The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected travelers all over the world, leaving many of them stranded in foreign countries for an extended period of time. One of these people is Gabe Newell who has been stuck in New Zealand since March. To thank the country for its hospitality,the billionaire co-founder and president of Valveis putting on a free concert.
Newell appeared on TVNZ 1’sBreakfastalongside Spanish racing car driver Alex Riberas and Riberas' partner Teagan Klein to announce ‘We Love Aotearoa’, a free event and concert to be held on August 15 in Auckland. The event will feature live music, food trucks and VR stands and will be all ages by day and 18+ by night. Newell was travelling with Riberas and Klein after shippingHalf-Life: Alyx, with the vacation only intending to last ten days according to Klein. However, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, leading to the trio staying in the island country.
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In the interview on the morning news talk show, Newell spoke about his love for New Zealand, stating: “For me it’s very much about the community spirit, the sense that everybody can come together… and be welcoming to us as, essentially, COVID refugees.” He also compared New Zealand to the United States in its response to the pandemic, saying: “When I talk to people back in Seattle it’s a very strange time, it’s very challenging. They’re very isolated, they aren’t able to go out and take advantage of the environment that New Zealand has created for itself and for visitors like us.”
Newell only briefly touched upon his role at Valve, referring to it as “my day job.” He stated that he has been working remotely from New Zealand, saying: “There’s no difference if you’re in Seattle or if you’re in New Zealand. Everybody’s working remotely, everybody’s using the same set of tools, so I can work here pretty much as effectively as if I would if I were home.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Valve considerably, forcing them to postponeThe International 10, Dota 2’s world championship tournament. However, 2020 has not been all bad for Valve, with themreleasingHalf-Life: Alyxto critical acclaim. The game has revitalized interest and future prospects in the once-dormant series of first-person shooters and demonstrated the power of VR to create a highly engrossing experience.
Valve have also released a documentarydetailing what they have been up to in the past decade, which interestingly came in the form of a gamified app. Whilst there is no indication when Gabe Newell will return to the US, he should be able to continue working remotely (hopefully on any Valve IP with a 3 somewhere in the title). He might even have company in the form of filmmakerJames Cameron who is in New Zealand to filmAvatar 2.
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Source:TVNZ 1
