Portal (series)#Setting and characters

{{see also|Characters in the Portal series|Portal (video game)#Plot|Portal 2#Plot}}

File:Aperture Laboratories Logo.svg

Both Portal games take place in the fictional "Aperture Science Enrichment Center". Aperture Science was founded by Cave Johnson (voiced by J.K. Simmons) and originally sought to make shower curtains for the military. Its research happened upon the discovery of portal technology, and soon became a direct competitor with Black Mesa Research Facility (from the Half-Life series) for government funding. Johnson acquired the rights to a disused salt mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where they started building a labyrinthine set of offices, laboratories, facilities, and test chambers. During this time, Johnson became poisoned from exposure to moon dust, a key component of the paint needed to support portal technology, and became increasingly deranged.

In Portal 2, the player explores these long-abandoned areas of Aperture, learning that the company had moved from testing on the country's finest, to paid volunteers, who were often homeless, and ultimately to coercing its own employees to participate in testing. Near the point of his death, Johnson ordered his lifelong assistant Caroline (voiced by Ellen McLain) to be the first test subject for a mind-to-computer transfer; her personality would ultimately form the core of GLaDOS (also McLain). Sometime after Johnson's death, the old sections of the facility were vitrified, and a more modern facility was built atop the ruins. GLaDOS was built to control the facility and monitor the tests, but researchers found that the computer had villainous tendencies, threatening to kill the entire staff before it was shut down in time. The Aperture researchers constructed a number of "personality cores" that would fit onto GLaDOS to prevent her from turning against them. Despite this, on the day she was officially activated (coincidentally on "Take Your Daughter to Work Day"), she turned against the researchers and killed nearly everyone in the facility with lethal doses of neurotoxin gas. In the games and the comic Lab Rat, one employee Doug Rattmann survived due to his schizophrenia and distrust of GLaDOS. In trying to find a way to defeat GLaDOS, he finds that Chell, one of the human subjects kept in cryogenic storage within Aperture, has a high level of tenacity, and arranges for the events of Portal to occur by moving her to the top of GLaDOS' testing list. GLaDOS remains driven to test human subjects despite the lack of humans.

File:Portal 2 character poster.jpg

The player is introduced to Aperture in Portal, which is said by Valve to be set sometime between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. The player-character Chell is awakened by GLaDOS for testing. Chell resists GLaDOS' lies and verbal ploys and succeeds to defeat GLaDOS' core, the destruction creating a portal implosion that sends Chell to the surface, unconscious. Rattmann, who has helped Chell by writing warning messages and directions to maintenance areas on the facility walls and had observed the final battle, escapes Aperture, but on witnessing a robot dragging Chell's body back inside, sacrifices his escape to assure that Chell is put into indefinite cryogenic storage. He himself is critically wounded but appears to make it to another cryogenic chamber, though his ultimate fate is not revealed.

Portal 2 takes place an unknown number of years after the events of the first game; the Aperture facility has fallen into disrepair without GLaDOS. A personality core named Wheatley (Stephen Merchant) wakes Chell from her sleep to help her stop a reactor failure, but inadvertently awakens GLaDOS, who had backed up her personality. Though they defeat GLaDOS by putting Wheatley in control of the facility, Wheatley is overwhelmed with power, sending Chell and GLaDOS, GLaDOS being temporarily reduced to a small computer powered by a potato, to the old core of Aperture, where GLaDOS rediscovers her relation to Caroline. They return to the surface where they are forced to defeat Wheatley before his ineptitude with the Aperture systems causes the facility reactors to become critical and explode. GLaDOS is returned to her original place and returns the facility to normal. GLaDOS then lets Chell go, realizing that the prospect of trying to kill her is too much trouble. Instead, she turns to two robots of her own creation, Atlas and P-Body, to locate a mythical store of additional human subjects kept in cryogenic sleep for her to continue testing on.

