Valve is self-funded. We haven’t ever brought in outside
financing. Since our earliest days this has been incredibly
important in providing freedom to shape the company
and its business practices.
Valve owns its intellectual property. This is far from the
norm, in our industry or at most entertainment contentproducing
companies. We didn’t always own it all. But
thanks to some legal wrangling with our first publisher
after Half-Life shipped, we now do. This has freed us to
make our own decisions about our products.
Valve is more than a game company. We started our
existence as a pretty traditional game company. And
we’re still one, but with a hugely expanded focus. Which
is great, because we get to make better games as a result, and we’ve also been able to diversify. We’re an entertainment
company. A software company. A platform company.
But mostly, a company full of passionate people who love
the products we create.