After Titan Tragedy, Newell Invests in Cutting-Edge Deep-Sea Explorer

Gabe Newell, the mind behind Valve and Steam, is making headlines with a 300 million dollar investment in a 100 meter research vessel, roughly the size of an NFL football field.

Named the RV6000, the ship is designed to explore the ocean’s deepest areas and is launching in the shadow of the OceanGate Titan disaster.

Through his marine research group, Inkfish, Newell is building a floating laboratory that will carry 70 scientists and crew on months-long missions.

Submersibles will dive 6,000 meters, a remote-operated rover will scan the seabed, and advanced sonar will map the ocean floor.

All data will be shared freely with researchers worldwide.

The memory of OceanGate’s Titan submersible implosion in June 2023 is still fresh.

The disaster, which killed all five aboard including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, explorer Hamish Harding, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and businessman Shahzada Dawood with his son Suleman, occurred near the Titanic wreck at 3,800 meters.

A 2025 United States Coast Guard report revealed that Rush ignored safety warnings, operated the sub with a PlayStation controller, and skipped proper inspections.

Former employee David Lochridge described it as a disaster waiting to happen.

OceanGate later shut down, lawsuits followed, and deep-sea exploration was affected.

Newell is no stranger to ocean research. Since acquiring Inkfish in 2022, he has built a fleet including the RV Dagon and RV Hydra and invested in yacht-builder Oceanco.

The RV6000, under construction in Romania and set for outfitting in Norway, is his boldest project yet, with a 2028 launch planned.

While the 300 million dollar cost is an estimate and the football field comparison is slightly off, the vessel is designed to avoid Titan’s mistakes with strict safety protocols.

All eyes are now on Gabe Newell and his ambitious new vessel.