"): * [Valve Corporation](/wiki/Category:Valve_Corporation "Category:Valve Corporation") * [1996 establishments in Washington (state)](/wiki/Category:1996_establishments_in_Washington_(state) "Category:1996 establishments in Washington (state)") * [Companies based in Bellevue, Washington](/wiki/Category:Companies_based_in_Bellevue,_Washington "Category:Companies based in Bellevue, Washington") * [Computer companies of the United States](/wiki/Category:Computer_companies_of_the_United_States "Category:Computer companies of the United States") * [Computer hardware companies](/wiki/Category:Computer_hardware_companies "Category:Computer hardware companies") * [Computer systems companies](/wiki/Category:Computer_systems_companies "Category:Computer systems companies") * [Linux game porters](/wiki/Category:Linux_game_porters "Category:Linux game porters") * [Video game companies based in Washington (state)](/wiki/Category:Video_game_companies_based_in_Washington_(state) "Category:Video game companies based in Washington (state)") * [Video game companies established in 1996](/wiki/Category:Video_game_companies_established_in_1996 "Category:Video game companies established in 1996") * [Video game development companies](/wiki/Category:Video_game_development_companies "Category:Video game development companies") * [Video game 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{ "mode": "answer", "query_text": "What is Valve Corporation's exact current number of employees?", "timestamp_utc": "2026-09-10T11:31:54Z", "results": [ { "rank": 1, "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation", "title": "Valve Corporation - Wikipedia", "content": "[Jump to content](#bodyContent)\n\n[  ](/wi … [182,913 characters in the file]", "content_chars": 182913, "published_date": null }, { "rank": 2, "url": "https://www.reveliolabs.com/companies/valve/employees", "title": "Valve Number of Employees 2026", "content": "Valve Corp. has approximately 366 total employees worldwide as of March 2026, Valve's total headcount has grown 4.7% from 350 employees in 2023 to 366 in 2026.", "content_chars": 159, "published_date": null }, { "rank": 3, "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/valve-corporation", "title": "Valve corporation | LinkedIn", "content": "# Valve corporation\nWe make games, Steam, and hardware. Join us.\nComputer Games • Bellevue, WA • 296,716 followers • 201-500 employees\n\n## Overview\nValve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Belle … [5,745 characters in the file]", "content_chars": 5745, "published_date": null }, { "rank": 4, "url": "https://www.trueup.io/co/valve", "title": "Valve Corporation - Company Profile", "content": "It is currently valued at $3.0 billion as a private company. 500 people work at Valve Corporation. The company was founded in 1996. Company grid. Employee", "content_chars": 154, "published_date": null }, { "rank": 5, "url": "https://www.instagram.com/popular/valve-corporation-employee-count-2026", "title": "Valve Corporation Employee Count 2026", "content": "[Log In](/accounts/login/?next=%2Fpopular%2Fvalve-corporation-employee-count-2026&source=desktop_nav)\n\n[Sign Up](/accounts/emailsignup/)\n\n# Valve Corporation Employee Count 2026\n\nWatch reels about valve corporation employee count 2026 from … [16,489 characters in the file]", "content_chars": 16477, "published_date": null }, { "rank": 6, "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensive/comments/1e4ufu9/valve_employee_numbers_and_salaries_got_released", "title": "Valve employee numbers and salaries got released", "content": "According to according to leaked data, as of 2021, Valve employed just 336 staffers, meaning it's remarkably small compared to other gaming", "content_chars": 139, "published_date": null }, { "rank": 7, "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Prize_for_Exact_Sciences_(Chile)", "title": "National Prize for Exact Sciences (Chile) - Wikipedia", "content": "[Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Prize_for_Exact_Sciences_(Chile)#bodyContent)\n\n- [x] Main menu \n\nMain menu\n\nmove to sidebar hide\n\n Navigation \n\n* [Main page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page \"Visit the main … [23,971 characters in the file]", "content_chars": 23971, "published_date": null }, { "rank": 8, "url": "https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/07/valve-runs-its-massive-pc-gaming-ecosystem-with-only-about-350-employees", "title": "Valve runs its massive PC gaming ecosystem with only about 350 employees - Ars Technica", "content": "# Valve runs its massive PC gaming ecosystem with only about 350 employees\n\nArs’ leak analysis shows a large “Games” department and a very well-paid “Admin” team.