Will Valve approve its release of the Fan-Made Portal Release after they struggled for 15 Years?
After 15 years of development, Portal: Alive & Kicking is complete, but Valve's approval is still preventing the fan remake from launching.
After 15 years of development, Portal: Alive & Kicking is finally complete—but fans still can't play it because the project is waiting on Valve's approval.
According to a recent post on the Steam Community forums, the fan-made remake has reached 100% completion and is ready for release. However, one of the developers explained that the team is still waiting for Valve to sign off on the project. The developer noted that the mod uses source code provided by Valve and that, while the team originally signed a non-disclosure agreement, it only recently completed a required non-commercial release agreement.
The developer added that the team has received no response from Valve since submitting the paperwork, with another comment posted in late June indicating the wait had already stretched on for several months. Because Portal: Alive & Kicking modifies Portal 2's source code, Valve's approval is required before the project can be released publicly. Until then, development is finished, but the game remains in limbo.
The situation has since gained attention on Reddit, where user Livid-Active-3121 shared the story on the Portal subreddit in hopes of raising awareness. Some commenters suggested reaching out directly to Valve co-founder Gabe Newell, who is well known for occasionally replying to emails from fans. Whether Newell could personally help move the approval process forward, however, remains uncertain.
Valve's silence is somewhat unexpected given the company's long history of supporting ambitious fan projects. Most notably, it allowed Black Mesa—a full remake of the original Half-Life—to launch commercially on Steam. While Valve has shut down certain fan projects in the past, typically over legal or licensing concerns, that doesn't appear to be the issue here, especially since the Portal: Alive & Kicking team has previously communicated with the company.
As for the future of the Portal franchise, Valve has offered no indication that a new mainline entry is in development. The studio has remained silent on the possibility of Portal 3, leaving fans to speculate about whether the beloved puzzle series will ever return. With more than 15 years having passed since Portal 2 launched, Valve appears to be in no hurry to revisit the franchise, making the continued delay of a completed fan project all the more disappointing for longtime fans eager for a new Portal experience.
According to a recent post on the Steam Community forums, the fan-made remake has reached 100% completion and is ready for release. However, one of the developers explained that the team is still waiting for Valve to sign off on the project. The developer noted that the mod uses source code provided by Valve and that, while the team originally signed a non-disclosure agreement, it only recently completed a required non-commercial release agreement.
The developer added that the team has received no response from Valve since submitting the paperwork, with another comment posted in late June indicating the wait had already stretched on for several months. Because Portal: Alive & Kicking modifies Portal 2's source code, Valve's approval is required before the project can be released publicly. Until then, development is finished, but the game remains in limbo.
The situation has since gained attention on Reddit, where user Livid-Active-3121 shared the story on the Portal subreddit in hopes of raising awareness. Some commenters suggested reaching out directly to Valve co-founder Gabe Newell, who is well known for occasionally replying to emails from fans. Whether Newell could personally help move the approval process forward, however, remains uncertain.
Valve's silence is somewhat unexpected given the company's long history of supporting ambitious fan projects. Most notably, it allowed Black Mesa—a full remake of the original Half-Life—to launch commercially on Steam. While Valve has shut down certain fan projects in the past, typically over legal or licensing concerns, that doesn't appear to be the issue here, especially since the Portal: Alive & Kicking team has previously communicated with the company.
As for the future of the Portal franchise, Valve has offered no indication that a new mainline entry is in development. The studio has remained silent on the possibility of Portal 3, leaving fans to speculate about whether the beloved puzzle series will ever return. With more than 15 years having passed since Portal 2 launched, Valve appears to be in no hurry to revisit the franchise, making the continued delay of a completed fan project all the more disappointing for longtime fans eager for a new Portal experience.
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Sources
- - Rattman