In addition to these characters, the game includes numerous laser-seeking turrets that seek to kill the player-characters, though are apologetic for it; most are voiced by McLain, though some defective ones in the sequel are voiced by Nolan North. GLaDOS introduces Chell to the "Weighted Companion Cube", appearing similar to other Weighed Cubes (crates) in the game, but decorated with hearts on its sides; GLaDOS attempts to make Chell believe the Companion Cube is a sentient object and a key to her survival, before having Chell dispose of it in an incinerator in order to leave a test chamber. Both games feature other personality cores that were constructed to keep GLaDOS in check; the first game includes three cores, the Morality, Curiosity, and Intelligence Cores, voiced by McLain as well as a snarling Anger Core voiced by Mike Patton. In Portal 2, three more such cores (beyond Wheatley) are introduced including the irrelevant Fact Core, the bold Adventure Core, and the space-obsessed Space Core, each voiced by North.

{{multiple images | align=center | direction=horizontal | image1 = Portal physics-2.svg | width1 = 300 | image2 = Portal physics-3.svg | width2 = 300 | footer = Two examples of "flinging" using portals within Portal. On the left, the player has placed portals on the floor of the pit and the wall above; by jumping into the blue one in the pit, they will exit the orange one with the same speed, clearing the pit and landing on the other side. On the right, the player has initially placed the blue portal in the pit and the orange on the wall; after jumping into the blue and exiting the orange (red path), they use the portal gun to place the second blue one on the ledge, gaining more momentum before falling into it and exiting the orange portal with more velocity (green track) as to land on the higher platform.}}

The player controls the main character (Chell in both single player campaigns, or Atlas and P-Body in the cooperative campaign) from a first-person view, running, jumping, and interacting with switches or other devices. The player-characters are able to withstand large drops, but can be killed by falling in the toxic water of the facility, crushed to death, passing through laser grids, or fired on repeatedly by turrets.

Both games are generally divided into a series of test chambers; other sections of the game are more exploratory areas that connect these chambers. Each chamber has an exit door that must be reached, often requiring that certain conditions have been met such as having weighed down a large button with a "Weighted Cube", effectively a crate. These puzzles require the use of the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, the portal gun. The gun can shoot two portals, colored differently for identification, on any flat surface that is painted with a specific paint containing moon dust. Once both portal ends are placed, the player can walk the character between them, or carry objects with the portal gun through them. Portal ends can be re positioned as often as necessary, but certain actions, such as walking through "emancipation grills" or moving a surface with a portal will cause the portals to dissipate.

A critical feature of portals is that they retain the speed of the object traveling through it; as stated by GLaDOS to the player in the first game, "Speedy thing goes in, speedy thing comes out". When portals are placed on non-parallel planes, this can create the effect of "flinging". Commonly, one uses gravity to build up their momentum when they fall into a portal, which flings them out of the other side to gain speed and distance that normal jumping and running could not generate. A leapfrogging effect can be used by placing portals in series during this flinging, gaining further momentum with each use.

Portals will also allow light and other objects to transfer through them, and numerous puzzles involve using portals to manipulate bouncing energy balls, lasers, "hard light" bridges, and tractor beams to access new locations or direct objects to specific receptacles that must be activated to open the level's exit. Portal 2 introduces "mobility gels" that can paint surfaces, including turrets and cubes, that can also move through portals though not directly by the player. The gels can create a surface that repels the player (Repulsion Gel), increases the player's speed (Propulsion Gel), or allows the surface to accept portals (Conversion Gel).

The games' credit sequences feature the songs "Still Alive" and "Want You Gone" composed by Jonathan Coulton, and, in its original form, sung by Ellen McLain in the GLaDOS voice.{{cite magazine |last=Hilliard |first=Kyle |date=June 7, 2013 |title=The Best Video Game Surprise Songs |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/06/07/the-best-video-game-surprise-songs.aspx |url-status=live |magazine=Game Informer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609235334/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/06/07/the-best-video-game-surprise-songs.aspx |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=June 7, 2013 }} Portal 2 also features the song "Exile Vilify" by The National.