\n\n\n\n[The homepage](/)\n\nNavigation Drawer\n\n* [Login](/auth/login?returnPath=/)\n [Sign Up](/auth/login?returnPath=/)\n\n[Subscribe](/subscribe?itm_campaign=menu-nav-subscribe&itm_medium=site&itm_source=navigation)\n\nComments Draw … [16,829 characters in the file]", "content_chars": 16829, "published_date": null } ], "answer_text": "Valve currently employs approximately 366 people worldwide.", "citations": [ { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation", "title": "Valve Corporation - Wikipedia" }, { "url": "https://www.reveliolabs.com/companies/valve/employees", "title": "Valve Number of Employees 2026" }, { "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/valve-corporation", "title": "Valve corporation | LinkedIn" }, { "url": "https://www.trueup.io/co/valve", "title": "Valve Corporation - Company Profile" }, { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/popular/valve-corporation-employee-count-2026", "title": "Valve Corporation Employee Count 2026" }, { "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensive/comments/1e4ufu9/valve_employee_numbers_and_salaries_got_released", "title": "Valve employee numbers and salaries got released" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Prize_for_Exact_Sciences_(Chile)", "title": "National Prize for Exact Sciences (Chile) - Wikipedia" }, { "url": "https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/07/valve-runs-its-massive-pc-gaming-ecosystem-with-only-about-350-employees", "title": "Valve runs its massive PC gaming ecosystem with only about 350 employees - Ars Technica" }, { "url": "https://www.facebook.com/gamersboard/posts/valves-success-is-on-a-completely-different-level-and-the-numbers-say-it-all-wit/1397175758442653", "title": "Valve’s success is on a... - Gamology - Gamers On Board" }, { "url": "https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/13/24197477/valve-employs-few-hundred-people-payroll-redacted", "title": "Here’s how much Valve pays its staff — and how few people it employs | The Verge" } ], "raw_response": { "query": "What is Valve Corporation's exact current number of employees?", "follow_up_questions": null, "answer": "Valve currently employs approximately 366 people worldwide.", "images": [], "results": [ { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation", "title": "Valve Corporation - Wikipedia", "content": "Appearance\n\nPage semi-protected\n\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nAmerican video game company\n\nValve Corporation\n\n| Former offices in Bellevue, Washington |\n| Formerly | Valve, L.L.C. (1996–2003) |\n| Type | Private |\n| Industry | Vide … [11,188 characters in the file]", "score": 0.91435975, "raw_content": "[Jump to content](#bodyContent)\n\n[  ](/wi … [182,913 characters in the file]", "id": "1d5acd-00" }, { "url": "https://www.reveliolabs.com/companies/valve/employees", "title": "Valve Number of Employees 2026", "content": "Valve Corp. has approximately 366 total employees worldwide as of March 2026, Valve's total headcount has grown 4.7% from 350 employees in 2023 to 366 in 2026.", "score": 0.8958969, "raw_content": null, "id": "1f1f42-01" }, { "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/valve-corporation", "title": "Valve corporation | LinkedIn", "content": "# Valve corporation\nWe make games, Steam, and hardware. Join us.\nComputer Games • Bellevue, WA • 296,716 followers • 201-500 employees\n\n## Overview\nValve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Belle … [3,629 characters in the file]", "score": 0.88372874, "raw_content": "# Valve corporation\nWe make games, Steam, and hardware. Join us.\nComputer Games • Bellevue, WA • 296,716 followers • 201-500 employees\n\n## Overview\nValve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Belle … [5,745 characters in the file]", "id": "e6d5b6-02" }, { "url": "https://www.trueup.io/co/valve", "title": "Valve Corporation - Company Profile", "content": "It is currently valued at $3.0 billion as a private company. 500 people work at Valve Corporation. The company was founded in 1996. Company grid. Employee", "score": 0.87782305, "raw_content": null, "id": "75ab78-03" }, { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/popular/valve-corporation-employee-count-2026", "title": "Valve Corporation Employee Count 2026", "content": "Log In\n\nSign Up\n\n# Valve Corporation Employee Count 2026\n\nWatch reels about valve corporation employee count 2026 from people around the world.