Companies & Studios

Valve Corporation

Steam and Source

Valve transformed from Half-Life developer into gaming's dominant digital distributor, creating Steam while producing landmark titles like Portal, Left 4 Dead, and Dota 2.

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Gabe Newell left Microsoft to make games. Half-Life proved Valve could compete with id. Then they built Steam—and changed everything. The digital distribution platform became PC gaming’s storefront, making Valve a gatekeeper while their internal development produced innovative titles at an increasingly glacial pace.

Fast facts

  • Founded: 1996.
  • Founders: Gabe Newell, Mike Harrington.
  • Location: Bellevue, Washington.
  • Known for: Half-Life, Steam, Portal.

Game development

Title Year Achievement
Half-Life 1998 Narrative FPS
Counter-Strike 2000 Acquired mod
Half-Life 2 2004 Physics, storytelling
Portal 2007 Puzzle innovation
Left 4 Dead 2008 Co-op zombie
Dota 2 2013 MOBA
Half-Life: Alyx 2020 VR showcase

Steam platform

Achievement Impact
Digital distribution Industry standard
DRM solution Publisher adoption
Community features Social gaming
Workshop Mod distribution
Market dominance De facto PC storefront

Source engine

Game Use
Half-Life 2 Introduction
Counter-Strike: Source Multiplayer
Portal series Puzzle
Left 4 Dead series Co-op
Third-party licenses Wide adoption

Corporate structure

Feature Unique aspect
Flat hierarchy No managers
Desk mobility Roll to projects
Project selection Employee-driven
Valve Time Notorious delays

Hardware ventures

Product Status
Steam Machines Discontinued
Steam Controller Discontinued
Valve Index VR headset
Steam Deck Handheld PC

See also

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