Valve Corporation is a prominent video game developer and digital distribution company known for creating iconic titles and platforms in the gaming industry. Founded in 1996 by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, Valve gained fame with the release of the critically acclaimed Half-Life series and later expanded its portfolio with successful franchises like Portal, Team Fortress, and Dota 2. In addition to game development, Valve is widely recognized for its digital distribution platform, Steam, which revolutionized how games are purchased and played online, providing a vast library of titles and community features.