Valve Shut Up Shop In San Francisco

We have learned via statements and interviews given to IGN that Valve have decided to close down their small satellite operation in San Francisco. The smaller company had only been open since December 2012. Valve had taken Jeff Gates and Tod Semple from Popcap to set up the new gaff and the pair now plan to focus on indie games. Semple gave off the impression it was an amicable split:

“Jeff [Gates] and I are working on indie games again. We were working for Valve in a remote office in San Mateo. It turned out that there weren’t many benefits for either side in that arrangement.

Valve was super cool about it and is letting us continue to work on our game and is also giving us the office. So Jeff and I are starting up a new company called Temple Gates Games.”

Valve also issued a statement to IGN.

“We were big fans of their prior work. We worked with them during their startup phase, but they’re independent now and still working on their game. We wish them the best of luck.”