Fact check: What are the goals, motives and reasons for Valve Corporation to extensively and continually support and contribute to Linux?

1. Summary of the results

Valve Corporation's support for Linux is driven by several strategic and philosophical motivations:

• Business Strategy: The company aims to establish a new category of PC gaming devices and challenge Windows' market dominance ^[1]. This was particularly evident with the launch of Steam on Linux in 2013 and the Steam Deck in 2021 ^[2].
• Risk Mitigation: Valve's Linux support serves as a "hedging strategy" against perceived risks with Windows 8, which Gabe Newell explicitly called a "catastrophe" ^[3]. This demonstrates that Valve's Linux investment is partially defensive, protecting their business model from potential platform restrictions.
• Platform Development: Through SteamOS, Valve is actively encouraging other manufacturers to produce Linux-based gaming devices ^[1], while also developing their own hardware like the Steam Box ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question overlooks several important contextual elements:

• Corporate Philosophy: Valve's support for Linux aligns with their unique organizational structure - a horizontal, non-hierarchical approach that values openness and collaboration ^[5]. This suggests their Linux support isn't purely commercial but reflects deeper corporate values.
• Platform Flexibility: While Linux is the primary focus, Valve's hardware strategy maintains flexibility - their devices can still run Windows ^[4], indicating a pragmatic rather than ideological approach.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question assumes Valve's Linux support is purely voluntary or ideological, when in fact:

• Business Necessity: Their Linux investment is largely driven by business concerns about Windows' market power and potential platform restrictions ^[3].
• Beneficiaries of the Narrative:
• Valve benefits from being perceived as supporting open-source values and user freedom
• Microsoft, as the dominant platform holder, benefits from minimizing the strategic nature of Valve's Linux support
• The Linux community benefits from portraying Valve's support as ideologically motivated rather than commercially driven

The reality appears to be a complex mix of strategic necessity, business opportunity, and corporate philosophy, rather than any single motivation.