Current Events > Gabe Newell is staying in New Zealand to avoid COVID-19

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https://www.tvnz.co.nz/content/tvnz/onenews/story/2020/07/23/us-gaming-giant-gabe-newell-helping-to-put-on-concert-to-thank-n.html

Mr Newell is the co-founder of Valve, which created hugely-popular games like Half-Life, Counter Strike, DOTA and Portal, as well as creating online gaming client Steam, which has a billion accounts and more than 90 million active users.

Appearing on TVNZ1's Breakfast this morning, Mr Newell said he had just finished shipping a new game - likely to be VR title Half-Life: Alyx - and was visiting New Zealand with a group of friends when Covid-19 hit the world, so he decided to stay and work remotely.

Mr Newell was travelling with a group including Spanish Aston Martin racecar driver Alex Riberas and his partner Teagan Klein, and the trio said they were so touched by New Zealand's generosity and kindness that they wanted to put on an event to give back.

The three have helped to put together 'We Love Aotearoa' - a free event and concert on August 15th in Auckland.
The event will involve food trucks, live music, workshops and activities, virtual reality stands, art installations, and from 4.30pm there will be performances by The Black Seeds, Ladi6, Leisure, JessB, Clicks, Sola Rosa, Frank Booker, Flamingo Pier and Tina Turntables.

"Whilst being here they have been overwhelmed by the Manaakitanga and Aroha they have received from the people of Aotearoa," the event page reads.
"These events are a thank you to the people of New Zealand for being so kind and welcoming, and also an acknowledgment of the hard work that 'the team of 5 million' have gone through to get us to where we are now."

Mr Newell said he had caught up with friends who work at Weta while in New Zealand, and had also visited with Rocket Lab.

I had a feeling this might happen with some rich people lol

Maybe he'll finally see how bad regional pricing is over there and in Australia!

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He will be deeply missed.

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"The Black Seeds, Ladi6, Leisure, JessB, Clicks, Sola Rosa, Frank Booker, Flamingo Pier and Tina Turntables"

I literally never heard of any of those artists

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In order to work remotely he'd have to do work. Valve doesn't do work, they take other people's work and slap it in a lootbox.

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Wonder if he took all his knives with him

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I Like Toast posted...

In order to work remotely he'd have to do work. Valve doesn't do work, they take other people's work and slap it in a lootbox.

Right? I mean, is he secretly working on Half Life 3? By himself? Is that why it's taking so long?

brotrrwinner posted...

"The Black Seeds, Ladi6, Leisure, JessB, Clicks, Sola Rosa, Frank Booker, Flamingo Pier and Tina Turntables"

I literally never heard of any of those artists

all local artists for the most part, with no travel and all. had no idea Gabe was chilling here, might check it out.

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