Gabe Newell Confirms Mongolian Throat Singing Phase Was Annoying

Remember when Gabe Newell got really into Mongolian throat singing? Turns out, it was as annoying as it sounds. Last week, Counter-Strike co-creator Minh "Gooseman" Le spilled the beans in an interview: during his time at Valve, the boss would practice throat singing around the office for about five months. "I remember a lot of people in the office, they were kind of annoyed with this," Le said.

Well, a fan named tbaszt decided to email Newell directly to ask if it was true. And to everyone's surprise, Gabe actually replied. "I had chatted with Paul Pena about it after I tried learning on my own. I am entirely self taught and it shows," Newell wrote. He explained that he practiced styles like Sygyt and Kargyraa and "got to the point where I was really… annoying."

So yeah, the man himself confirms it. But here's the twist: despite driving his coworkers up the wall, Newell hasn't given up the hobby entirely. "Every once in a while, I'll pick it back up," he admitted, though "it takes a couple of weeks to condition my throat." Talk about dedication.

This isn't even the first time Newell's quirky interests have become internet legend. Over the years, we've learned about his love for scuba diving (hence the yachts), his room full of knives and swords, and his eventual dive into blade smithing. The man is nothing if not passionate.

And just when you thought Gabe couldn't get more interesting, the internet is now obsessing over his explanation for why Valve defied big tech by staying private and hiring "the most expensive talent." Classic Gabe.

So, what do you think? Would you have survived five months of throat singing in the office? Or would you have joined in? Let us know in the comments!