On May 28, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney posted a sarcastic defense of Valve on X, suggesting that Steam Deck price increases are funding Gabe Newell's megayacht. The Steam Deck OLED 1TB model jumped from $649 to $949 on May 27, attributed by Valve to RAM and storage shortages. Sweeney's jab references Newell's known fondness for yachts and their long-standing feud over Steam's revenue split. Critics quickly noted that Epic laid off over 1,000 employees in March 2026 and raised V-Bucks prices by up to 25% due to declining Fortnite engagement.
tim sweeney took a shot at gabe newell on x, joking that steam deck price hikes are funding newell's megayacht. the deck oled 1tb went from $649 to $949 on may 27, valve blames supply issues. sweeney's beef with valve is old news, but people were quick to remind him epic just laid off 1k people and raised v-bucks prices.
This exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Epic Games and Valve, two major players in PC gaming. Sweeney's attempt to call out Newell's perceived excess backfired, drawing attention to Epic's own financial struggles and layoffs. It underscores how CEO public feuds can amplify scrutiny on their own companies' decisions, especially when they involve consumer pricing and layoffs.
sweeney trying to dunk on newell just reminded everyone epic is not exactly in a position to throw stones. it's a classic internet moment where a clapback becomes a self-own, and it shows how fragile CEO reputations are when the numbers don't add up.
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