Rumors: Microsoft in talks to acquire Valve

By macoman
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Brandon H Supervisor

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this one I'm not sure should be allowed; Valve is one of the biggest competing pieces right now, so I don't think anyone should be allowed to absorb them as a whole.

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Max Norris

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I can see some interesting potential with that. Steam on my XBox? Yes please.  That said, would worry the hell out of me too as 99% of my PC gaming is done through Steam and Proton on Linux, Microsoft could really put the screws to Linux on the desktop if they wanted, dismantle that and most of the non-coder Linux users could possibly ditch it and go back to Windows just for the gaming. Pure speculation on my part of course, but without gaming you're going to be dual booting at minimum, and lots of people probably won't want that hassle.  Extra credit, let's put Bingdows on my Steam Deck just to really make me want to walk in front of a bus. Linux aside, that's one hell of a near monopoly they'll have on the PC gaming market.

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neufuse Veteran

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On 22/05/2024 at 14:26, Max Norris said:

I can see some interesting potential with that. Steam on my XBox? Yes please.  That said, would worry the hell out of me too as 99% of my PC gaming is done through Steam and Proton on Linux, Microsoft could really put the screws to Linux on the desktop if they wanted, dismantle that and most of the non-coder Linux users could possibly ditch it and go back to Windows just for the gaming. Pure speculation on my part of course, but without gaming you're going to be dual booting at minimum, and lots of people probably won't want that hassle.  Extra credit, let's put Bingdows on my Steam Deck just to really make me want to walk in front of a bus. Linux aside, that's one hell of a near monopoly they'll have on the PC gaming market.

steam on xbox? haha they'd scrap that and rename it to xbox live or windows live or games live or something stupid then kill it off in a few years (who games for windows live?)

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+mram Subscriber²

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On 22/05/2024 at 11:26, Max Norris said:

I can see some interesting potential with that. Steam on my XBox? Yes please.  That said, would worry the hell out of me too as 99% of my PC gaming is done through Steam and Proton on Linux, Microsoft could really put the screws to Linux on the desktop if they wanted, dismantle that and most of the non-coder Linux users could possibly ditch it and go back to Windows just for the gaming. Pure speculation on my part of course, but without gaming you're going to be dual booting at minimum, and lots of people probably won't want that hassle.  Extra credit, let's put Bingdows on my Steam Deck just to really make me want to walk in front of a bus. Linux aside, that's one hell of a near monopoly they'll have on the PC gaming market.

I see a lot of doom and gloom when it comes to Microsoft but I do NOT see them being anti-Linux in any way, NOW.  Emphasis on now.  

In the past, sure.  But right now, Windows represents a small fraction of MS total pie.  The cloud, azure, m365 are all the profits and even xbox and other acquisitions there.  Even putting my conspiracy hat on, I can't see a MS-owned Valve doing anything to remove the breadth that Steam offers now, there's simply no need, it would detract from the value of the product.  MS right now is all about service offerings, not compartmentalization.  You want Linux on Azure?  Go right ahead.  No problems.

But thinking critically about this acquisition, they would gain some IP, some games, but really, Steam as a distribution platform.  It wouldn't create a monopoly in the slightest.  Steam represents a distribution engine.  Maybe I'm missing something?

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+Mud W1ggle Subscriber²

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On 23/05/2024 at 06:26, Max Norris said:

I can see some interesting potential with that. Steam on my XBox? Yes please.  That said, would worry the hell out of me too as 99% of my PC gaming is done through Steam and Proton on Linux, Microsoft could really put the screws to Linux on the desktop if they wanted, dismantle that and most of the non-coder Linux users could possibly ditch it and go back to Windows just for the gaming. Pure speculation on my part of course, but without gaming you're going to be dual booting at minimum, and lots of people probably won't want that hassle.  Extra credit, let's put Bingdows on my Steam Deck just to really make me want to walk in front of a bus. Linux aside, that's one hell of a near monopoly they'll have on the PC gaming market.

Microsoft is the anti-linux company from previous years anymore, I think your "logic" that MS could buy it to kill gaming on the Linux platform is hugely flawed.  If this is true, then its a purely monetary decision, they can make money from it, so do it - a totally valid reason for a company to do something.

People need to get over the whole Microsoft is evil ideology.  

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Max Norris

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On 22/05/2024 at 19:29, Mud W1ggle said:

People need to get over the whole Microsoft is evil ideology.  

Meh I was over it in the 80s when I was still using Xenix. I was there when the whole sh-t show started.  Was just spitballing for laughs, logic was never involved, relax. That said, they've been pretty good for a while, but recently "Evil M$" has been coming back into play somewhat. Just look at what they're doing with Bing, Edge, etc. Not so squeaky clean as they were trying for a few years back. Them wanting to nuke Linux gaming isn't that hard of a stretch of the imagination.  Besides, it'll never ever be allowed anyway, antitrust and all that.

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JustGeorge

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On 22/05/2024 at 19:29, Mud W1ggle said:

Microsoft is the anti-linux company from previous years anymore, I think your "logic" that MS could buy it to kill gaming on the Linux platform is hugely flawed.  If this is true, then its a purely monetary decision, they can make money from it, so do it - a totally valid reason for a company to do something.

People need to get over the whole Microsoft is evil ideology.  

Doesn't matter if they're evil or not. MS will not support a Linux based SteamOS, nor will they put effort into Proton. Linux market share is enough to determine that. Oh they'll be BS and corporate speak to the opposite for awhile, but SteamOS on the Deck will almost certainly get replaced by something built on Windows.

The rumors within the last few weeks about MS wanting to get into the portable gaming market are making sense now. The Steam deck is making progress and MS probably wants to just buy their way in with something already gaining traction. 

I'd rather they brute force buy Nintendo and assimilate them over Steam. At least that will be one jerk company taking over another jerk company. It's not that I think Valve is out for anything other than profit, but they're not on the level of MS and Nintendo. 

If this turns out to be true, I hope regulators put a stop to it.

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sava700

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Lol ohh that would be funny. TeamFortress 2, DOTA2, CSGO and all those games would see their item value come to an end once and for all which would be great. I never could figure why Valve would allow such nonsense regardless the funds it brought in when they aren't even supporting the games much anymore. They've refused to create a TeamFortress 3 game and dump the older/items and all because of it.

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DramaInc

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On 22/05/2024 at 13:32, Brandon H said:

on another hand, this IS just a rumor, and honestly, I can't see Gabe giving up the company without a fight.

What fight?  Why would Gabe HAVE to sell it?

Screw MS, they did nothing to fix the problems at Blizzard did they.

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