A false report on X (formerly Twitter) is currently doing the rounds: Microsoft wants to buy Steam manufacturer Valve. There is (almost) no basis for this
16 billion dollars. That’s how much Microsoft is allegedly offering to buy Valve.
The supposed takeover of the Steam manufacturer by Windows owner Microsoft is currently making headlines on social media. There’s just one problem:It’s a hoax.
We are tracing the history of the hoax for you so that you don’t inadvertently spread false rumors.
Where the false report about the Microsoft-Valve deal came from
No sources, no background, justa single tweet with a bold claim: On the online platform X (formerly Twitter)a post by Twitch streamer Diorhas caused a stir out of nowhere.
The user, who says he spent “six years in law school and seven years in finance” and wrote his thesis on “market manipulation on the capital markets”, wrote on May 22, 2024 above a picture of Gabe Newell, the president of Valve:
“With about 80 billion dollars CCE Cash and Cash Equivalents, editor’s note] Microsoft is preparing a 16 billion dollar offer for Valve. No shares, just cash. “
With approx. $80b CCE, Microsoft is preparing an offer of $16b for Valve
No stock, all cash pic.twitter.com/VCZq6HkFmO
– Dior (@xDiorCS) May 22, 2024
Dior did not name anysources, but his post was read over 4.8 million times and shared more than 2,700 times in a very short space of time. Numerous YouTubers and news websites picked up on the rumor
Why the takeover rumors are most likely nonsense
It didn’t take long for commentators to question the veracity of Dior’s post. Finally, journalist Tom Warren, known for his insider knowledge and knowledge of the industry, spoke upand made a disparaging comment about the fact that the blue tick on X can now be bought and lends authority to even dubious posts at first glance:
I can’t believe I have to say this but of course Microsoft isn’t “preparing an offer of $16 billion for Valve.” Giving blue ticks to everyone was bad idea
– Tom Warren (@tomwarren) May 23, 2024
In the meantime, there are several explanatory community notes below Dior’s original post that put what he wrote into context. Among other things, the continuous revenue that Valve generates with its Steam download platform makes the takeover at the rumored price extremely unlikely.
As a reminder:The last time Activision Blizzard switched to the Microsoft camp, the price at the time was 68.7 billion dollars. The last time there was talk of a Valve takeover by the Windows group was in 2023.
In the context of the Activion deal,internal emails leaked to the public in which Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer speculated about buying Valve or Nintendo in 2020. However, no official offers were ever forwarded to the respective companies
Conclusion: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.
