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Valve & Steam

Valve and Steam, explained

Valve Corporation is the company behind Steam and some of the most important games ever made. This is the plain-English side of the site: who owns Steam, what Valve has actually built over the years, and simple explainers for its games. When a guide touches your own account or library, it links straight to the free [Steam tools](/steam) so you can check your own numbers.

Counter-Strike History: From Mod to CS2

The full Counter-Strike history: how a 1999 Half-Life mod by Minh Le and Jess Cliffe became a Valve game, and the road from CS 1.6 to Source to CS:GO to CS2.

CS2 Updates: How to Follow Every Patch

How to keep up with every CS2 update: the official Counter-Strike blog, in-game release notes, and community trackers, plus how often big patches, operations, and cases land.

Dota 2 Player Count: How to Check It Live

Dota 2 player count, explained. How to read live and peak concurrent numbers on Steam Charts and SteamDB, the real recent scale, and an honest 'is it dead' take.

Gabe Newell: Valve Co-Founder and President

Who is Gabe Newell? The Valve co-founder and president, ex-Microsoft engineer nicknamed Gaben, and the man behind Steam. His role, influence, and estimated net worth.

Half-Life Games in Order

Every Half-Life game in order, both by release date and by story chronology. From the 1998 original through Alyx, plus where the missing Half-Life 3 fits in.

Is Half-Life 3 Confirmed? The Honest Answer

Is Half-Life 3 confirmed? Short answer: no, not officially by Valve. Here is the full history, the can't-count-to-3 meme, and what the recent HLX leaks actually mean.

Is Valve Publicly Traded? No, Here Is Why

Is Valve publicly traded? No. Valve is privately held, there is no Valve stock to buy, and any pre-IPO offer is a red flag. Here is why it stays private and the scams to avoid.

TF2 Characters: All 9 Classes Explained

The 9 TF2 characters explained, grouped Offense, Defense, and Support. What Scout, Soldier, Pyro, Demoman, Heavy, Engineer, Medic, Sniper, and Spy each do.

Valve Games List: Every Game by Franchise

A complete Valve games list grouped by franchise with release years, from Half-Life and Portal to Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Deadlock. Every game Valve has made.

Valve Net Worth: What the Estimates Say

Valve's net worth is an estimate because it is private. Here is where the money comes from, the valuation ranges people cite, and Gabe Newell's own wealth estimate.

What Is Counter-Strike 2? The Free CS:GO Successor

What is Counter-Strike 2? It's Valve's free tactical shooter that replaced CS:GO in September 2023, rebuilt on Source 2 with sub-tick servers and new smokes.

What Is Deadlock? Valve's 6v6 Shooter-MOBA

What is Deadlock? Valve's newer 6v6 hero shooter and MOBA hybrid with four lanes and a growing hero roster. Its playtest status and how to check for access.

What Is Dota 2? Valve's Free MOBA Explained

What is Dota 2? It's Valve's free 5v5 MOBA, born from a Warcraft III mod, with 120-plus heroes and The International, the biggest prize pool in esports.

What Is Half-Life? The Game That Built Valve

What is Half-Life? A 1998 first-person shooter starring Gordon Freeman that changed FPS design forever and launched Valve. Here is why it mattered and where to play it.

When Did Steam Come Out? Steam History Timeline

Steam came out on September 12, 2003. Here is the full Steam history: how it started with Counter-Strike and Half-Life 2, plus a timeline of every major milestone since.

Who Owns Steam? Valve Corporation Explained

Who owns Steam? Valve Corporation does, and Valve is privately held with co-founder Gabe Newell as majority owner. Here is what Valve is, what it makes, and its history.