Gabe Newell Funds $800M RV11000; Fans Ask About Steam Gear

Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, is financing an $800 million research vessel named RV11000 for his Inkfish marine research program. The 531-foot ship is being built for extended deep-sea science missions and will carry scientists, engineers and crew.

The vessel is under construction by Norwegian shipbuilder Vard. RV11000 is designed to operate at depths down to about 36,000 feet, a depth that reaches the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. The ship will accommodate up to 130 researchers, technical staff and crew.

RV11000 will include a large onboard battery system that can support up to 12 hours of low-noise operation. The battery is intended to limit emissions and reduce underwater sound during sensitive surveys.

The ship will join other vessels in Inkfish’s fleet, including the smaller RV6000 and existing research ships Hydra and Dagon. A 364-foot superyacht, Leviathan, serves as a flagship for exploration missions, while the rebuilt 304-foot Draak — formerly a luxury yacht named Tranquility — has been converted into an expedition support vessel with dive facilities, heavy-lift cranes and extra accommodation. Draak will handle logistics and support so Leviathan can focus on research tasks.

Inkfish plans to deposit data gathered on expeditions in open scientific repositories. The organization says maps, measurements and observations from its missions will be available to researchers. Fewer than 30% of the world’s seafloor has been mapped to modern standards.

Public interest has extended beyond scientific circles. Fans of Valve have posted questions on social platforms about whether gaming equipment will travel on the new ship. Resale listings related to reservations for Valve hardware have appeared at high prices on aftermarket sites, and changes in Valve’s merchandise partnerships have drawn attention from the community. Questions about future consumer hardware, including possible updates to the Steam Deck, continue to circulate as Newell funds marine research.

Newell has supported Inkfish expeditions and oceanographic work for several years. RV11000 is intended to expand the program’s ability to reach extreme depths and to conduct longer, quieter missions that require substantial onboard power and specialized equipment.

No public timetable has been announced for the vessel’s delivery or for its first scientific cruises.