File:The Story of Portal- How Gabe Newell Fell In Love With Kim Swift's Student Game.webm

The concept of Portal came from Narbacular Drop, a student project from the DigiPen Institute of Technology. The game included the aspects of placing portals on any flat surfaces and using them to maneuver around levels.{{cite web |url=http://www.nuclearmonkeysoftware.com/news.html?46 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928221628/http://www.nuclearmonkeysoftware.com/news.html?46 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |title=Things are heating up! |publisher=Narbacular Drop official site |date=July 17, 2006 |access-date=July 21, 2006}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200608/N06.0825.1923.12789.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002110610/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200608/N06.0825.1923.12789.htm |archive-date=October 2, 2007 |title=GC 06:Valve's Doug Lombardi Talks Half-Life 2 Happenings |access-date=September 27, 2007 |author=Berghammer, Billy |date=August 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |publisher=Game Informer}} Several Valve employees, attending a DigiPen career fair, saw Narbacular Drop and offered the entire team jobs at Valve almost immediately to help expand on their idea.{{cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014794592_brier18.html |title='Portal' backstory a real Cinderella tale |first=Breir |last=Dudley |date=April 17, 2011 |access-date=April 17, 2011 |work=Seattle Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420135500/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014794592_brier18.html |archive-date=April 20, 2011 }}

Valve originally saw Portal as an experimental game to be included with its upcoming compilation, The Orange Box, alongside its release of Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Team Fortress 2.{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3165930 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206010935/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3165930 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2012 |title=Beyond the Box: Orange Box Afterthoughts |publisher=1UP |date=February 6, 2008 |access-date=February 14, 2008 |first=Shawn |last=Elliot}} To give the game character, a minimal story, tied loosely with the Half-Life world, was written by Valve's Erik Wolpaw.{{cite magazine |url=https://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/10/opening-the-portal-exploring-portal-s-creation-and-its-ties-to-half-life-2.aspx |title=Exploring Portal's Creation And Its Ties To Half-Life 2 |first=Ben |last=Reeves |date=March 10, 2010 |access-date=March 10, 2010 |magazine=Game Informer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314141455/http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/10/opening-the-portal-exploring-portal-s-creation-and-its-ties-to-half-life-2.aspx |archive-date=March 14, 2010 }} He needed a character to guide the player through the game, coming onto a polite but humorous artificial intelligence, which would ultimately become the character of GLaDOS.

Portal{{'}}s release with The Orange Box received near-universal praise, with the standalone game earning an aggregate Metacritic rating of 90 out of 100.{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/portal |title=Portal (pc: 2007): Reviews |access-date=October 22, 2007 |publisher=Metacritic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828122329/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/portal |archive-date=August 28, 2011 }} With success of the game, work on an expanded sequel began nearly immediately, expanding the development team from 8 to about 30-40 programmers.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6141/synthesizing_portal_2.php |title=Synthesizing Portal 2 |first=Chris |last=Remo |date=September 20, 2010 |access-date=September 20, 2010 |publisher=Gamasutra |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119070426/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6141/synthesizing_portal_2.php |archive-date=January 19, 2012 }} Initial ideas for Portal 2 retained the idea of solving puzzles through scientific concepts, but eliminating the use of portals altogether; these versions did not fare well with test audiences nor with Gabe Newell, Valve's president; these ideas were dropped though saved for potential reuse in a different game by Valve.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34406/Valves_Wolpaw_Offers_BehindTheScenes_Peek_Into_Portal_2.php |title=Valve's Wolpaw Offers Behind-The-Scenes Peek Into Portal 2 |publisher=Gamasutra |first=Leigh |last=Alexander |date=May 6, 2011 |access-date=May 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508191011/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34406/Valves_Wolpaw_Offers_BehindTheScenes_Peek_Into_Portal_2.php |archive-date=May 8, 2011 }} Portal 2 development was restarted specifically to keep the portal concept but adding new elements to freshen the gameplay.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/#!5794465/portal-2-wasnt-going-to-include-portals-according-to-new-ipad-app |title=Portal 2 Wasn't Going to Include Portals, According To New iPad App |first=Stephen |last=Tolito |date=April 21, 2011 |access-date=May 6, 2011 |publisher=Kotaku |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106085901/http://kotaku.com/#!5794465/portal-2-wasnt-going-to-include-portals-according-to-new-ipad-app |archive-date=November 6, 2010 }}{{Cite book |asin=B004XMZZKQ |title=The Final Hours of Portal 2 |first=Geoff |last=Keighley |year=2011}} Also available as iPad or Steam application.

