Valve is celebrating its 30th anniversary today, marking three decades since Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington founded the company on August 24, 1996.

Over the years, Valve has become one of the most well-known names in PC gaming. The company started making its mark with Half-Life in 1998, which helped establish several successful game franchises that followed.

From Counter-Strike and Dota to Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Artifact, Valve has built a long list of games that attracted players around the world.

From Half-Life to Steam

One of the biggest moments in Valve’s history came in 2003 with the launch of Steam.

Steam started as Valve’s game distribution platform but grew into the main destination for PC gamers to purchase, download, and manage their games. It also became a major platform for game deals, promotions, and new releases.

Today, Steam has hundreds of millions of players worldwide. The platform has also recorded more than 40 million concurrent users at its peak, showing just how large its PC gaming community has become.

Valve’s journey into gaming hardware

Valve’s history is not limited to software. The company also explored the idea of bringing PC gaming into dedicated hardware.

In 2015, Valve introduced the Steam Machine concept, with different hardware partners producing systems designed to run SteamOS. The project struggled because the hardware was relatively weak and partner support was limited. Valve eventually discontinued the initiative in 2018.

However, the company did not give up on gaming hardware.

In 2021, Valve began designing its own hardware and launched the Steam Deck. The handheld gave Valve a much bigger presence in the hardware market and became an important part of its product lineup.

The next chapter for Valve

Valve is now continuing to expand its hardware plans. Its current lineup includes the Steam Deck and Steam Machine, while the upcoming Steam Frame is also part of the company’s future hardware plans.

The company says more releases and updates are planned as it continues to grow its hardware business alongside Steam.

The Valve 30th Anniversary is more than just a celebration of the company’s age. It also marks 30 years of games, platforms, and hardware that have had a major impact on PC gaming.

From Half-Life to Steam and the Steam Deck, Valve has built a long history in the industry. Now, with more hardware on the way, its next 30 years could be just as interesting.