Valve's 30th Anniversary Fuels Steam Frame Launch Rumors

Valve has been around for 30 years now. Two guys, Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, started the company in 1996. More and more people are interested in the Steam Frame, and rumors suggest the device could launch on the same day as the milestone.

Valve's games, the Steam platform, the Steam Deck, the Steam Machine, the Steam Frame, and the company's role in PC gaming have all been talked about again because of its anniversary. Today marks 30 years since Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington founded Valve in 1996. It could also be the day Steam Frame launches.

Depending on when you see the announcement, the Steam Frame might already have launched. A poll is also running on blaysetookie.com, with 68% of people saying yes to a launch, 22% saying no, and 10% saying maybe.

Another poll is focused on the expected price, with 51% saying the Steam Frame will be under $1,000 and 90% saying it will be over $1,000.

Valve Anniversary Brings Half-Life 3 Jokes

Thirty years of Valve has naturally brought plenty of jokes about Half-Life 3. One comment summed it up: "30 years of Valve and still no Half-Life 3." Gabe Newell also looks healthy, though different from his appearance back in the day. Geoff Keighley also marked the anniversary, saying Valve was founded 30 years ago by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington.

He also congratulated Valve and thanked the company for letting him be part of the journey from the beginning. There was also a clarification that the anniversary post was not a Gamescom teaser. Gamescom starts tomorrow, which raises the possibility that the Steam Frame could be announced there.

Valve has accomplished a lot across three decades of gaming. The company created a platform to buy and play PC games, created games that continue to influence gaming, and is now working on another multiplayer game with Deadlock. Valve has also funded research in neuroscience and marine biology. 

Steam Frame Remains the Focus

For many people, the company remains one of the corporations that deserves the support it receives because it keeps making games. The 30th anniversary also feels like the right time for Valve to announce Half-Life 3, Portal 3, Team Fortress 3, Dota 3, and Deadlock 2. Steam Frame also fits into the list of announcements people hope to see.

The possibility of a Steam Frame launch has generated enough interest for people to follow livestreams and polls while waiting for Valve to announce it. The expected price is also a major part of the discussion, with the polls showing different expectations around the $1,000 mark. Valve has also done a lot to help Linux games move forward.

The company has made many famous games, including Counter-Strike: Source, Team Fortress 2, Portal, and others that have been talked about in PC gaming circles for years. Many people really liked Team Fortress 2, and Deadlock is sure to get a lot of attention when it comes out. Along with its work on Steam and hardware, Valve has also helped shape the future of PC games.

Steam Frame is now the next product receiving attention.

Valve's hardware efforts have expanded beyond the Steam platform itself. Steam Deck introduced Valve's approach to handheld gaming, while the Steam Machine represents another part of the company's hardware direction. The company has also continued building around its platform and hardware ecosystem, giving players another way to access PC gaming.

Thirty years after Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington founded Valve, the company still influences PC gaming through Steam, its games, and its hardware. The anniversary has also created another opportunity for speculation around the Steam Frame, while the possibility of announcements around Gamescom adds another point of interest.