Will Microsoft make an offer to buy Valve? Rumor ignites hype, but don't get too excited

Microsoft's acquisition strategy in the video game industry has led to all kinds of speculation. The purchase of Activision Blizzard King showcased the economic might of the Xbox company, and some believe that no one is beyond the reach of its checkbook. Today, the gaming world woke up to a strange rumor that fueled the hype.

Rumor suggests Microsoft is preparing a $16 billion offer for Valve, the Steam company

The account of X @xDiorCS, supposedly specialized in topics related to financial markets, laws, and video games, posted that after reviewing the latest financial report from Microsoft the company had approximately $80 billion in cash equivalents that could be used for future negotiations and acquisition moves. Then, it stated that the Xbox company was preparing a $16 billion offer for Valve, the company owned by Gabe Newell and owner of Steam.

While the $16 billion amount might seem low for Valve and Steam, it is worth noting that in 2022 their total market value was $7.7 billion and current estimates place it above $8 billion, far from what Microsoft paid for Activision Blizzard King.

However, there is no official information indicating Microsoft's intention to buy Valve, especially after how problematic the acquisition process of Activision was. Additionally, Microsoft is interested in strengthening its PC gaming experience within its gaming ecosystem.

Now, as the community pointed out in this controversial post, Microsoft is no stranger to Steam, and years ago, before they leaned towards a strong acquisition strategy, Phil Spencer and other executives considered the possibility of buying Valve, but it was just an idea that didn't gain traction.

Despite this, Phil Spencer himself stated a few months ago that PC stores, such as Steam or Epic Games Store, could be available in the Microsoft gaming ecosystem, so while there might not be an acquisition, there could be a partnership between the two companies to offer gaming options to users.

That said, it is false that Microsoft currently has real intention to buy Valve, but it is true that Steam is of interest to them for their gaming ecosystem, although not as an acquisition.

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