Valve’s Gabe Newell has spoken out in favour of PC, for the openness it provides developers, and what an OS like Windows 8 might mean for the platform.

In an interview with between Mr Newell and Ed Fries, the former head of Microsoft Game Studios, during a reception at the Casual Connect game conference, the Valve co-founder discussed his concerns regarding Windows new system.

Gabe Newell said:

“I think there’s a strong temptation to close the platform. 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.

“Now we have to start finding ways that we can continue to make sure there are open platforms.”

Last week Valve announced that it was working on a version of Steam for Linux, bringing the digital distribution platform to all three of the major PC operating systems.

“One, we’re trying to make sure that Linux thrives. Our perception is that one of the big problems holding Linux back is the absence of games. I think that a lot of people — in their thinking about platforms — don’t realize how critical games are as a consumer driver of purchases and usage.

“So we’re going to continue working with the Linux distribution guys, shipping Steam, shipping our games, and making it as easy as possible for anybody who’s engaged with us — putting their games on Steam and getting those running on Linux, as well. It’s a hedging strategy.

“I think that Windows 8 is kind of a catastrophe for everybody in the PC space.”

The entire interview is available over at , and provides an interesting insight into Gabe’s views on the state of the PC as a gaming platform – well worth a look!

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