During this period, Valve had witnessed another student project out of DigiPen, Tag: The Power of Paint, which allows the player to spray paint onto surfaces to alter their behavior. The team was brought into Valve, though not initially as part of the Portal franchise. The Tag team had found a way to incorporate their paints with real-time fluid dynamics code previously made by Valve, and the concept became the "conversion gels" found in Portal 2.{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/04/portal-2-a-look-at-the-hotly-anticipated-videogame/ |title=Portal 2: A Look at the Hotly Anticipated Videogame |first=Ryan |last=Kao |date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=September 4, 2010 |work=Wall Street Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906103452/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/04/portal-2-a-look-at-the-hotly-anticipated-videogame/ |archive-date=September 6, 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/62689/valve-hires-digipen-team-seemingly |title=Valve Hires DigiPen Team; Seemingly for Portal 2 |first=Brian |last=Leahy |date=March 8, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |publisher=Shacknews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518161744/http://www.shacknews.com/article/62689/valve-hires-digipen-team-seemingly |archive-date=May 18, 2011 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/08/narbacular-drop.aspx |title=From Narbacular Drop To Portal |first=Dan |last=Ryckert |date=March 8, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |magazine=Game Informer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310204433/http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/08/narbacular-drop.aspx |archive-date=March 10, 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://e3.g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/63787/portal-2/articles/71011/E3-2010-Portal-2-Preview/ |title=E3 2010: Portal 2 Preview |first=Jake |last=Gaskill |date=June 18, 2010 |access-date=June 19, 2010 |work=G4TV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707160044/http://e3.g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/63787/portal-2/articles/71011/E3-2010-Portal-2-Preview/ |archive-date=July 7, 2012 }}

Valve included a co-operative play mode, based on their own observations and stories from players about working out the solutions to Portal{{'}}s puzzles in a group environment.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2010/jun/18/e3-2010-portal-2 |title=E3 2010: Portal 2 preview |first=Keith |last=Stewart |date=June 18, 2010 |access-date=June 21, 2010 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203195038/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2010/jun/18/e3-2010-portal-2 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 }} With this feature, they sought the ability to enable cross-platform play of Portal 2 between computers and consoles through Steamworks. This led to a surprise reveal by Newell that Portal 2 would be released on the PlayStation 3, despite previously expressing how he felt about the difficulties in supporting the console, and that it would include support for cross-platform play between the PC and PS3 versions through a limited Steamworks interface.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/198935/valve_apologizes_for_sonybashing_announces_portal_2_for_ps3.html?tk=hp_blg |title=Valve Apologizes For Sony-Bashing, Announces Portal 2 for PS3 |first=Matt |last=Peckham |date=June 15, 2010 |access-date=June 15, 2010 |work=PC World |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619071727/http://www.pcworld.com/article/198935/valve_apologizes_for_sonybashing_announces_portal_2_for_ps3.html?tk=hp_blg |archive-date=June 19, 2010 }} Valve brought in writer Jay Pinkerton, who had formerly worked on National Lampoon, as well as Left 4 Dead writer Chet Faliszek to assist Wolpaw with the larger story. They built on the character of the Aperture Science facility, providing a deeper story for GLaDOS and Aperture's CEO Cave Johnson, as well as developing several concepts for "personality cores" that ultimately led to the creation of Wheatley.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-24-portal-2-lets-make-caddyshack-interview |title=Portal 2: "Let's make Caddyshack" |publisher=Eurogamer |date=April 25, 2011 |access-date=April 25, 2011 |first=Oli |last=Welch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428041701/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-24-portal-2-lets-make-caddyshack-interview |archive-date=April 28, 2011 }}

