Gabe Newell, the legendary co-founder of Valve, surprised the gaming world with his latest video message at The International 2024, Dota 2’s main Esports event. Newell’s message shown at the event in Copenhagen’s Royal Arena and was accompanied by a lot of cheering from fans in the stands.
Yet many fans couldn’t help but notice that he has lost a lot of weight since his last public appearance and showed concern over the CEO’s health.
In the video that was broadcasted in front of 500,000 viewers, Gabe welcomed players and viewers to the tournament. He shared his excitement for the biggest Dota 2 event returning to Europe in short but emotional prerecording.
However, afterwards it was his physical appearance that became the center of attention as it was impossible to ignore. And many fans ended up speculating about the methods behind his weight loss journey.
Newell has a tradition of appearing at The International that goes back a few years ago. He hasn’t participated in-person at the event now in several years even though it used to be a tradition for the Valve CEO.
Gabe’s transition started with COVID-19
Newell’s absence and changed appearance have fueled discussions about Valve’s future. Some fans worry about what might happen to the company and its popular Steam platform if Gabe were to step down. However, most industry insiders are sure that Valve has a strong leadership team beyond its famous figurehead.
The warm welcome from Valve’s CEO also reignited debates about the company’s priorities. While Dota 2 fans celebrated the attention from Newell, players of other Valve games, like Counter-Strike, feel left out in the cold. Newell never attended Counter-Strike events in the same capacity as he did with Dota tournaments. The contrast in treatment has been a sore point for years in the community.
Gabe’s weight loss journey reportedly began during the COVID-19 pandemic when he relocated to New Zealand for safety reasons. This move seems to have kick-started his health transformation. The result is a slimmed downed and hopefully healthier version of Newell that we saw on screen.
As The International kicks off, Newell’s surprise appearance has added an extra layer of excitement to one of the most-viewed events in the Esports community. Without a doubt, Gabe will continue to be a central figure in the gaming world, even from afar.
