10 People Who Changed The Video Game Industry Forever

Also known as “Gaben” within the community, Gabe Newell is the co-founder and president of Valve Corporation, known for amazing series like Left 4 Dead and Half-Life, along with the digital distribution platform, Steam.

Newell worked at Microsoft on the early versions of Windows, during which time he was inspired by the works of DOOM and Quake to start Valve in 1996. Newell has overseen classics like the aforementioned games, but it’s Steam that has changed the business economics of gaming, with the platform destined to grow and dominate its competitors thanks to its regular deals, accessibility, and pricing.

The majority of PC gamers use Steam to get their gaming fix, but as digital distribution continues to grow and have significant advantages over physical distribution, Newell should be recognised as an early adopter of the future. He has foreseen the way the world is heading and is prepping the industry for what’s around the corner.

Newell has made great games and a marketplace for digital, all the while laying the groundwork for future of the industry, but it’ll be another few years before people truly realise how important his innovations are.