Portal 2 received similar acclaim to its predecessor at launch, garnering a Metacritic score of 95 out of 100.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/portal-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Portal 2 for PC Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More |access-date=April 23, 2011 |publisher=Metacritic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309011223/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/portal-2 |archive-date=March 9, 2012 }} Valve has continued to support the game through the release of two separate downloadable content packages, one introducing a new co-operative campaign,{{cite web |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1750003/portal-2-valve-eric-wolpaw-jeep-barnett-doug-lombardi |title=Portal 2's Creators On Crafting Games Through Experiential Stories |first=Kevin |last=Ohannessian |date=April 27, 2011 |access-date=April 27, 2011 |publisher=Fast Company |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430132704/http://www.fastcompany.com/1750003/portal-2-valve-eric-wolpaw-jeep-barnett-doug-lombardi |archive-date=April 30, 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-09-30-portal-2-dlc-release-date |title=Portal 2 DLC release date |first=Fred |last=Dutton |date=September 30, 2011 |access-date=September 30, 2011 |publisher=Eurogamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002143400/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-09-30-portal-2-dlc-release-date |archive-date=October 2, 2011 }} and a second that incorporated an easy-to-learn level editor that allowed players to make their own test chambers and share these through the Steam Workshop to others.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/10/portal-2-39-s-perpetual-testing-initiative-off-to-a-good-start.aspx |title=Portal 2's Perpetual Testing Initiative Off To A Good Start |first=Matt |last=Helgeson |date=May 10, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |magazine=Game Informer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512040310/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/10/portal-2-39-s-perpetual-testing-initiative-off-to-a-good-start.aspx |archive-date=May 12, 2012 }} An alternate version of Portal 2 designed for educational use was developed for Valve's Steam for Schools program, and was made available for free.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/valve-helps-educators-teach-with-portals |title=Valve helps educators Teach With Portals |first=Leigh |last=Alexander |date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=June 20, 2012 |publisher=Gamasutra |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622041824/http://gamasutra.com/view/news/172716/Valve_helps_educators_Teach_With_Portals.php |archive-date=June 22, 2012 }} While experimenting with VR systems in 2017, Valve attempted to implement Portal-like gameplay, but early playtesters found the game's titular mechanic disorienting in VR. Valve instead returned to the Half-Life series and released Half-Life: Alyx in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Keighley |first=Geoff |author-link=Geoff Keighley |date=November 21, 2019 |title=The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx - Behind Closed Doors at Valve Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9K0eJEmMEw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121191644/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9K0eJEmMEw |archive-date=November 21, 2019 |access-date=November 21, 2019 |via=YouTube}}

In April 2022, Erik Wolpaw urged Valve to make Portal 3, saying, "I am... not getting any younger. We are reaching the point where – it's crazy to think – [we're] literally going to be too old to work on Portal 3. So we should just do it."{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/portal-writer-urges-valve-to-start-portal-3/|title=Portal writer urges Valve to 'start Portal 3'|first=Rick|last=Lane|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=October 31, 2022|work=PC Gamer}} In September, Ellen McLain also called for Portal 3, stating that she was willing to star in it, and asked fans to "write in. Email Valve. You've got my blessing".{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-voice-of-glados-says-she-dreams-about-murdering-people/|title=The voice of GlaDOS says she dreams about murdering people|first=Andy|last=Chalk|date=September 7, 2022|access-date=October 31, 2022|work=PC Gamer}}

{{Timeline of release years

| range1 = 2007

| range1_color = #fb7e14 #A6540D

| 2007 = Portal

| 2008 = Portal: Still Alive

| 2011 = Portal 2

| 2016 = The Lab

| 2017 = Bridge Constructor Portal

| 2019 = Aperture Hand Lab

| 2022a = Aperture Desk Job

| 2022b = Portal: Companion Collection

}}

{{Main|Portal (video game)}}

Portal was initially released in October 2007 as part of a compilation game called The Orange Box, alongside Half-Life 2 and its two episodes and Team Fortress 2. Valve considered including Portal as a bonus feature of the compilation; the game was purposely kept short such that if it did not meet expectations, players would have the rest of the content of The Orange Box as a "safety net".{{cite magazine |title=Portal 2 |first=Meagan |last=VanBurkleo |date=April 2010 |pages=50–62 |magazine=Game Informer}} Portal has since been repackaged on Windows as a standalone game in April 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/individual-orange-box-games-hit-retail-april-9/ |title=Individual Orange Box games hit retail April 9 |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=March 6, 2008 |publisher=Joystiq |first=Ludwig |last=Kiestmann |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306172603/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/individual-orange-box-games-hit-retail-april-9/ |archive-date=March 6, 2008 }} A Mac OS X client was introduced simultaneously with the release of the Steam client for that platform in May 2010; as part of its promotion, the game was released free of charge for both platforms during which at least 1.5 million players downloaded it.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28529/Steam_Launched_For_Mac_Portal_Offered_For_Free.php |title=Steam Launched For Mac, Portal Offered For Free |first=Eric |last=Caolli |date=May 12, 2010 |access-date=May 13, 2010 |publisher=Gamasutra |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513031836/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28529/Steam_Launched_For_Mac_Portal_Offered_For_Free.php |archive-date=May 13, 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28626/Portal_Racks_Up_15M_Free_Downloads_On_PC_Mac.php |title=Portal Racks Up 1.5M Free Downloads On PC, Mac |first=Chris |last=Remo |publisher=Gamasutra |date=May 19, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521034012/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28626/Portal_Racks_Up_15M_Free_Downloads_On_PC_Mac.php |archive-date=May 21, 2010 }}

