[ajross]

Or Apple, or Google, or Amazon. Steam is, really, just an app store. And that's becoming part of the platform in the modern world.

Frankly I think the sanest option here would be for MS to simply buy Valve and turn them into the "Windows App Store". But I can't imagine that happening given all the internal churn that would be required to eliminate all their existing online purchase junk.

[arohner]

I'm pretty sure Valve wouldn't sell to MS for any amount of money.

Gabe is a billionaire, and left MS to do his own stuff. And Valve culture sounds incompatible w/ MS culture.

[phaus]

I'd go so far as to say that as long as Gabe Newell is alive, I highly doubt that Valve would sell to anyone at any price.

The man sincerely loves his job, his fans, and especially his team.

[malkia]

Spot on. More likely Google fit, than anyone else. "Engineering rules" culture and almost "flat" hierarchy.

[sseveran]

In fact he once worked at Microsoft I believe.

[Vekz]

You are correct app stores are becoming standard OS components. I feel like Steam on linux is one step away from a SteamLinuxOS. Which opens up console ideas comprable to the Ouya Andriod powered console that was just buzzing on kickstarter.

[ArcticCelt]

Valve is not a public company so there is no shareholders nor investors who can pressure Gabe to sell. There is also absolutely no insensitive to sell for him. Even if he gets tired of Valve he can simply start a new venture by using the insane cash-flow raining directly in his bank account.

[ginko]

The fact that it is a private company is a very interesting aspect of Valve.

I wonder why there are not more companies going that route. It seems to be sort of expected nowadays that every large company must incorporate.

[JackpotDen]

Because most companies hemorrage money. Valve was built after Gabe and the other co-founder got rich as hell from working on microsoft. They didn't need funding while valve was bleeding cash, so they don't have to do that.

[mikeash]

Most companies aren't graced with a founder who was already rich.

[ralfn]

Why would MS pay 3 billion dollar for Valve, if they can just abuse their position and disallow Steam on Win8, and then just steal the market.

Which is exactly what they are doing, with the win8 store policy, metro sandbox, and pricing strategy for the x86/classic-desktop version.

[beedogs]

Pretty much everything MS buys gets ruined, so I'd rather that didn't happen.

[kevin_morrill]

They've messed up some, but they've also hit grand slams with others. MS-DOS comes to mine. PowerPoint is another. Hotmail. Bungie. FAST Search.

All of those are much more successful than they were before Microsoft acquired them.

[magicalist]

I don't really agree with the GP, but Bungie is actually a pretty apt comparison in this case. Ask them what they think about the acquisition...

[robryan]

I don't think they have too much to worry about. Will take a lot to get gamers to switch to a Microsoft app store. Granted Microsoft could probably eat away at the very casual end of gaming.

[Splines]

Gamers are (I think) attracted to Steam because of it's convenience and price. Many gamers will pass up games on alternative dd platforms because they can't get the game to register on steam.

If Microsoft provides competitive pricing, fast downloads and good key management (easy key activation, no PC activation limits, DRM-free options, good online/offline story) I could see people switching away from Steam.

Amazon is actually trying quite hard in this area - their download application could use work, but they have pricing and good DRM policies in place. Plus, their community outreach is mind boggling (especially considering the other DD outlets do none at all).

[robryan]

Microsoft would have to get the community features right too. Also perception, Valve are well liked by gamers whereas Microsoft would have to work really hard to build that up.

[trotsky]

The difference being only one of them owns the platform steam gets practically all of their revenue from.

[djhworld]

It might be sane for Microsoft, but it would be an abysmal turn of events for Valve.