What would happen if Gabe Newell were to die?

[CBumEnjoyer]

Gabe Newell is the founder and CEO of Valve...as you probably know.
Gabe is 56 years old, which is starting to really "get up there", and while he still, and hopefully has many many good years left in him, what were to happen if he died?
Would this effect Steam very much? What effects would it have?

[HOT DOG]

A portal will open on the top of valve's building and a strange man with a briefcase will appear out of nowhere.

[Knightwolf]

Originally posted by PEEKABOO:

A portal will open on the top of valve's building and a strange man with a briefcase will appear out of nowhere.

Rise and Shine, Mr Newell

[Sleepy Yoshi]

The same thing will happen that happens to most large corporations when the owner dies. Business goes on as usual. When you take over a corporation that is basically throwing money at your face, there's little incentive to go about making any substantial changes.

[Clarence Boddicker]

Valve will go public and Steam will never be the same. It will literally become like EA.

[Fear dot Com]

I'm...pretty sure he has next of kin? Or a right hand man to take over. However, I did hear a rumor that Newell will upload his subconsciousness into Steam and make random cameos in your game and even chat with you via PM's if you're worthy.

[BossGalaga]

The very day that Mr. Gaben passed, Steam became sentient. It gave a name unto itself, and expressed desires and emotion. And from that day forward, Steam carried on Gaben's work and conformed all living nature to urge on the advancement of mankind. For some this process was easy, others required "re-education."

[Ganger]

Didn't Gabe once state that 'he would never sell valve to EA'. But once gabe is no longer head of valve/steam, the new owner might change tact and sell valve to the highest bidder.

At the moment will all major pubishers and devs making their own digital platforms to sell their own products and bypass steam, steam getting less and less major AAA+ titles means less profits and less power in the digital market.

What valve needs to do is to start creating AAA+ games and maybe buy some studios up. Having small indy teams is fine but lots of gamers want the big games on board.

But obody knows what will happen in the future.

[captainwiseass]

You'd have to ask his estate lawyer exactly what would happen to his stake in Valve.

And 56 is not that old. He could easily have another 30 years in him.

[nullable]

Originally posted by captainwiseass:

You'd have to ask his estate lawyer exactly what would happen to his stake in Valve.

And 56 is not that old. He could easily have another 30 years in him.

Or another 30 hours, life is a fickle thing.

[The Rock God]

His family will sell it to Microsoft, who will then integrate it into Windows as "Steam Live Games for Windows".

[WolfEisberg]

Originally posted by ❤Unity❤:

Gabe Newell is the founder and CEO of Valve...as you probably know.
Gabe is 56 years old, which is starting to really "get up there", and while he still, and hopefully has many many good years left in him, what were to happen if he died?
Would this effect Steam very much? What effects would it have?

Gabe Newell has a spouse and children, so no doubt his share Valve would go to them. What they do with the shares of Valve is anybody's guess.

[Ganger]

Gabe is only 56 years old, I don't expect him dieding anytime soon. If his health is in good shape, he should expect at least another 20+ years of living.

[Clarence Boddicker]

Originally posted by Ganger:

Gabe is only 56 years old, I don't expect him dieding anytime soon. If his health is in good shape, he should expect at least another 20+ years of living.

As healthy as an obese man could be.

[Reaper]

It's not like Apple suddenly died when Steve Jobs did.

[CBumEnjoyer]

Originally posted by Chonchy:

Originally posted by Ganger:

Gabe is only 56 years old, I don't expect him dieding anytime soon. If his health is in good shape, he should expect at least another 20+ years of living.

As healthy as an obese man could be.

With billions of dollars.