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.