Outspoken Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has recently taken to social media to throw shade at Valve / Gabe Newell over the new Steam Deck pricing. Sweeney hasn't exactly been a fan of Valve for some time, especially in recent years with the launch of the Epic Games Store.
Writing on X/Twitter, Sweeney said:
"Everyone’s being too harsh here. There has been a significant rise in the cost of components that Steam customer spending ultimately funds, and economic trends have created severe disruptions in the component parts supply chain for megayachts."
For those who don't get the reference, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell has a bit of a love of super expensive yachts, going so far as to actually acquire the custom yacht building company Oceanco back in 2025. Newell also owns multiple rather expensive superyachts.
Not to stand up for Valve directly here but just to make a point (because we all know companies are not our friends) - but hold on a moment, isn't this the same CEO who forced over 1,000 people to look for work elsewhere after laying off a whole lot of people? Yes it is. Sweeney has also been quite vocal about support for generative AI, you know - that thing driving up prices of everything everywhere. So perhaps Sweeney is not exactly the best person to be throwing shade around like this.
Even with the price of the Steam Deck rising, it still ended up selling out again in multiple regions.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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32 comments
Tinfoil hat time, but I'd wager Tim has PR people on standby to smear Valve at any opportunity. This has been the nearest thing to a "bad move" Tim's people could latch on to, so I reckon all the memes pitching this as a "Valve L" are professional propagandists. I'm no big money sympathizer, but these memes are stretching big time. Stinks of PR firm shenanigans.
3 Likes
Johnologue 17 hours ago
As always, Tim Sweeny has an advantage in criticizing Valve's products and services by simply not attempting to make anything at all.
"Guess what Ford, my company DOESN'T sell overpriced SUVs! Jim Farley? More like Jim Fartley, am I right gamers?"
Yeah Tim, we know. Now go back to giving out free games that people don't play and laying off people who might've caused your products and services to improve someday when you realize you're losing money for some reason.
"Guess what Ford, my company DOESN'T sell overpriced SUVs! Jim Farley? More like Jim Fartley, am I right gamers?"
Yeah Tim, we know. Now go back to giving out free games that people don't play and laying off people who might've caused your products and services to improve someday when you realize you're losing money for some reason.
1 Likes
You can tell he came up with this dis himself, because it's even worse than usual LLM droppings.
0 Likes
StalePopcorn 13 hours ago
u mad bro? 😆 Sweeny's upset he doesn't have a megayacht?
0 Likes
I don't need to defend Gabe for being a rich guy with a ton of swanky yachts. He does it because he can, and I'd rather he not be able to just because no one person should have that much cash. The only reason I don't wish the worst for him is because his death will be bad for Valve's not-terrible consumer practices and investments (and I'm selfish).
Sweeney could be kinda worse and pretty jealous though fwiw. Anybody still on X is asking for their brain to get irradiated and he seems no different.
Sweeney could be kinda worse and pretty jealous though fwiw. Anybody still on X is asking for their brain to get irradiated and he seems no different.
2 Likes
GustyGhost 12 hours ago
Epic Games rap sheet
Handheld gaming PCs: None
PC gaming consoles: None
VR headsets: None
Gaming controllers: None
Thank goodness that Valve are the ones setting these device standards because that means those which do actually exist support Linux. Can you imagine how awful things would be if Sweeney/Epic were the ones steering the industry?
Handheld gaming PCs: None
PC gaming consoles: None
VR headsets: None
Gaming controllers: None
Thank goodness that Valve are the ones setting these device standards because that means those which do actually exist support Linux. Can you imagine how awful things would be if Sweeney/Epic were the ones steering the industry?
4 Likes
If I had a twitter account I'd be like "This you, lil bro? https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/epic-devs-discuss-shock-mass-131024804.html "
0 Likes
Arehandoro 6 hours ago
Eat the rich. Whether they are whining moron or a super yacht owner.
