Valve Corporation

The Profile

Valve Corporation is an American video game developer, publisher, and technology company founded in 1996 by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington. It created the Half-Life series, Counter-Strike (after acquiring the mod), Portal, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, Dota 2, and the Steam digital distribution platform, and developed the Source and Source 2 engines.

Founded: 1996 in Washington, USA, by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington; HQ in Bellevue, Washington; creator of Steam (launched 2003); developer of Source/Source 2; known for Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, Dota 2, and Half-Life: Alyx.

Reviews celebrate Valve’s landmark FPS design and storytelling, with Half-Life praised as a genre-defining classic and Counter-Strike as an online phenomenon. Highlights include in-game narrative, notable AI, and enduring maps and mods. Gabe Newell and Valve’s creative risk-taking and distribution savvy (Steam) are repeatedly acknowledged. Overall tone: affectionate, amused, and impressed.