Valve considered making a 'B title' before Half-Life, until an exec told Gabe Newell 'that's just not gonna work… the company will fail'

Last year saw the 25th anniversary of Half-Life, one of the most important games in PC history and a spectacular debut for Valve. But in another timeline, it could've been the studio's second game.

Valve co-founder and former chief marketing officer Monica Harrington was on a panel at the recent 2025 Game Developers Conference called "How Valve Became Valve: An Insider's Account." This expanded on Harrington's memories of the crucial early years at the company, and one tidbit concerns how...