"Steam Awarded Achievement to SonixLegend for Owning Over 40,000 Games"

Steam is a leading digital distribution platform for video games, developed and operated by Valve Corporation. Launched in September 2003 primarily to provide automatic updates for Valve’s own games, Steam quickly expanded into a comprehensive online storefront and community hub offering a vast catalog of third-party titles, game streaming, social networking, and multiplayer matchmaking services[1][3][6]. Founded by former Microsoft employees Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington in 1996, Valve initially gained fame with the hit game Half-Life. The limitations and piracy issues of traditional physical game distribution motivated Valve to create Steam as a digital platform to better manage game updates and protect multiplayer integrity[3]. Steam officially launched to the public in 2003 and soon included a storefront for purchasing games (introduced in 2005), with developer APIs like Steamworks enabling DRM and multiplayer features from 2008 onward[1][3]. Steam’s cross-platform support extended from Windows to macOS in 2010 and Linux in 2013, with mobile companion apps released in 2012. It has grown to dominate PC game distribution, with a 75% market share by 2013 and over 132 million monthly active users by 2021[1][4]. The platform offers over 89,000 games as of 2024, including AAA blockbusters and indie titles, alongside productivity software, soundtracks, and videos[4][6]. Key achievements include pioneering integrated community features such as in-game overlays, direct messaging, forums, and a virtual marketplace. Steam also expanded into hardware, launching the Steam Machine PCs, Steam Controller, Steam Link for streaming, and the highly praised handheld Steam Deck in 2022, blending hardware innovation with software ecosystem leadership[1][4]. Steam generates substantial revenue—estimated at $10.8 billion in 2024—primarily through digital game sales, taking a percentage cut from developers, and microtransactions[4]. Despite challenges, including regulatory scrutiny in markets like Vietnam

## Overview Valve Corporation, commonly known as Valve, is a privately held American video game developer, publisher, and digital distribution company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Renowned for its innovative approach to both game development and digital platforms, Valve is best known for creating landmark games such as Half-Life, Portal, Counter-Strike, and Left 4 Dead, as well as for developing Steam, the world’s leading PC gaming platform[3][6]. ## History Valve was founded on August 24, 1996, by former Microsoft employees Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington[1][2][4]. Both founders leveraged their experience and financial resources from Microsoft to launch their own venture, originally operating as Valve, L.L.C. in Kirkland, Washington[3]. The company’s debut title, Half-Life (1998), revolutionized the first-person shooter genre with its advanced storytelling, atmosphere, and gameplay, quickly establishing Valve as a major player in the industry[2][5][6]. After the success of Half-Life, Harrington left the company in 2000, leaving Newell as the face of Valve[1][2]. ## Key Achievements Valve’s most transformative achievement is Steam, launched in 2002 as a digital distribution platform for games[1]. Steam rapidly grew to dominate the PC gaming market, offering not only Valve’s own titles but also a vast library of third-party games, community features, and regular sales events. By 2011, Steam controlled 50–70% of the market for downloaded PC games[1]. Valve’s game portfolio is equally influential. The Half-Life series, Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2 have each defined or redefined their respective genres[3][6]. The company is also recognized for its flat organizational structure, where employees choose their own projects, fostering creativity and innovation[3]. ## Current Status and Notable Aspects Today