Inside gaming billionaire Gabe Newell’s next-level gigayacht

The 111-metre Leviathan, with a reported  £111M price tag, features a dive centre, laboratory, onboard hospital and 3D printing workshop designed to support marine research as well as luxury cruising

Billionaire gaming tycoon Gabe Newell has taken delivery of a 111-metre superyacht built to double as a platform for ocean science.

Leviathan, a 363ft diesel-electric vessel delivered by Dutch shipyard Oceanco, has a laboratory, dive centre, onboard hospital and 3D printing workshop to support scientific research, marine exploration and extended voyages in remote waters.

The vessel, formerly known as Project Y722, will join Inkfish, Newell’s fleet-based organisation supporting scientific research and marine exploration. Inkfish gives researchers access to remote environments and specialist technology, including R/V Dagon, which carries a full ocean-depth submersible that has already reached some of the deepest known parts of the ocean.

Newell, who co-founded the gaming company Valve and made his fortune from titles including Half-Life, Counter-Strike and the Steam digital games platform, said: “Yachts have great potential to serve as platforms for scientific research.

“It’s about recognizing that you’re part of a broader community and ensuring the yacht’s presence adds value to the communities around it.”

Leviathan measures 111 metres in length, has a beam of 17.8 metres, a gross tonnage of 4,970GT, a top speed of 17.6 knots and a cruising speed of 13 knots.

The yacht, which was shaped by Newell’s focus on teamwork and community, was developed with YTMC, Y.CO, the Oceanco Design team, Mark Berryman Design, the crew and a wider network of suppliers. Nearly 3,000 people who contributed to the project have been named on a glass panel installed in the main staircase.

The yacht was also designed to reduce maintenance demands on crew, with bead-blasted stainless railings, synthetic handrails and off-white exterior paintwork chosen to cut polishing and cleaning. A decking compound developed by Bolidt, Oceanco and the crew was created specifically for Leviathan to improve heat dissipation.

Newell said: “Working with the team at Oceanco is incredibly enjoyable and a lot of fun; everybody is professional, creative and dynamic.

“We knew we were asking for unusual things, and Oceanco embraced it with open arms. Not only have we designed a very unusual yacht that leans into Oceanco’s strengths of innovation and design, but the team has also been willing to collaborate with us on evolving the process.”

Captain Alan Pike said: “Sea trials has given us great confidence in the vessel. She handles beautifully and truly shows her full capabilities at sea. What stands out most is just how remarkably quiet she is, the low noise and vibration levels are extraordinary, even at full speed.

“She’s an absolute pleasure to be onboard. The entire crew all worked on this project for quite some time, and seeing her out on the water and preparing to deliver her to the owner is a wonderful moment for everyone involved.”

READ MORE: Four Seasons Yachts reveals overhauled 2027 Mediterranean programme. New itineraries for 2027 include 40 additional ports from Lisbon to Zakynthos, alongside a trio of Egypt-focused voyages.

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_{Main image, courtesy Oceano}