Overview

• The full interview released in July 2025 covers Newell’s journey from early mainframe programming to co-founding Valve and creating Half-Life.
• Observing id Software’s shareware success with Doom, he ported the game to Windows to demonstrate the platform’s graphics capabilities.
• A chance visit to his brother at Microsoft led to Steve Ballmer urging him to work there, triggering a 13-year tenure that shaped his development expertise.
• Newell recalled mastering batch punch-card programming on a Raytheon 703 mainframe and first playing Star Trek as a formative gaming experience.
• He described building Valve and Half-Life around internet-based distribution and a flat company structure to challenge outdated industry practices.