History of Gabe Newell in Timeline

Gabe Logan Newell, also known as Gaben, is a prominent American figure in the video game industry. As the president and co-founder of Valve Corporation, he has been instrumental in the development of iconic games and the creation of the Steam platform. Steam revolutionized digital distribution and became a dominant force in the PC gaming market. Newell's leadership has shaped the landscape of modern gaming, influencing game development, distribution, and community engagement.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

November 3, 1962: Gabe Newell Born

On November 3, 1962, Gabe Logan Newell, later known as Gaben, was born. He would become a prominent American video game developer and businessman, as well as the president and co-founder of Valve Corporation.

Others born on this day/year

1971: First Game Played

In 1971, Gabe Newell played the Burroughs mainframe version of Star Trek, which was the first game he ever played.

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1980: Enrolls at Harvard University

In 1980, Gabe Newell enrolled at Harvard University.

1983: Drops Out of Harvard to Join Microsoft

In 1983, Gabe Newell dropped out of Harvard University to work at Microsoft.

1993: Doom Release

In 1993, id Software developed and released the first-person shooter game Doom.

1995: Windows 95 vs Doom

In late 1995, it was estimated that Doom, created by id Software, had more installations than Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system. Newell stated that id's distribution methods using bulletin boards was a "lightning bolt".

August 24, 1996: Valve Corporation Founded

On August 24, 1996, Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington founded the video game company Valve, inspired by Michael Abrash's move from Microsoft to id Software.

1996: Founded Valve Corporation

In 1996, Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington left Microsoft to establish Valve Corporation, initiating the development of their first game, Half-Life.

1998: Half-Life Release

In 1998, Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington funded the development and release of Half-Life, Valve's first game, which became a critical and commercial success.

2000: Harrington Leaves Valve

In 2000, Mike Harrington sold his stake in Valve to Gabe Newell and subsequently left the company.

2003: Steam Launch

In 2003, Gabe Newell led the development and launch of Steam, Valve's digital distribution service.

2004: Half-Life 2 Development

In 2004, Gabe Newell gave Valve a "virtually unlimited" budget for the development of Half-Life 2, promising to fund it himself if necessary.

2006: Cornea Transplant

In 2006, Gabe Newell underwent a cornea transplant to treat Fuchs' dystrophy.

2007: Criticism of PlayStation 3 Development

In 2007, Gabe Newell expressed his frustration with developing for game consoles, particularly Sony's PlayStation 3.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

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2007: Second Cornea Transplant

In 2007, Gabe Newell had a second cornea transplant to fully cure his Fuchs' dystrophy.

2009: IGN Top 100 Game Creators

In 2009, IGN recognized Gabe Newell as one of the top 100 game creators, noting Valve's immense influence on game design, technology, and the video game industry.

December 2010: Forbes Recognition

In December 2010, Forbes listed Gabe Newell as "A Name You Need to Know," primarily for his work on Steam and partnerships with multiple major developers.

2010: Announcing Portal 2 for PlayStation 3

At Sony's keynote at E3 2010, Gabe Newell acknowledged his previous criticism of the PlayStation 3 but announced a port of Portal 2, emphasizing that with Steamworks support, it would be the best version for any console.

Sony Playstation 3 160GB System (Renewed)

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2011: Steam's Market Dominance and Anti-Piracy Stance

By 2011, Steam controlled a significant portion of the PC game download market. At a technology conference in Seattle that year, Gabe Newell advocated for offering a superior user experience as a means to combat software piracy, highlighting Steam's success in Russia.

2011: Steam Dominates PC Game Downloads

By 2011, Steam controlled the majority of the market for downloaded PC games.

2011: Favorite Video Games Mentioned

In 2011, Gabe Newell mentioned his favorite video games, including Super Mario 64 and Doom.

2013: Advocacy for Linux and Open Source

At the 2013 LinuxCon, Gabe Newell stated that the Linux operating system and open-source development were "the future of gaming", criticizing proprietary systems for stifling innovation.

2013: Industry Hall of Fame and BAFTA Fellowship

In 2013, Gabe Newell was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame and received the BAFTA Fellowship for his contributions to the video game industry.

October 2017: Forbes Lists Newell Among Wealthiest

In October 2017, Forbes listed Gabe Newell among the 100 wealthiest people in the United States, estimating his net worth at $5.5 billion.

2019: Divorce from Lisa Mennet

In 2019, Gabe Newell and Lisa Mennet divorced.

October 2020: Applies for Residency in New Zealand

In October 2020, Gabe Newell applied for permanent residency in New Zealand.

2020: Heart of Racing and Space Gnome

In 2020, Gabe Newell and Yahn Bernier created the Heart of Racing car racing team to raise funds for children's charities. Also in 2020, Newell collaborated with Weta Workshop and Rocket Lab to launch a gnome figure from Half-Life 2: Episode Two into space for charity, donating $1 for every view of the launch video.

December 2021: Newell's Net Worth and Ownership in Valve

In December 2021, Forbes estimated that Gabe Newell had a net worth of $3.9 billion and owned at least one quarter of Valve. According to Charlie Fish, he was the richest person in the video game industry.