Gabe Newell is hooked on Stalker 2 and once he's got the fourth ending (!) will 'figure out what I'm going to play next'

This week has been quite eventful regarding significant Valve updates, mostly due to Monica Harrington’s latest GDC talk delving into the company’s initial stages. Therefore, let’s take a brief break from that topic and discuss what Gabe Newell is currently working on.

In his downtime, when not bravely confronting sharks in South Africa or cruising on one of his luxurious yachts, Gabe remains surprisingly down-to-earth. Quite remarkably, he occasionally checks his email and takes the time to respond to messages sent there.

Reddit user Walrus6444 recently posed a question in a polite manner: “Hey Gabe, what games do you personally enjoy?” It seems brevity could be effective in catching Gabe’s attention, as the Valve co-founder responded to confirm his gaming preferences.

In his recent statement, Newell mentioned that he has been engrossed in lots of Stalker 2. He anticipates obtaining the final fourth ending tomorrow, after which he will need to decide on what game to dive into next.

I haven’t completed Stalker 2 yet, and Gabe seems to outdo me in this regard. It’s not surprising he finds the time for it, but I do hope that at age 62, I too can continue enjoying such quality content.

Without a shadow of a doubt, it was apparent to Newell that there was a specific skeleton lurking in the contaminated tunnel where Rostak was known to reside. It was nestled near a cargo container, with a distinct red crowbar leaning against it, and a pair of glasses that seemed oddly familiar.

Reflecting on some intriguing behind-the-scenes tales, let me share one that sheds light on the genesis of Valve’s DRM. You see, it was inspired by an executive’s clever nephew who, instead of using a $500 educational check I sent him, opted to invest in a CD-ROM replicator! Isn’t it fascinating how that led to the creation of a system we all use today?

Another captivating story is about Gabe Newell’s determination to retain the rights for Half-Life. If successful, Valve might have decided to step away from game development altogether, as Gabe put it, “It wasn’t an idle threat—we weren’t going to take on all the risk to make other people rich.” Such stories add depth and character to the world of gaming, don’t they?

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2025-03-21 23:02

Gabe Newell is hooked on Stalker 2 and once he’s got the fourth ending (!) will ‘figure out what I’m going to play next’

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