In a surprising turn of events, recent reports tell that Gabe Newell, one of the biggest names in the gaming industry, is joining the Neuralink competition.

Details are still lacking, but sources say that Newell has been quietly working behind the scenes to make this happen. What’s even more surprising? He reportedly wants to release his project this year. Not next year, not “soon”, but this year.

For those unfamiliar, Neuralink and similar brain chip technologies are mainly designed to aid people with neurological disorders or issues involving circuit-level dysfunction in the brain. In simpler terms, when certain parts of the brain can’t properly control certain functions because of electrical or neural issues, these chips help regulate those signals. Besides that, the technology holds potential for all kinds of advanced applications, from digital communication through thought to interfacing directly with other systems. It’s an exciting and slightly mind-bending boundary.

What makes this story especially intriguing is that a figure known for running a private gaming platform might soon be investing heavily in cutting-edge neuroscience. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t always come from where you’d expect.