Gabe Newell made a rare on-camera appearance as The International 2026 opened in Shanghai on August 20. The Valve chief’s video message welcomed fans to the Dota 2 championship, but viewers quickly focused on something outside the tournament itself: Newell looked noticeably slimmer than in earlier public appearances.
His message covered familiar ceremony ground. Newell reflected on past Internationals, looked ahead to the event’s future, and thanked the players, fans, and city of Shanghai. The rare video message also gave Dota 2 fans their clearest recent look at him, complete with a shorter haircut and a neatly trimmed beard.
The ceremony video includes Newell’s appearance:
Fans turn “Babe Newell” into the newest nickname
Reaction on Reddit was mostly warm. In a Valve subreddit thread, TheMilkman1811 wrote, “I’m so happy he lost all that weight. Probably bought another 10 to 15 years of life with us.” Another commenter replied, “Right? I’m just happy he looks healthy! More time among us,” while a third reduced the entire mood to two words: “Babe Newell.”
At least six Redditors compared Newell to Hugh Jackman, with one reply calling him “Hugh Jackman’s cool dad.” Comments under the YouTube upload joined in with a Russell Crowe joke, imagining a future where Newell turns into the actor while Crowe takes on the Valve founder’s look.
Commenters also tried to explain the change, offering guesses about Newell’s lifestyle and medical treatment. One especially playful theory claimed he was slowly absorbing Australian genes through osmosis after living in New Zealand for so long.
The transformation has been gradual
Newell’s current appearance did not come entirely out of nowhere. He looked heavier during a 2022 appearance, seemed trimmer in his International 2025 message, and now looks leaner again at the 2026 event. The haircut and beard trim add to the contrast, giving the longtime Valve figure a noticeably different presence on camera.
With the tournament now underway, Newell’s message has given Dota 2 fans something lighter to discuss between matches. The reaction may have started with a few jokes, but much of it came down to viewers being glad to see him looking well.
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