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Gabe Newell asked Valve's top lawyer "What the f*** do I pay you for if that’s your opinion?" in heated debate over porn games on Steam, report says

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Image via r/Steam

A report says Gabe Newell questioned Valve's top lawyer, asking what they are paid for, after the lawyer recommended censoring adult games on Steam. Newell rejected the proposal, leading to a widely praised decision in the community.

The debate touches on how major platforms balance content policies with free expression, especially regarding sexual versus violent content. Valve's stance influences what is available to millions of PC gamers.

Key details

  • The incident involves a reported heated debate where Gabe Newell asked Valve's top lawyer what he is paid for, after the lawyer suggested censoring porn games on Steam.
  • The story is based on a GamesRadar+ report and was shared on the r/Steam subreddit, where it received over 16,900 upvotes and 1,200 comments.
  • A top comment summarizes the event as a common 'Gaben W' where the company lawyer recommended censorship and Newell said no.
  • Another top comment argues it is silly that extreme violence and gore are acceptable in games while nudity upsets people.

Discussion angles

  • Gabe Newell is praised for rejecting the lawyer's censorship recommendation, with commenters framing it as a win for users.
  • Commenters compare the acceptance of graphic violence, genocide, and drug dealing in games to the rejection of nudity, calling the inconsistency hypocritical.
  • One top comment asks why the lawyer wanted to censor Steam, reflecting confusion or criticism of the lawyer's original position.
  • A humorous reply says the lawyer wanted to censor games so you would see 'steam' instead of nudity, and Newell wanted no steam hiding the nudity.

Top comments

The community strongly sides with Gabe Newell, celebrating his rejection of the censorship advice. Commenters frequently point out the double standard between violent and sexual content in video games.

TLDR: common Gaben W. Company lawyer recommended censoring Steam, Gaben said NO.
u/Evil-Freeman · 11,113 score
I find it silly that violence is acceptable with some of the more extreme games having gore but certain people get upset at boobs and butts.
u/Magnon · 5,820 score
GTA - walk around just going on a mass murder rampage. OK most of paradox games - legit commit genocide against entire races and people. OK plenty of games where you sell drugs. OK games like doom where you can rip aliens apart with a lot of gore....
u/Chutheman1 · 3,018 score
Why did he want to censor Steam?
u/MichaelEmouse · 2,786 score
Well the lawyer wanted censoring steam on games, so instead of seeing ass and titties, you’d see steam. Gabe wants no steam hiding the ass and titties
u/Ficsonium · 2,726 score
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