Inquirer: Google to buy Valve, Valve denies [update]
We, again, have no idea if this is on the money, but there have been a couple of indicators that lend a sort of credence. You may remember early last month when Valve said it was happy to talk about acquisitions, and just a little over a week ago Forbes' Chris Morris posited that Google could be going into game publishing.
We'll keep you posted.
Update: Valve tells MTV that the story is a "complete fabrication."
[Thanks, Stephen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Solid Chief @ Sep 17th 2008 8:27AM
This is an odd one. the reasoning isn't too bad either
An odd thought because I don't know how this can possibly change things (other than perhaps replacement ads or dynamic ads within games)
Solid Chief @ Sep 17th 2008 8:45AM
Google also scares me.
ZaxCG2 @ Sep 17th 2008 9:04AM
I certainly HOPE it doesn't change a thing. I love Valve... LOVE THEM TO DEATH.
They're one of the only PC game making companies who bless their customers who buy their games with many updates and modding capabilities! That is- in return for you being a part of their system STEAM in which you cannot play games without an internet connection.
But yeah, I'm sure Google just wants to buy 'em for Steam... as its become so huge. Who knows, could help them with faster download speeds maybe yes?!
Xoviet chiK @ Sep 17th 2008 10:19AM
I LOVE Valve to death too... I also LOVE Google.
When two things I love come together it usually produces fantastic results. Noodles and Mushrooms, Nomeansno and Jello Biafra, SNK and Capcom, DualShocks and PlayStation 3's... I like the idea of Valve and Google, as long as they don't fondle with each other's business.
Haggard (Free Mr.ESC!) @ Sep 17th 2008 10:52AM
I don't think Steam needs faster downloads. It pretty much used the full capacity of every internet service I've ever had.
SneezyPorcupine @ Sep 17th 2008 11:54AM
NOOO! Dood, Google scares me too. They used to be a pretty up-beat company, but lately, they're pulling an MS and just buying out all their competition. Have you looked at their WIKI page lately? The list of acquisitions is endless!!
I think Valve should buy Google instead. AMIRITE??
Don't mess with my cake recipes you bastards! =(
Ignatius @ Sep 17th 2008 8:29AM
I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not, I love Google, but on the other hand, I'm kinda scared what they'd do to Steam.
I mean, I see enough bloody advertisements on Steam as it is.
SneezyPorcupine @ Sep 17th 2008 11:59AM
Man, I just hope this doesn't affect anything to do with negotiations that Valve and MS were doing regarding certain game distributions on Live.
But given that MS and Google are sworn enemies right now (due to the recent lawsuite that MS got owned in...) I have a feeling its gonna b bad news.
On another note, I still can't believe Yahoo! didn't sell to MS. But if Valve does sell to Google, I'd be disappointed to some degree... I guess.
Ubiqutous Oxymoron @ Sep 17th 2008 1:14PM
Rather google than M$ or EA imho.
would prefer it if they stayed 'indie' tho'
StuScotsLazyEye @ Sep 17th 2008 3:53PM
What the fuck are you talking about? Steam doesn't contain any advertisements. Don't confuse a STOREFRONT with a bulletin board, dude. You're giving a great online distribution service a bad name to every person that eyes over your comment.
Ignatius @ Sep 17th 2008 3:55PM
Steam update! Steam update! Look at our five pages of updates that constantly pop up every single time you open up Steam or everytime you play a game!
See all these new great deals or things that are on Steam!
You, er... don't use Steam much, do ya?
WorMzy @ Sep 17th 2008 10:46PM
"You, er... don't use Steam much, do ya?"
Either that, or he disabled Steam News like the rest of the world.
ice~ @ Sep 17th 2008 8:30AM
great so when google attempts to take over the world with mind controlling robots and form a global dictatorship morgan freeman won't be there to save us...nor will our oaks from left for dead be as to escape googles zombie apocalypse...sigh
Nanu @ Sep 17th 2008 8:48AM
I believe you mean GORDON FREEMAN. Morgan Freeman's an actor.
dark_inchworm @ Sep 17th 2008 9:02AM
Morgan Freeman?
(font size=over 9000) LOL
ZaxCG2 @ Sep 17th 2008 9:07AM
Gorgon Feeman.
Solid Chief @ Sep 17th 2008 9:08AM
Shoot this motherfucker!!!!
[/morgan freeman]
xGeneral DEATHx @ Sep 17th 2008 9:23AM
Morgan Freeman: This suit will give you more mobility, but you'll be more susceptible to knives and gunfire.
Gordan Freeman: ...
Morgan Freeman: Now that's more like it, Mr. Freeman.
Maverick Saturn @ Sep 17th 2008 9:33AM
Lol, 'Google Freeman' :) They will have to change the name once they pick him up
Nigeria @ Sep 17th 2008 10:20AM
Aflong Aflongkong
Ignatius @ Sep 17th 2008 12:02PM
Both Morgan and Gordon are awesome. However, there is one glaring difference between the two.
