Valve Chief Executive Calls Windows 8 a 'Catastrophe'
Gabe Newell, game publisher, former Microsoft employee and chief executive of Valve, recently expressed his negative feelings towards Windows 8 in an interview with VentureBeat.
"I think Windows 8 is kind of a catastrophe for everybody in the PC space," said Newell to the publication. "I think we're going to lose some of the top-tier PC [original equipment manufacturers]. They'll exit the market. I think margins are going to be destroyed for a bunch of people."
Newell also states that Microsoft is planning to create Windows 8 to be more closed off than previous versions. For example, owners of the software will only be able to install Metro apps that will be offered by Microsoft in the Windows Store. He feels the company is trying to mimic Apple by trying to create an independent ecosystem.
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"If people look at what they can accomplish when they can limit competitors access to their platform, they say, 'Wow, that's really exciting.' Even some of the people who have open platforms, like Microsoft, get really excited by the idea that Netflix has to pay them rent in order to be on the Internet," he added.
Newell left Microsoft in 1996 to start Valve. He admits that his company would not exist without the PC that is powered by Windows. He attributes much of his success, along with other companies such as Zynga, Facebook and Google to the openness of that platform.
By limiting the competition's access to its software, Microsoft is essentially shooting itself in the foot, according to Newell.
Part of this "closing off" or limiting could be attributed to Microsoft's plans to take the tablet world by storm with Windows 8. In order to release devices that appeal to people owning an Android or Apple product, the company must come up with an original concept to create its niche market.
