As an Amazon Associate, Modded gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Portal and Portal 2 were masterpieces for gamers, with many raving that they’re honestly one of the all-time greats. And like all good things, it’s natural to crave more. However, the truth is that Portal 3 is far from release, let alone actual development.
The Success of the Portal Games Franchise
Clever yet easy-to-understand game mechanics, lovable characters and a good storyline—The Portal franchise had a lot going for it. It was absolutely refreshing and just exceptionally well done, especially with the first installment in 2007. It didn’t take long for Portal 2 to be released in 2011.
Sales could also show a lot of intrigue. The original Portal sold more than four million copies in 2011, not including digital sales from Steam. Portal 2 had sold the same amount in just one year.
Some may attribute the Portal game’s success to its inclusion in a Steam bundle, The Orange Box, alongside several Half-Life titles. However, given that the game is set in the Half-Life universe but builds its own appeal through its plot, it’s safe to say it has earned its popularity.
The Anticipation for Portal 3 and What Gamers Have Gotten So Far
The eagerness for Portal 3, or even just any news about its development, has been present since the release of the second installment. That’s plenty to say, considering that it’s been a whole 15 years of waiting and people are still mentioning it now and again.
Unfortunately, all that’s been released so far are some spin-offs and collaborations, most of which Valve didn’t even release. The most noteworthy one is Bridge Constructor Portal, a game dubbed an engineering simulation where you build bridges—quite the shadow of a more dynamic franchise.
There was also a Portal pinball game by Multimorphic. And while it has many details from the original, like a companion cube and the presence of AI antagonist GLaDOS, it still lacks the charm that would satisfy most fans of it.
Why There’s a Lack of Portal 3 News
Portal 3 has been talked about less and less over the years. There was some excitement when a parody account on X (Twitter) posted supposed teasers for Portal 3, which garnered 8.1 million views. However, it later proved false, and enthusiasm for it waned.
It’s been a decade and some change, and you’d think there would be some Portal 3 news if it were happening or in development. However, it doesn’t seem like it will be made at all. One of the game’s writers, Erik Wolpaw, states that Valve’s workforce is spread thin with maintaining popular games like DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
It’s easy to think of Valve as a gaming giant with unlimited resources. Especially with the release of the Valve Steam Deck, which features 512 GB of storage and a wide selection of games, they seem to have everything going for them. However, Wolpaw states that the company operates under a flat structure that requires voluntary participation in game development.
Advocating for Portal 3 could result in internal strife. Thus, to maintain the peace and focus on improving gamers’ experience on Steam, the prospect of it happening is essentially paused.
How Fans Are Coping
Fans are understandably frustrated that Portal 3 isn’t coming to fruition any time soon. However, there have been many creative ways to cope with the wait. Here’s the best of the best:
Speculating How the Gameplay Will Go
Some fans participate in forum threads or blog posts to think about how the gameplay will look. Considering the jump between Portal and Portal 2’s mechanics, it is relatively exciting to ponder how Valve would make a fresh yet familiar concept if they were to make Portal 3.
There have even been people who try their hand at making games with Unity. While incredibly daunting, the creativity has been so fantastic.
Creating Fan-Made Concept Trailer
When you look up Portal 3 on YouTube, you’ll find several fan-made concept trailers. One trailer has reached 2.1 million views as of writing this, and it’s not hard to see why. The animation and the chilling lines are bound to get any fan excited. Plus, you can see the pure love for the game poured into the hard work that went into it.
Building Mods
Gaming mod builds have always been a way to integrate a little more creativity or silliness in the game. There have been simpler ones that focus solely on visually enhancing the game rather than completely changing its elements.
However, some go really in-depth, like Portal: Revolution. The fan-made content is dubbed a quick prequel to Portal 2 and features a variety of characters, stories, and puzzles. Portal:Reloaded is also a favorite, thanks to its triple-portal mechanic.
Playing the Games Again
While Portal and Portal 2 don’t really have replay value, it’s still nice to have a nostalgic playthrough every now and then. It’s especially fun if you have hazier memories of how the games progress, you could be surprised at certain moments.
If you can still recall how the games go, you could call in a friend to play together. It could be entertaining to watch a new player go through the whole story. Granted, if you are going on co-op mode, you may have to guide them through the learning curve.
So, Is There No Chance?
There could be the slightest chance for Portal 3. Wolpaw, in another interview, reiterates that timing is the most important, as it’s irresponsible to tempt people into the Portal 3 project when they’re knee-deep in existing game development. However, he also states that he and the team have had some ideas floating around. All that’s left to do is flesh them out if they get a green light.
That said, many fans do think it’s relatively appropriate for the Portal franchise to end where it did, as Portal 2 did have a satisfying conclusion. It also plays into the running joke of how Valve refuses to make the third installment for any of their franchises.
Cross Your Fingers for Portal 3
Never say never, but Portal 3 may not happen for a while. Granted, you can still hold out some hope and just wait along with other fans. Portal and Portal 2 are still available on Steam for anyone to enjoy.