Morgan won't shut up and Gordon won't speak.
SneezyPorcupine @ Sep 17th 2008 12:04PM
@ Solid Chief
+1 for you, good sir. That was definitely a hilarious line in that movie. That, and when he finally gets iced, the expression on his face.
ice~ @ Sep 18th 2008 12:29AM
LMFAO!!! Sorry about that...I feel stupid :/. lotta typos in there thanks to the amazing (sarcasm) touch keyboard on the iTouch....LOL Morgan freeman wtf was I smoking...
MowDownJoe @ Sep 17th 2008 8:31AM
Well, that's it. PC Gaming will be dead. Steam will be consumed by a company seeking to take over the world, and every other PC game publisher will be putting in invasive DRM.
Haggard (Free Mr.ESC!) @ Sep 17th 2008 10:55AM
Oi, stop hogging all the cynicism!
Moofree @ Sep 17th 2008 8:33AM
Just think of what GLadOS could do for Google.
Google's network could very well outlast the company!
Donald @ Sep 17th 2008 9:06AM
The only problem is that GLaDOS would be in perpetual beta.
Yubastard @ Sep 17th 2008 9:10AM
^^ Ha! made my day, early in the morning... thanks! :)
dark_inchworm @ Sep 17th 2008 10:15AM
@Donald:
So GlaDOS = Gmail?
Oh, shit.
Donald @ Sep 17th 2008 10:27AM
@dark_inchworm: Yeah, pretty much. You thought Valve Time was bad before...
Mike @ Sep 17th 2008 12:23PM
Uh, if I'm not mistaken, GLaDOS belongs to a little company called Aperture Science, not Valve Software.
dark_inchworm @ Sep 17th 2008 1:50PM
Uh, if I'm not mistaken, you're being anal.
Shut the fuck up.
TheAzureKnight @ Sep 17th 2008 8:33AM
Skynet is 1 step closer to self awareness...
But I love my Google Maps!
juju187 @ Sep 17th 2008 8:34AM
another move toward a google Os
Solid Chief @ Sep 17th 2008 8:48AM
They've got a browser, got desktop search, got photo and video bases covered. Digital distribution system under steam would allow games and more to be purchased, it would also be used as a software update platform.
Anything I'm missing?
riggs @ Sep 17th 2008 9:08AM
android open OS for phones
Ranus Studios @ Sep 17th 2008 8:47AM
Goodness.
Nanu @ Sep 17th 2008 8:47AM
NOOOO!!!!
Google already killed youtube, I can't let my precious valve and steam go as well!!!!
*cries in corner*
Ignatius @ Sep 17th 2008 8:54AM
YouTube is still there...?
Xoviet chiK @ Sep 17th 2008 9:04AM
Yeah... But it's owned by a major corporation now maaaaan!
Yubastard @ Sep 17th 2008 9:13AM
as if it wasn't a major corporation before... it's alright, I bet nothing's going to change
xGeneral DEATHx @ Sep 17th 2008 10:05AM
And you know this, MAAAAAAAN!
Mr Khan @ Sep 17th 2008 11:21AM
The only thing Google did was help bring YouTube out of the wild west with a few IP-infringement deals (especially the one with Viacom that insures all the episodes of Doug or Rocko's Modern Life will never get uploaded there)
But nothing significant
Shagittarius @ Sep 17th 2008 11:47AM
Next thing I knew I was running down the street in my damn drawers...
eubep @ Sep 17th 2008 8:51AM
Does this mean Valve will be forced to develop for PS3 now? Well Valve games does come out for PS3 but those ports aren't done inhouse.
Pudge @ Sep 17th 2008 8:56AM
Isn't this better than Microsoft or Sony buying them out and making them console developers like Bungie? I think it would also speed development times up over there, and we might finish Half Life 2 Episodes in the next decade. O, and get the Team Fortress 2 updates for 360. Google would definately still let them do their thing, YouTube hasn't changed into Google Video, and they've added so much stuff since being sold.
I really like the idea.
Juno @ Sep 17th 2008 9:13PM
The time they take to perfect their games is why Valve is so good. Trust me, the wait is always worth it. Speeding up their dev process would be the worst possible change.
Duke @ Sep 17th 2008 10:31AM
I didn't know that MS forced their game divisions to be console only. I guess I'm just mistaken by seeing the PC games they release. Silly me.
Pudge @ Sep 17th 2008 12:51PM
Ok I'm sorry, but does Valve do big console releases? No. Did Bungie do consoles before Microsoft? No. Valve would have to do more work to make console ports of all its games under Microsoft or Sony, which would lead to less development time for gameplay as well. If someone has to buy out Valve (And Steam is so attractive its bound to happen) It'd be better to be a company like Google which acts like a distant parent rather than a demanding one.
Startlingline117 @ Sep 17th 2008 9:02AM
Uh oh, this could be a sign of the apocalypse. Google is buying it all. I just hope that if they take it over that Valve's game quality will now suffer. At the moment their record is oustanding.