Valve is said to be one of the most efficient companies in the world, producing tons of revenue despite having less than 500 employees. As the maker of the most popular PC gaming platform, Steam, Valve seems to have no shortage of success.
Although Valve achieved most of its fame in the 2000s, the company is approaching its 30th anniversary since it was founded in 1996. Initially, Valve focused on game production, publishing Half-life in 1998. In 2003, Valve would create Steam, which served as a distribution platform for Half-Life 2 and his later plays. It has since evolved into an open marketplace for all PC game developers.
Valve Comments on Steam Machine Power
A Valve engineer comments on how powerful the upcoming Steam Machine will be and reveals the reasons behind its technical specifications.
Valve can make almost $50 million per employee per year
Research firm Alinea Analytics estimates that Steam will generate over $16 billion in revenue in 2025 alone, up 5.7% from 2024 as of Nov. 13. It estimates that Valve could reach $17 billion in revenue by the end of the year. After factoring in how much money Valve actually collects from selling other companies' games, it's estimated that Valve will make $4 billion in 2025. But what really sets these numbers apart is that Valve is believed to only have around 350 employees. However, since Valve is a private company that does not release financial data, these numbers are based on a combination of leaked data and information that has been revealed through lawsuits and has not been confirmed by Valve itself.
Currently supported valve products and services
-
Steam – Valve's game distribution platform
-
Steam Deck – Valve's portable hybrid gaming console
-
Counter-Strike 2
-
Dota 2
-
Half-Life: Alyx
-
Team Strength 2
Valve's future also looks bright. Except for the upcoming game Blockagewhich doesn't have a release window yet, the company recently revealed three new pieces of hardware coming from the company in 2026, generating a lot of attention and hype. These include the new Steam Machine, Steam Controller and Steam Frame. All three of these entries are new iterations of previous Valve products that have had mixed levels of success.
The new Steam Controller has a design change from the 2015 original with two thumbsticks and two track pads, and the D-pad and face buttons have been moved to more closely match most modern game controllers. The device also has gyroscopic aiming, magnetic sticks and high-definition rumble. Meanwhile, the new Steam Machine has a form factor closer to the GameCube than the original Xbox 360-like design, works as both a PC and a game console, and is generally talked about by gamers, though there are some concerns about the potential cost of a console/PC hybrid. Finally, the Steam Frame is another VR headset from Valve that builds on what the company learned with its previous headset, the Valve Index. The Steam Frame includes wireless and streaming features similar to the Meta Quest headsets and is free to customize and use, which may appeal to VR enthusiasts who don't like being stuck on one platform.
It's clear that Valve is doing pretty well, and 2026 could be a record year if these three new Steam products do well. However, Valve could probably see even more success if it responded to frequent fan requests for more meaningful updates Team Strength 2 and continuing in Half-life and Left 4 Dead franchises. In 2022, a Valve product designer stated that several games were being developed at the studio, although fans of the company know that they are running on “Valve Time”, so there is no telling when any of these projects will be released.
- Date of establishment
-
August 24, 1996
- Headquarters
-
Bellevue, Washington, United States of America
- CEO
-
Gabe Newell
- Subsidiaries
-
Campo Santo
