Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Photo via Valve

Gabe Newell trusts Microsoft after Call of Duty commitment to Steam, even if the FTC doesn’t

Maybe Microsoft can call on him as a character witness.

It’s been a wild week for Microsoft, capped off with an official lawsuit by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission aimed at blocking the company’s $69 billion acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard.

Recommended Videos

In the lawsuit, the FTC remarked that the company was capable of “acquiring and using valuable gaming content to suppress competition from rival consoles,” as evidenced by the company supposedly going against assurances made to other regulatory bodies that “it had no incentive to withhold games from rival consoles.” This is reportedly in reference to Microsoft’s decision to make Bethesda games Redfall and Starfield console-exclusive.

One of gaming’s most iconic figures, however, said they trust the intentions of Microsoft, Xbox, and head Phil Spencer but also hinted at their belief that the company will do right by all of Call of Duty‘s customers.

Valve co-founder and president Gabe Newell provided a statement to Kotaku following Microsoft’s offer to commit to keeping Call of Duty on Steam, saying that a long-term commitment wasn’t necessary. While citing his belief in not requiring any partner to “lock” in commitments to Steam, Newell also said that he trusts Microsoft’s intentions, saying that “Phil and the games team at Microsoft have always followed through on what they told us they would do.”

Additionally, Newell commented that “Microsoft has all the motivation they need to be on the platforms and devices where Call of Duty customers want to be.” This reads like Newell is of the opinion that Microsoft keeping the franchise on as many platforms as possible is what’s best for business.

The draft agreement for keeping Call of Duty on Steam arrived at Valve around the same time that Microsoft inked a 10-year deal to bring the series to Nintendo. Deals like this will be part of Microsoft’s defense against the FTC lawsuit. The company will now have to prove in court what it’s been saying all along: that the acquisition will lead to more access to games across the entire ecosystem.


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Scott Robertson
Scott Robertson
VALORANT Lead / Staff Writer
VALORANT lead staff writer, also covering CS:GO, FPS games, other titles, and the wider esports industry. Watching and writing esports since 2014. Previously wrote for Dexerto, Upcomer, Splyce, and somehow MySpace. Jack of all games, master of none.