Valve's Newell hopes he's wrong about Windows 8 but thinks users will 'rage quit'

XMNR: Valve Software head honcho Gabe Newell caused waves in the gaming industry when he called Windows 8 a "catastrophe" for PC gaming. He had some follow-up responses on Thursday night as part of an episode of GameTrailers TV.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

Gabe is a cool mofo! Only thing good about win8 is performance and searching.

[fermcr]

I haven't used Windows 8 but if you don't like the Metro system, can't you just disable it and ... bammmm, you get Windows 7 with lower memory usage and better performance.

I don't understand all the negativism from this guy about Win 8. Don't like the Metro System, just don't use it.

[Jdoki]

Looks like for the consumer version of W8, they'll make it very hard to disable Metro. Probably need a registry hack or third party tool.

There will be a way for Corp customers to disable it but not at user level.

The message is for your average user MS wants Metro (as it used to be called) the default and only interface.

[mistajeff]

I heard that the "metro" screen is essentially the new start menu, but I haven't used 8 myself, so don't take my word for it. I think Gabes issue with 8 has little to do with the interface, it's that the architecture is much more closed off than ever before, to the point where people have likened it to iOS.

[Letros]

@mistajeff

You are well misinformed, W8 is still completely open as previous Windows, there is just an optional marketplace, perhaps you meant to say OS X.

[OneAboveAll]

I hate the new look. I just want my desktop icons and a nice wallpaper. Now it will be over shadowed by stupid colored boxes...

[DiRtY]

Typical misinformed user.

Windows 8 comes with Windows 7 with better efficency. Turn the metro design off and you are ready to go.

The feedback so far was very positive. It seems to run very stable and the UI is intuitive and a perfect fit for tablets.

[OneAboveAll]

Wheres my start button? If Gabe says it sucks then it sucks. That is a fact.

[mcstorm]

@OneAboveAll its still in the bottom right hand corner its just not showing an icon. Ive been using Windows 8 on my laptop for a few months now and I have to say it is far better than windows 7. The new start menu lets you set it up how you want where older ones do not. It is also quicker to access thing like control panel ect as you just right click the bottom right hand corner of your screen and there are all your options.
The new start menu is also quicker than the old start menu for accessing things as you just pin them to you start screen.

For the old style desk top short cut users this option is still there.

Windows 8 also run faster on my laptop than windows 7 did.

What people seem to be missing is the Metro UI (sorry Windows 8 UI) is that was designed for tablets and touch. So rather than having 2 OS's to do different things with MS offer one for everyone and o me this makes sense as it offers us more choice out of one device and OS rather than the options that we have with IOS and Android on tablets as you still need a PC or IPC to carry out your full day to day task where with windows 8 it is not limited for Business or Home use and it also has a nice look and ease of use for all types of users.

Power users will like the OS too as it still offers everything 95 to Windows 7 offers the only difference is the start menu.

[Gildarts]

Gabe also said that the PS3 is a piece of shit.

now he's best buddy's with Sony.

This guy is stupid how can windows 8 be so wrong if everything they have done to it is so right?

even from a developers perspective they have improved everything,and made everything easier. this guy talks bull,hes the counterpart of peter molyneux.

Peter likes new things and always exaggerated how cool it is.

Gabe Hates new things and hates to learn how to use them, he's just fat and lazy and always downplays new things.

[Qrphe]

I wasn't considering on getting this at all anyway. The only thing that I saw as a plus was the lower memory usage.

@OneAboveAll
I do like Win8's default wallpapers, I'm using them right now lol

[Wizziokid]

I'll stick with Windows 7, 8 does not appeal to me at all

[IronFistChinMi]

I've been using it for the past few months and will definitely upgrade when Surface comes out.

[Zha1tan]

He doesnt really state any reasons why its bad except for user friendliness.

If it is bad I hope PC devs do move to linux because I will gladly do the same.

[Jdoki]

One of the main reasons is that MS are trying to do the same as Apple and create a 'walled garden' for their app store.

Ideally they want all software to be sold through that store, so they can take their 30% cut (same as Apple).

Gabe doesn't like this as a) it could eat in to sales through Steam, and b) it is an additional barrier for devs (especially indie devs) to get their games out there.

The worst case scenario is that MS force any dev who wants to create W8 apps to only sell through app store. Which also means MS have to step in to the approval process which can be good (as it means less buggy software), but also bad (they may block the release of apps they consider inappropriate or take sales away from their software)

[Gildarts]

only Windows RT has that limitation.

Windows 8 does not have that.

[Zha1tan]

like the guy said below not a problem with 8.

Ive yet to have someone explain exactly why it is bad.

[gamer7804]

Well Gabe has never been wrong before so! oh wait.

[DudeJets]

And then a wild chrome desktop OS appears. The mighty warriors of Blizzard, Valve and Cdpred go forth and tame this mythical beast bending it to there will. A new light shines upon thy followers of WSAD. A new day shall arise.

[Mocat]

Why switch win 7 still works fine for me

[SP3333D-O]

I don't get it. I run Windows 8 and Steam all the time. I never use the app store and use the "Metro" UI primarily as a screensaver. As long as MS doesn't force ALL software through their store, I'm happy enough.

[Gildarts]

only windows rt has that limitation.

not windows 8.

Widows RT cannot be bought it can only be found on Devices its already installed on.

Like Surface RT

Surface PRO has windows 8