1 Likes
noobdoomguy8658 3 hours ago
Epic Games as a whole and Ti. Sweeney personally are one more tweet, one more game giveaway, one more pathetic lawsuit, one more paid shill away from finally overthrowing Valve, destroying Linux from every computer and mind on this planet, and securing the beautiful world of low-effort slop for the big AI and Chinese data-loving overlords Tim so adores.
Life truly imitates arts when you see people like this. Just an ego-lead contrarian in charge of a big business that, if managed properly, could probably be very beloved and viewed as a viable, profitable, worthy alternative with at least something of its own to offer.
Past years have been so disechanting about leaders of all kinds, often mostly thanks to their own unyielding desire to show themselves to the world and have its attention, only to reveal their unbelievable incompetence and teenage mindset. I can't help but think that the leaders of before were the same kind of petty idiots that will do anything in their power to try and make everyone love them, or fear them, or respect them, so much so that they're willing to make total fools of themselves through nonsensical arguments and proofs and accusations, so many time they start to belive whatever they've been telling others, in the end losing their identity to this twisted version of a human being that is only repulsing and toxic and best put into some most non-leading, unharmful role with no power at all.
Life truly imitates arts when you see people like this. Just an ego-lead contrarian in charge of a big business that, if managed properly, could probably be very beloved and viewed as a viable, profitable, worthy alternative with at least something of its own to offer.
Past years have been so disechanting about leaders of all kinds, often mostly thanks to their own unyielding desire to show themselves to the world and have its attention, only to reveal their unbelievable incompetence and teenage mindset. I can't help but think that the leaders of before were the same kind of petty idiots that will do anything in their power to try and make everyone love them, or fear them, or respect them, so much so that they're willing to make total fools of themselves through nonsensical arguments and proofs and accusations, so many time they start to belive whatever they've been telling others, in the end losing their identity to this twisted version of a human being that is only repulsing and toxic and best put into some most non-leading, unharmful role with no power at all.
0 Likes
Billionaires are the enemy.
Yes, even Gabe. Sorry fanboys...
Yes, even Gabe. Sorry fanboys...
2 Likes
Victim-complex meganerd retweets pro-piracy conspiracy-peddling anti-woke grifter, to push multi-billionaire video game CEO interpersonal beef, about average people being priced out of personal computing devices, due to probably the biggest cultiest scam in history.
🫡
🫡
0 Likes
I don't get mad about Sweeney's hot takes, and you wouldn't too, if you'd knew he has "crazy scientist" mindset. It doesn't justifies his statements on twitter, but you will just understand that he is a bit out of touch when he gets distracted from math/programming stuff and jumps to discussing current trends.
And as he doesn't go deep in the trends, his hot takes and predictions often, if not always become true in the opposite way of what he thought was to happen. I'd prefer it to stay this way.
Regarding Steam Deck prices, it looks painful indeed, but it still has an additional value that other consoles simply can't give you: it is a general purpose PC without vendor locking. You can run applications on it, you can dock it into a setup with a big display and full sized keyboard. You can even take it to a conference as a backup device for your presentation in case if your laptop gets stolen or lost.
Even if Steam Machine will cost $1500 on launch day, so will do other PCs with similar specs.
Last edited by vic-bay on 30 May 2026 at 10:46 am UTC
And as he doesn't go deep in the trends, his hot takes and predictions often, if not always become true in the opposite way of what he thought was to happen. I'd prefer it to stay this way.
Regarding Steam Deck prices, it looks painful indeed, but it still has an additional value that other consoles simply can't give you: it is a general purpose PC without vendor locking. You can run applications on it, you can dock it into a setup with a big display and full sized keyboard. You can even take it to a conference as a backup device for your presentation in case if your laptop gets stolen or lost.
Even if Steam Machine will cost $1500 on launch day, so will do other PCs with similar specs.
Last edited by vic-bay on 30 May 2026 at 10:46 am UTC
0 Likes
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