Valve: Difference between revisions
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{{CompanyCargo | {{CompanyCargo | ||
|Description=American video game company known for distribution platform Steam and game series like Half Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and Counter Strike. | |Description=American video game company known for distribution platform Steam and game series like Half Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and Counter Strike. | ||
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|Website=https://valvesoftware.com/ | |Website=https://valvesoftware.com/ | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''{{Wplink|Valve Corporation}}''' (also known as '''Valve Software''') is a software distribution company, most known for being the owner of the distribution service [[Steam]]. Valve additionally develops tools frequently used by various professional and amateur creators, such as Source Filmmaker and the Source Engines, as well as manufacturing hardware items such as the {{Wplink|Steam Deck}}. It was founded in 1996 by {{Wplink|Gabe Newell}} and Mike Harrington. | |||
{{ | |||
====Business model | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
{{Ph-C-CIS}} | |||
===Business model=== | |||
Valve's primary source of revenue is the sale of both its own and third party games on the Steam platform. | Valve's primary source of revenue is the sale of both its own and third party games on the Steam platform. | ||
Valve also manufactures and sells gaming hardware systems. These products include: the Steam Deck, Steam Machine and Steam Frame which all run [[SteamOS]], Valve's Linux-based operating system, out of the box.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Hardware |url=https://store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware |url-status=live |website=[[Steam]]}}</ref> | Valve also manufactures and sells gaming hardware systems. These products include: the Steam Deck, Steam Machine and Steam Frame which all run [[SteamOS]], Valve's Linux-based operating system, out of the box.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Hardware |url=https://store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware |url-status=live |website=[[Steam]]}}</ref> | ||
==Positives== | ==Positives== | ||
===Contributions to open-source (''2018—'')=== | |||
===Contributions to open-source ('' | |||
Valve has made several noteworthy open-source contributions to advance software [[interoperability]], which have improved gaming on Linux and macOS, and running {{Wplink|x86}} software on {{Wplink|ARM}} processors.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> | Valve has made several noteworthy open-source contributions to advance software [[interoperability]], which have improved gaming on Linux and macOS, and running {{Wplink|x86}} software on {{Wplink|ARM}} processors.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> | ||
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===Repairable hardware=== | ===Repairable hardware=== | ||
====Steam Deck==== | ====Steam Deck==== | ||
Following the release of the Steam Deck in 2022, Gamers Nexus and iFixit released teardown videos praising the ease of dissassembly of the device,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Lathan |first2=Patrick |last3=Stone |first3=Patrick |last4=Coleman |first4=Andrew |last5=Gallick |first5=Keegan |date=2022-02-08 |title=Steam Deck Tear-Down: Build Quality, Disassembly, & VRM Analysis |url=https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=dlsJB3narnk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=dlsJB3narnk |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Invidious}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Suovanen |first=Jeff |date=2022-02-15 |title=Steam Deck Teardown: Everything Valve Said Not to Do! |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/57101/steam-deck-teardown |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=iFixit}}</ref> the latter giving it a 7/10 on their repairability score.<ref name=":8" /> | Following the release of the Steam Deck in 2022, Gamers Nexus and iFixit released teardown videos praising the ease of dissassembly of the device,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Steve |last2=Lathan |first2=Patrick |last3=Stone |first3=Patrick |last4=Coleman |first4=Andrew |last5=Gallick |first5=Keegan |date=2022-02-08 |title=Steam Deck Tear-Down: Build Quality, Disassembly, & VRM Analysis |url=https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=dlsJB3narnk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=dlsJB3narnk |archive-date=2026-04-29 |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Invidious}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Suovanen |first=Jeff |date=2022-02-15 |title=Steam Deck Teardown: Everything Valve Said Not to Do! |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/57101/steam-deck-teardown |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=iFixit}}</ref> the latter giving it a 7/10 on their repairability score.<ref name=":8" /> | ||
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This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | ||
===PC version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive replaced by Counter-Strike 2 (''2023'')=== | |||
===PC version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive replaced by Counter-Strike 2 (2023)=== | |||
Counter-Strike 2, previously available as a 'Limited Test' since March 22nd 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ali |date=2023-03-22 |title=Here's how to access the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214114651/https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref>, released on September 27th 2023, replacing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on [[Steam]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=2023-09-27 |title=After 11 years of CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 has officially replaced the biggest game on Steam {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223173642/https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |archive-date=23 Dec 2025}}</ref>. This removed access to Global Offensive for those who had purchased it, every mainline PC Counter-Strike game before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251230014611/https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref>, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Condition Zero on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228102653/https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |archive-date=28 Dec 2025}}</ref> and Counter-Strike: Source<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Source on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251217184118/https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}}</ref>) can still be purchased and played on [[Steam]] through a separate library entry so this was an unprecedented move from Valve. | Counter-Strike 2, previously available as a 'Limited Test' since March 22nd 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ali |date=2023-03-22 |title=Here's how to access the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214114651/https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref>, released on September 27th 2023, replacing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on [[Steam]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=2023-09-27 |title=After 11 years of CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 has officially replaced the biggest game on Steam {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223173642/https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |archive-date=23 Dec 2025}}</ref>. This removed access to Global Offensive for those who had purchased it, every mainline PC Counter-Strike game before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251230014611/https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref>, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Condition Zero on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228102653/https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |archive-date=28 Dec 2025}}</ref> and Counter-Strike: Source<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Source on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |url-status=live |website=Steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251217184118/https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |archive-date=17 Dec 2025}}</ref>) can still be purchased and played on [[Steam]] through a separate library entry so this was an unprecedented move from Valve. | ||
