Google to buy Valve?

**Consultant** · 09-17-08, 10:11 AM

I heard this little rumor this morning...

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquir...7/google-valve

The INQUIRER cites "well placed sources" saying Google is going to be buying Valve "any second now." This is speculation from a site that specializes in such, but Edge Online has picked up the story from them, so this will spread. According to INQ's well placed source the crux of such a deal would be Google's lust for Valve's Steam as a mature content delivery service. It was just last month that Gabe Newell said Valve said Valve is approached "a couple of times a week" by potential acquirers or investors but they are "super-happy" as an independent (story). We've contacted Valve for comment, but it's still before dawn on the west coast. Update: The story has also been picked up by MCV, who also report Google refuses to rule out Valve takeover, though actually they simply refused to comment on the rumor.

**Consultant** · 09-17-08, 10:13 AM

Here's the MCV story

**Arreo** · 09-17-08, 10:16 AM

Innnnteresting...

This might actually be a good move. Just think of Valve's hosting and support of third party game mods + Google's ethos on open source... It might be a match made in heaven.

I wouldn't be that unhappy actually... It might be a very positive step forward.

**Gonzo0100** · 09-17-08, 10:31 AM

As long as google keeps all the key players at valve in place, i can't imagine how this would be bad. Everything that google touches (almost) turns to gold. Valve is already gold, so lets hope they go platinum.

**Alundil** · 09-17-08, 10:40 AM

there goes the neighborhood - why oh why does everything have to be brought under a unified corporate umbrella and why would that be a good thing? We've already got one (at least) member of the evil empire (not that I dislike their products though) and Google is rapidly appearing to be the next member to join the empire as well - though not as a partner....I dislike the idea that everyone needs to become the online equivalent to Walmart and sell/own everything under the sun.

**astrod00d** · 09-17-08, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Alundil

there goes the neighborhood - why oh why does everything have to be brought under a unified corporate umbrella and why would that be a good thing? We've already got one (at least) member of the evil empire (not that I dislike their products though) and Google is rapidly appearing to be the next member to join the empire as well - though not as a partner....I dislike the idea that everyone needs to become the online equivalent to Walmart and sell/own everything under the sun.

What he said.

Valve, and more important to me, Steam seems to be doing fine as they are. I'd rather they didn't sell out to a mega-corp that has nothing to do with PC gaming. It could be worse though. If you replaced the word 'Google' in this rumor with the acronym 'EA', it would be a horror story in the making.

**TehSpaz** · 09-17-08, 11:27 AM

Personally, I'm for it....

And these companies have the right to expand into any market they wish...that's part of the economic system we have here in the USA....the fact a company can do so is part of what makes it wonderful...

I'm curious to see what Google can do to valve....

worse comes to worse, we can set up some old CS 1.5 servers :-P

**Bunni** · 09-17-08, 11:46 AM

good then when i get my phd google can hire me.

**Cojiro** · 09-17-08, 11:51 AM

Isnt the inquirer that magazine that talks about aliens and lochness monsters living together in louisiana and crap like that?

**vexle** · 09-17-08, 11:54 AM

aside from the rumor sounding like absolute horseshit, I guess it could be worse. If it does happen, it'll most likely be about money rather than any artistic visions on Google's part, and Steam will work as normal except Google gets a cut. They've got no experience with anything game-related, and if they wanted to get in on some online FPS action they probably wouldn't start by buying Valve. That's like me buying Mass General Hospital because surgery looked cool on "House."