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Rumortoid: Google Overlords looking to buy Valve (Update) photo

"Well placed sources" tell The Inquirer that mega-corporation Skynet Google is looking to acquired darling independent developer Valve. According to the report, the deal could happen "any second now." We'll wait ...

Nope, nothing yet. 

The acquisition would make some sense. With Google looking to get into the digital distribution space, Valve having already nearly dominated it with Steam (at least on the PC side), they could work well together. This past August, in a conversation with Gamasutra, Valve's Doug Lombardi stated that they'd be open to acquisition, given the right suitor. 

I'm not really for or against such an acquisition, but the number of things I use that are already stamped with the Google logo is frightening.

[Via CVG]

[Update: It seems Valve and Google (refusing to comment on rumors and speculation) have squashed this one for now; no need to merge your Gmail and Steam accounts just yet.]


Continue: More Valve stories





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25 comments | showing # 1 to 25

falinter's Avatar
falinter at 09/17/2008 08:28
I can't wait for Google flavored toothpaste!
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 09/17/2008 08:35
Google is taking over the world. It's fine.
monkeyspoon5's Avatar
monkeyspoon5 at 09/17/2008 08:39
I welcome our new overlord who do everything to appease the will of the people and make themselves filthy stinking rich.

Seriously, they're getting fucking good at this "business" thing.
funran's Avatar
funran at 09/17/2008 08:39
Bow to your new overload, all hail google!
Ratcliff's Avatar
Ratcliff at 09/17/2008 08:41
I guess it's nice to see that major corporations are taking the videogame industry seriously. Google buying Valve, and EA is buying up EVERYTHING. (except Take-Two and I can't figure out why....)
drogaz1's Avatar
drogaz1 at 09/17/2008 08:43
Since it's the Inquirer it's probably fake.
wardrox's Avatar
wardrox at 09/17/2008 08:46
Steam doesn't quite fit with their current business models... but I would expect them to buy that over the entire of valve.

Still.... Google running a games company is an interesting idea.
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 09/17/2008 08:50
I like clams.



hurr hurr
dotdigsgames's Avatar
dotdigsgames at 09/17/2008 08:53
While Google likes to tout its "indie" cred and claims to loathe advertising and corporations, it has become increasingly involved in the marketing world. If it's the old Google that takes Valve, I'd like to think our games will remain untainted by the corporate stamp. It could, however, be the new Google and our games may become cloned, combine-like shells of their former selves. I don't think I'd like if Gordon carried a branded crowbar.
Ali D's Avatar
Ali D at 09/17/2008 08:54
It'd be interesting to see, but I can't see what they could do to improve Steam, other than getting more games available for sale. They can't do that without the publishers onboard and they can't undercut the retailers when it comes to price either.
the Golden Avatar's Avatar
the Golden Avatar at 09/17/2008 08:59
@wardrox

My thoughts exactly. This is why the rumor, in its current state, holds little credibility with me. Why would they buy Valve to acquire Steam? It doesn't fit their typical business model at all. It seems like Google could do a better job building their own content distribution system, or at least purchase a pre-existing, lightweight version which they could build upon. Steam seems like it'd be more than Google would want or need. It's just too bloated for a jumping-off-point into the digital distribution market.
Wexx's Avatar
Wexx at 09/17/2008 09:00
As long as Valve still has full IP control and google doesn't give them deadlines (hurr hurr) this would probably be for the best.
ajaxender's Avatar
ajaxender at 09/17/2008 09:06
If it became more of a partnership, with Valve providing Steam as a platform and Google providing its existing services through it, along with its huge vaults of money for buying more services and games, and giving cash to Valve when they need it... this could end up pretty good.

I dont like the word 'acquisition', however. Valve are already doing the best job of any game developer/distributor out there, imo, and id hate for someone to be able to order them around; they might fuck it up.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 09/17/2008 09:32
Valve makes sense from an ideological standpoint: Gabe and Co. are pretty much the Google of the gaming world right now, while EA is the Yahoo! and Microsft is... well, Micrsoft.

However, from an overall strategy viewpoint, I tend to agree with wardrox here: it just doesn't fit. Google's strength is in marketing and in their own R&D; somehow, unless they are planning to release a Google gaming console - and they may be the only company on Earth that can afford it right now - this makes zero sense. If Google's going to get involved with games, I expect it to be on their own terms with their own in-house team.
funran's Avatar
funran at 09/17/2008 09:33
I think its a great idea. Better get used to it, because I just heard from a friend who knows someone in the industry (yeah yeah) that it just went though. Calling it now.
magnetite's Avatar
magnetite at 09/17/2008 09:38
No! Adsense while fighting off alien invaders...

Do YOU have headcrabs? Try Head(crab) and Shoulders now!

I think I just vomited myself inside out. I'll check, hang on...yep - organs on the outside. F**k!
Sam Spectre's Avatar
Sam Spectre at 09/17/2008 09:38
I'm completely ok with Google controlling the world.

I think that Google would actually do a great job in digital distribution. Maybe not game design but I think they could definitely kick ass in the distribution department.
Palidi's Avatar
Palidi at 09/17/2008 09:56
OMG, ITS OFFICIAL!!! GOOGLE WANTS TO BREAK INTO THE GAMING INDUSTRY!!

Calling it now. Half Life 3 for the Gizmondo 2
Call of Cthulhu's Avatar
Call of Cthulhu at 09/17/2008 10:28
As much as I love and utilize Google products, I can't help but have a lingering fear that somehow AdSense will be incorporated into the games, and, next thing you know, using the Gravity Gun will summon a pop-up window to appear asking if you want to buy a book about Isaac Newton, or squeezing the Antlion pheropods could...oh god, I don't even want to think about it.
Kasmodiah's Avatar
Kasmodiah at 09/17/2008 10:32
In other news: Left 4 Dead Zombies are being renamed to Former Yahoo Employees, Google Crowbars used on Large Hadron Collider, Word Steam is now officially AdSense, Soviet Russia sends capitalist headcrabs to Siberian gulags.
Kaspar's Avatar
Kaspar at 09/17/2008 11:11
Confirmed byb Valve to be complete bullshit.

And the day is saved.
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 09/17/2008 11:45
I for one welcome our new Google overlords.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 09/17/2008 11:48
I like Google. I like Valve. I do not object to this.
SephirothX's Avatar
SephirothX at 09/17/2008 11:57
I'll be interested when Valve makes a popular game beyond Half Life (seriously, all of their other games are mods they bought out).
stevesan's Avatar
stevesan at 09/17/2008 12:29
Clearly, they just want G-Man.

HAHAHA get it?? G-MAN??? G-MAIL!?!?!? G, as in google. GET IT!!??!
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