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It also became impossible to use multiple weapons (M4A1-S, USP-S, CZ75-Auto, MP5-SD, R8 Revolver) in regular gameplay on vanilla servers without plugins as the loadout system used to switch between weapons and equip weapon skins was discontinued on CS:GO Legacy.<ref>[[File:CS-GO Legacy Inventory Message.jpg|thumb|Pop-up message after attempting to open the Inventory on the main menu of CS:GO Legacy, screenshot taken 23rd October 2025.]] | It also became impossible to use multiple weapons (M4A1-S, USP-S, CZ75-Auto, MP5-SD, R8 Revolver) in regular gameplay on vanilla servers without plugins as the loadout system used to switch between weapons and equip weapon skins was discontinued on CS:GO Legacy.<ref>[[File:CS-GO Legacy Inventory Message.jpg|thumb|Pop-up message after attempting to open the Inventory on the main menu of CS:GO Legacy, screenshot taken 23rd October 2025.]] | ||
</ref> There was an unofficial method of re-enabling the loadout system so these weapons could be equipped and used in game but this method was patched in the May 8th 2025 Counter-Strike 2 update.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Csgo_Legacy_2023 – BaseQ WiQi |url=https://wiki.baseq.fr/Installation-Guides/Source/Csgo_Legacy_2023?revision=7fa46e#enabling-back-your-inventory |url-status=live |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=BaseQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105023533/https://wiki.baseq.fr/Installation-Guides/Source/Csgo_Legacy_2023?revision=7fa46e#enabling-back-your-inventory |archive-date=5 Jan 2026}}</ref> Although patched for its intended purpose, some CS:GO Legacy community servers still require this method for players to join their servers.<ref name=":3" /> | </ref> There was an unofficial method of re-enabling the loadout system so these weapons could be equipped and used in game but this method was patched in the May 8th 2025 Counter-Strike 2 update.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Csgo_Legacy_2023 – BaseQ WiQi |url=https://wiki.baseq.fr/Installation-Guides/Source/Csgo_Legacy_2023?revision=7fa46e#enabling-back-your-inventory |url-status=live |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=BaseQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105023533/https://wiki.baseq.fr/Installation-Guides/Source/Csgo_Legacy_2023?revision=7fa46e#enabling-back-your-inventory |archive-date=5 Jan 2026}}</ref> Although patched for its intended purpose, some CS:GO Legacy community servers still require this method for players to join their servers.<ref name=":3" /> | ||
===Steam users do not own their games (''2024'')=== | |||
In October 2024, Valve added a note to Steam's payment checkout screen which states: <blockquote>A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam. For full terms and conditions, please see the Steam Subscriber Agreement.</blockquote> This is attributed to a law passed in California which requires storefronts to clearly state whether a consumer is purchasing a license for digital media.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam now says the ‘game’ you’re buying is really just a license |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24267864/steam-buy-purchase-license-digital-storefront |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214142023/https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24267864/steam-buy-purchase-license-digital-storefront |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref> | |||
The licenses are tied to the Steam account, so if the consumer loses access to the account they will lose all the licenses with it.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam's new disclaimer reminds everyone that you don't actually own your games, GOG moves in for the killshot: Its offline installers 'cannot be taken away from you' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/steams-new-disclaimer-reminds-everyone-that-you-dont-actually-own-your-games-gog-moves-in-for-the-killshot-its-offline-installers-cannot-be-taken-away-from-you/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251117104943/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/steams-new-disclaimer-reminds-everyone-that-you-dont-actually-own-your-games-gog-moves-in-for-the-killshot-its-offline-installers-cannot-be-taken-away-from-you/ |archive-date=17 Nov 2025}}</ref> Steam forbids consumers from transferring their licenses to other accounts, even if the accounts are owned by the same person that purchased the license. Steam forbids consumers from allowing other people to use their Steam account, even if passed down via a will.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=2024-05-26 |title=You can't take it with you, but you can't leave it for someone else either: Valve says you aren't allowed to bequeath a Steam account in a will |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/you-cant-take-it-with-you-but-you-cant-leave-it-behind-either-valve-says-you-arent-allowed-to-bequeath-a-steam-account-in-a-will/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114134401/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/you-cant-take-it-with-you-but-you-cant-leave-it-behind-either-valve-says-you-arent-allowed-to-bequeath-a-steam-account-in-a-will/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref> | |||
This is in contrast to Steam's main competitor [https://www.gog.com/en/ GOG], which states on its payment checkout screen: <blockquote>A purchase of a digital product on GOG grants you its Offline Installers, which cannot be taken away from you.<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>Some games downloaded through Steam can be played without the Steam client running.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of DRM-free games |url=https://steam.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251121055931/https://steam.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_DRM-free_games |archive-date=21 Nov 2025 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=Fandom}}</ref><!--There is an article on CyberPost about this but I was unsure if it was an AI article or not. https://cyberpost.co/can-you-run-steam-games-without-steam/--> | |||
==Products== | ==Products== | ||
===Hardware=== | ===Hardware=== | ||
*HTC VIVE (1st Gen) | *HTC VIVE (1st Gen) | ||
*Steam Controller (1st Gen) | *Steam Controller (1st Gen) | ||
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===Software=== | ===Software=== | ||
*SteamOS 1.0 | *SteamOS 1.0 | ||
*SteamOS 2.0 | *SteamOS 2.0 | ||
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===Games=== | ===Games=== | ||
*Counter Strike | *Counter Strike | ||
*Counter Strike Global Offensive | *Counter Strike Global Offensive | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Valve Corporation]] | [[Category:Valve Corporation]] | ||
[[Category:Online companies]] | |||