Fan-Made Portal Remake Left in Limbo Amid Valve’s Silence

A fan-driven remake of Portal, called Alive & Kicking, has been in the works since 2011 by developers Rhubarb & Rhubarb. By utilizing the engine from its sequel, this project aimed to breathe new life into the classic. However, after such a lengthy development period, concerns arose that the game might be abandoned. In response to inquiries on their Steam page, the developers reassured fans that the game is not only finished but also ready for launch. The only hurdle preventing its release is Valve, who have reportedly ceased communication.

“The game is done, but we do not have the ability to release it on Steam right now,” said Dot Operator, one of the developers, on the Steam discussions page. “I haven’t received any updates from Valve since I filled out a non-commercial license template a few months ago. I appreciate that they initially provided us with that option, but now we aren’t hearing anything.”

Valve has a history of being open to fan-made projects that utilize their properties, assets, or code. Numerous Half-Life fan games are available on Steam, including Black Mesa and Hunt Down The Freeman, in addition to Valve officially publishing Garry’s Mod. Interestingly, Portal itself began as a student project by Kim Swift, which was given the resources to evolve into a surprise hit within the already competitive Orange Box in 2007.

It’s surreal to recall that there was a time when Portal was Valve’s most celebrated game, leading to a blockbuster sequel in 2011. Alive & Kicking aims to remake the original using Portal 2’s source code, complete with visual enhancements. According to their page, alongside the classic puzzles, they may also introduce new chambers for players to explore.

Initially, Valve was supportive of Alive & Kicking, granting access to Portal 2’s source code, though the developers had to sign an NDA for this privilege. However, a non-commercial release form wasn’t signed at the outset, which Operator mentioned was submitted more recently. Since then, Valve has reportedly gone silent, leaving the completed game in limbo for months.

The very access that enabled the creation of this fan game is now the obstacle preventing its release. With official channels unresponsive, fans are hoping that generating enough buzz will encourage Valve to provide the necessary approval for launch.