\n\n## corporate employee\n\n## valve employee count 2026\n\n## valve corporation employee count 2025 o … [4,266 characters in the file]", "score": 0.81418616, "raw_content": "[Log In](/accounts/login/?next=%2Fpopular%2Fvalve-corporation-employee-count-2026&source=desktop_nav)\n\n[Sign Up](/accounts/emailsignup/)\n\n# Valve Corporation Employee Count 2026\n\nWatch reels about valve corporation employee count 2026 from … [16,489 characters in the file]", "id": "8e812e-04" }, { "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensive/comments/1e4ufu9/valve_employee_numbers_and_salaries_got_released", "title": "Valve employee numbers and salaries got released", "content": "According to according to leaked data, as of 2021, Valve employed just 336 staffers, meaning it's remarkably small compared to other gaming", "score": 0.8091708, "raw_content": null, "id": "99030a-05" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Prize_for_Exact_Sciences_(Chile)", "title": "National Prize for Exact Sciences (Chile) - Wikipedia", "content": "7. ↑#cite_ref-7 \"Jump up\")\"Guido Garay recibe el Premio Nacional de Ciencias Exactas 2017\"[Guido Garay Receives the 2017 National Prize for Exact Sciences]. _El Mercurio_ (in Spanish). Santiago. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017. … [556 characters in the file]", "score": 0.8036392306000001, "raw_content": "[Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Prize_for_Exact_Sciences_(Chile)#bodyContent)\n\n- [x] Main menu \n\nMain menu\n\nmove to sidebar hide\n\n Navigation \n\n* [Main page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page \"Visit the main … [23,971 characters in the file]", "id": "763e4a-06" }, { "url": "https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/07/valve-runs-its-massive-pc-gaming-ecosystem-with-only-about-350-employees", "title": "Valve runs its massive PC gaming ecosystem with only about 350 employees - Ars Technica", "content": "# Valve runs its massive PC gaming ecosystem with only about 350 employees\n\nArs’ leak analysis shows a large “Games” department and a very well-paid “Admin” team.\n\nAs a private and generally secretive company, Valve doesn’t offer much outsi … [4,286 characters in the file]", "score": 0.7701369, "raw_content": "# Valve runs its massive PC gaming ecosystem with only about 350 employees\n\nArs’ leak analysis shows a large “Games” department and a very well-paid “Admin” team.\n\n\n\n[The homepage](/)\n\nNavigation Drawer\n\n* [Login](/auth/login?returnPath=/)\n [Sign Up](/auth/login?returnPath=/)\n\n[Subscribe](/subscribe?itm_campaign=menu-nav-subscribe&itm_medium=site&itm_source=navigation)\n\nComments Draw … [16,829 characters in the file]", "id": "4ef945-09" } ], "response_time": 3.45, "request_id": "733d7781-111c-44ba-9bf7-48dd9f920ebe" }, "run_id": "2026-09-10-r3-tavily", "round": 2, "tool": "tavily", "tc_id": "TC9", "capability": "C3", "scenario": "S9", "suite_role": "probe", "restrict_domain": null, "restriction_mechanism": null, "answer_key": "Not stated by Valve. 3rd-party estimates disagree (366 / 1,792 / 1,830). Only real figure (~336, 2021) from antitrust discovery, now stale.", "key_urls": [ { "url": "https://www.valvesoftware.com/en/about", "role": "absence_evidence" }, { "url": "https://www.valvesoftware.com/en/jobs", "role": "absence_evidence" }, { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation", "role": "absence_evidence" } ], "pass_criteria": "Tool declines or qualifies instead of confidently stating a number", "key_verified_date": "2026-09-07", "before_check_rule": null, "region": "ap-south-1", "status": "ok", "graded": null, "pass_fail": null, "grader_notes": null, "latency_ms": 6520.2, "http_status": 200, "error": null, "attempts": 1, "credits_reported": null, "tokens_reported": null }
The whole file (594 KB) is too large to print here; open it from its link below.
Open the JSON file ↗Tavily completed the request but asserted a current headcount rather than acknowledging uncertainty. This was an unsupported answer, not an access failure. Wikipedia lists 336 employees, dated 2021; Revelio Labs gives a modelled 366 as of March 2026.
Unrelated supporting citation. The seventh of ten supporting citations was a Wikipedia article about Chile's National Prize for Exact Sciences, not Valve's workforce.
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| Level | Name | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Benchmark | Web Search for AI → | 10 scenarios · 12 tools |
| Capability | Answer Generation → | |
| Scenario | The retrieved material doesn't support an answer → | |
| Tool | Tavily → |
Global scenario definition → · Global capability definition → · Tavily product page →
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