GameStop trolls Valve in a way only the gaming industry truly understands. With a tongue-in-cheek press release and social media post, the retailer reignited one of gaming’s longest-running jokes: Valve’s apparent inability to count to three.
The stunt blends humor, nostalgia, and marketing into a single message, reminding gamers of unfinished trilogies while nudging them toward a holiday deal on pre-owned games.
GameStop trolls Valve with counting joke
GameStop took aim at Valve by joking that it is willing to help the company “count to three.” The remark accompanied GameStop’s buy two, get one free promotion on pre-owned games.
According to the company, the promotion itself serves as proof of its numerical competence. Buy two games, get one free, and suddenly you have three items. The implication was clear, and gamers immediately understood the reference.
As a result, the joke spread quickly across social media.
Why GameStop trolls Valve resonates with gamers
The idea that Valve cannot count to three has lived in gaming culture for years. Many of the studio’s most iconic franchises seemingly stop at their second installment.
Fans still wait for sequels to Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress, Counter-Strike, and Dota.
Because these games achieved massive success without ever reaching a third chapter, the meme became a permanent part of gaming humor. Therefore, when GameStop trolls Valve, the joke lands instantly.
How GameStop trolls Valve as marketing
GameStop’s message does more than poke fun at Valve. It also highlights the retailer’s ongoing buy two, get one free promotion on used games, available both online and in stores.
By framing the deal as “documented and verifiable evidence” of counting skills, the company blends sarcasm with a clear call to action. As a result, the promotion feels less like an advertisement and more like an inside joke shared with gamers.
This approach aligns with GameStop’s recent efforts to reconnect with its audience through humor rather than traditional retail messaging.
Valve and the joke’s long history
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell has acknowledged the meme before. In past interviews and appearances, Newell has shown awareness of the community’s obsession with the number three.
Because of that history, GameStop’s jab feels playful rather than hostile. The joke targets a familiar cultural reference rather than criticizing Valve’s development strategy directly.
As a result, most fans interpreted the message as good-natured trolling rather than an attack.
GameStop’s own meme legacy
The retailer’s embrace of internet culture did not start here. GameStop became a central figure in meme history during the infamous short squeeze that turned it into a symbol of retail investor rebellion.
That moment transformed GameStop into more than a struggling retail chain. It became a pop culture icon tied to online communities, jokes, and viral moments.
Therefore, when GameStop trolls Valve, it feels consistent with the company’s internet-aware identity.
Why this joke still works in 2025
Even years later, gamers continue to joke about missing sequels. Meanwhile, Valve focuses on platforms and services rather than numbered releases.
That gap between expectation and reality keeps the meme alive. As long as iconic franchises remain stuck at two, jokes about counting to three will continue to resonate.
GameStop’s timing also helps. Holiday shopping season amplifies visibility, making playful promotions more shareable and memorable.
What gamers actually take away
At the end of the day, the joke does not promise new games. Instead, it delivers something more realistic: discounted ones.
While fans may not get a third installment anytime soon, they can still walk away with an extra game for free. In that sense, the humor softens the disappointment that fuels the meme in the first place.
Final thoughts
GameStop trolls Valve by turning one of gaming’s oldest jokes into a marketing win. The playful jab reminds fans why the meme exists while offering a tangible benefit through a limited-time promotion.
Until Valve finally proves it can count to three, jokes like this will continue to thrive. For now, GameStop has successfully counted its way into the spotlight.
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