Sure, but according to the article Gabe only owns about 25% of the company, so conceivably if MS throws enough money at them, surely enough people will vote in favour. I certainly hope this never happens, of course.
according to the article Gabe only owns about 25% of the company
The source for that number is the same Xitter that made up the rumor in the first place:
Insights from Dior, a prominent figure in the Counter-Strike community, reveal that Gabe Newell owns less than 25% of Valve.
Valve is not a public company. Unless Dior is on the board of Valve, or know someone who is, he doesn't know the makeup of the ownership structure. Wikipedia cites a Forbes article that says Gabe owns "more than half" of Valve, although that article was published in 2011 so it's possible that's changed.
Gabe Newel, former Microsoft employee, would literally never sell to Microsoft.
Also, Microsoft paid $69b for ActiBlizz. Valve is not worth less than ActiBlizz, like just from a business standpoint. No way $16b would even be considered a real offer.
Yeah Microsoft sees this as a way to kill gaming in linux. They are starting to understand what could happen. I really hope they don't sell, but money talks alot unfortunately. We really can't have anything nice anymore.
Gabe has said multiple times he would never sell Valve to Microshaft.
Every time I see these "rumors" I can't help but think that they are a malicious tactic by Microshaft to try and influence their more longshot buyout offers-- Microshaft really really wants Valve, this has been known for at least a decade. And some overzealous young execs are foolishly ready to try and pressure Valve with these bullshit tactics, completely unaware of what dangerous game they are playing legally.
I have no doubt in my mind Valve will never be sold to Microshaft or come anywhere close to it so long as Gabe or his confidants are at the helm. They are ex-Microsoft employees. They built Windows 3.0. They know it's inner workings and failings very intimately and they only begrudgingly tolerate Windows because it's the dominant market share. That's the whole reason SteamOS and Steam Deck exist, to chip away at Microsoft's attempts to monopolize PC gaming. And that's exactly why Microsoft is hoarding IP and restricting their most prestigious titles, like Halo, to Windows through anticheat.
Whoever is starting these rumors are either pathetically stupid and attention hungry or are spreading misinformation in a hail mary at the behest of Microshaft.