In the eyes of many gamers, Valve have changed a lot over the last few years. The developer started out as example of how things should be done for many gamers, but recently their focus has shifted significantly.
They haven’t released an actual game in a long time, and it seems like all they do nowadays is try to monetize their various titles in ways that sometimes border on shady.
The only redeeming quality of Valve for many gamers right now is the effort they’re putting into “Dota 2”, as they are definitely keeping that game in a good condition, especially on the competitive side. It’s true that Valve have done a lot to promote competitions for “Dota 2”, but this has been far from enough to redeem them in the eyes of many of their old fans.
At the same time, companies like EA have been climbing up the ranks for various reasons, such as providing actual customer support instead of the limited assistance that Valve have available for their gamers. According to some, it’s entirely possible that the industry will change its attitude towards Valve significantly over the next few years, to the point where they will no longer be seen as the champion of true gamers. And with that, we might see the famous “Half-Life 3” fade into obscurity as many people will lose both hope and interest in seeing another game from Valve anytime soon.