Gaming billionaire’s luxury yacht has garage for submarine and hospital; look

Gabe Newell has had an epic few days over the last few weeks. His company Valve, which operates the popular Steam platform for PC shopping and gaming, announced on Wednesday the 12th three new devices: a compact gaming PC, a controller and a virtual reality headset. And, on the same day, Newell also finally took delivery of his long-awaited US$500 million (R$2.67 billion) superyacht, called Leviathan.

The Leviathan was built by Dutch shipyard Oceanco, which Newell purchased in August for an undisclosed sum. He worked closely with the company on the construction and design of his yacht.

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Newell, 62, co-founder and president of Valve and whose fortune is around US$11 billion (R$58.7 billion), has a soft spot for the ocean: in a recent interview with a YouTuber, he said he loves “lifting, working, (and) scuba diving”. Additionally, it already owns a few superyachts and a small fleet of marine vehicles through its marine research organization, Inkfish.

One of Newell’s research vessels, the Limiting Factor, holds records for the deepest manned dives in each of the world’s five oceans. It is also currently building another 100-meter research vessel, estimated to cost around US$300 million (R$1.6 billion).

Inside the Leviathan

Newell’s latest treasure is the culmination of what Oceanco project director Deniz de Koningh called “a new philosophy of yachting — one that puts a higher purpose at the center of design, ownership and operations.”

Leviathan measures 111 meters long and 18 meters wide, making it the 50th largest yacht in the world and Oceanco’s largest delivery by volume. The superyacht accommodates up to 26 guests and 37 crew.

Its most distinctive features, however, reflect Newell’s dual interests in marine research and gaming. The lower decks include a submarine garage, a diving center and a full laboratory, as well as an onboard hospital with a resident nurse and a 3D printing workshop.

“The goal was to consider where the most valuable experiences happen for the community of people on board,” Newell said in a statement to The World of Yachts. “By increasing crew productivity, we allow them to focus on creating meaningful experiences for everyone.”

The command deck, in turn, houses a gaming lounge with 15 high-performance gaming stations and two racing simulators. Additional leisure facilities include two gyms, a 250 square meter beach club with spa and bar, diving platforms and a basketball court.

Oceanco CEO Marcel Onkenhout said Leviathan is “the most comfortable yacht ever designed, built and delivered” by the company. The ship’s captain, Alan Pike, added that the vessel is “remarkably quiet”, with “extraordinary” levels of noise and vibration — even at maximum speed.

The yacht features a diesel-electric propulsion system combined with battery storage that allows for long periods of silent, emission-free operation. The yacht also has an advanced wastewater treatment system, a waste heat recovery system to address environmental concerns and an impressive 174km of cables to power systems ranging from air conditioning and satellites to medical equipment.

“Working with the Oceanco team is incredibly enjoyable and a lot of fun; everyone is professional, creative and dynamic,” Newell said in a statement. “We knew we were asking for unusual things, and Oceanco accepted that with open arms.”

Newell acquired Oceanco from Mohammed Al Barwani, the billionaire Omani businessman who had owned the shipyard for 15 years. Oceanco described Newell as “a practical visionary who respects the sea, the craft and, above all, the people who make it possible.” The project involved more than 2,000 people, whose names are engraved on a glass panel in the main staircase.