Gabe Newell is the hallowed leader of one of gaming's most powerful companies, Valve, but we don't often see him. He's like some whispered-about deity at the top of a mystical tower.
Nor do we often see much humour from Valve. It's all serious Steam business these days and Dota 2 and Counter-Strike GO. But, hold your breath, here's a new Dota 2 video from Valve which does something about that.
The video features Gabe Newell recording voice lines - Mega-Kills Announcer lines - for Dota 2. He's in a recording booth and he's being prepped for what should be an easy hour's work. Except, he's awful - he's as wooden as a door and can't stop introducing himself before delivering the lines. Some lines he can't even say. His avoiding the word "three" - yes it's the Half-Life 3 meme in action - is a wonder to behold.
Better yet, the Mega-Kills Announcer lines Newell recorded are an actual thing, being added to Dota 2 free for anyone with The International Battle Pass. Speaking of The International, the $25m prize-pool competition comes to conclusion this weekend, and you can keep up to speed with it all on Twitch.
Will you support Eurogamer?
We want to make Eurogamer better, and that means better for our readers - not for algorithms. You can help! Become a supporter of Eurogamer and you can view the site completely ad-free, as well as gaining exclusive access to articles, podcasts and conversations that will bring you closer to the team, the stories, and the games we all love. Subscriptions start at £3.99 / $4.99 per month.
Support us View supporter archivencG1vNJzZmivp6x7psHRqJ6apZWne6%2Bx02iempqVYrumw8Slo2acn6mubn6Mr6aim5VivLex0Q%3D%3D