Comment by lemon10 on Do websites and apps actually generally get worse after updates, or is it just an effect of the fear of change? · 2023-12-13T07:34:17.407Z · LW · GW

The reason steam has avoided rot is because its a private company with a passionate owner who is not bound by the reckless profit seeking inherent in public corporations, and is thus capable of making long term plans even if it will cost the company profits in the short-medium term.

Its frequently the case that companies with strong founders that forge a monopoly manage to keep the company together as they slowly accumulate power and capital until their inevitable passing.

But as you say, everything dies, and once Gabe Newell dies his successor may not be as skilled, or much worse, may simply not care about the vision Gabe had and seek profit above all else.

If the worst comes to pass and Valve becomes a public company I have no doubt that its enshittification will begin in earnest.