{{main|Portal: Still Alive}}

Portal: Still Alive was a standalone version of Portal with additional content for the Xbox Live Arcade, released in October 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55376 |title=Portal: Still Alive Hits Xbox Live Arcade Next Wed; Promises Cake and Companionship |publisher=Shacknews |date=October 16, 2008 |access-date=October 16, 2008 |first=Chris |last=Faylor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017221912/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55376 |archive-date=October 17, 2008 }} The game included new achievements, additional challenges from the existing test chambers, and additional non-story levels based on those found in the Flash-based Portal: The Flash Version created by We Create Stuff.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/07/portal_still_alive_explained_1.php |title=Portal: Still Alive Explained |first=Chris |last=Remo |date=July 20, 2008 |access-date=July 21, 2008 |publisher=GameSetWatch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080729000856/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/07/portal_still_alive_explained_1.php |archive-date=July 29, 2008 }}

{{Main|Portal with RTX}}

In September 2022, Nvidia announced it would release an updated version of Portal with real-time ray tracing, as a free DLC for owners of the original game on PC. It was released on December 8, 2022.{{cite web | url = https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nvidia-is-bringing-ray-tracing-to-portal-with-an-rtx-version/ | title = Nvidia is bringing ray-tracing to Portal with an RTX version | first = Jordan | last = Middler | date = September 20, 2022 | accessdate = September 20, 2022 | work = Video Games Chronicle }}

{{Main|Portal 2}}

Portal 2 was released as a standalone game in April 2011 on both computers and consoles. It is considered as one of the greatest video games of all time by numerous publications and critics. It received acclaim for its gameplay, pacing, dark humor, writing, the voice work of McLain, Merchant, and Simmons, and its challenging but surmountable learning curve.

Portal: Companion Collection is a compilation of both games and Still Alive content released for Nintendo Switch on June 28, 2022. The port was developed in collaboration with Nvidia Lightspeed Studios.{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=February 9, 2022 |title=Portal and Portal 2 coming to Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.polygon.com/22926148/portal-and-portal-2-nintendo-switch-release-date-2022 |access-date=February 9, 2022 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-09-portal-and-portal-2-coming-to-nintendo-switch |title=Portal and Portal 2 coming to Nintendo Switch |first=Tom |last=Phillips |date=February 9, 2022 |accessdate=February 9, 2022 |work=Eurogamer}}

The Potato Sack was an A.R.G (alternate reality game) conceived by Valve and 13 indie video game developers as a prelude to the release of Portal 2. Portal 2 had been announced by a similar game, where a patch applied to the Steam version of Portal in March 2010, provided clues heralding the official announcement. The Potato Sack game, launched on April 1, 2011, led to the reveal of "GLaDOS@home", a spoof of distributed computer challenges, to get players to cooperate on playing the independent games as to unlock Portal 2 on Steam about 10 hours before its planned release.

The Final Hours of Portal 2 is a digital book written and created by Geoff Keighley released on May 17, 2011. This digital book gives insight on the creation of Portal 2. Keighley had previously worked as an editor at GameSpot, writing several 10,000-word "Final Hours" pieces on various games where he visited the studios during the late development phases to document the creation of the game. One piece, "The Final Hours of Half-Life 2", allowed Keighley to interact with Valve during 2003 and 2004 and talk with the staff as they completed work on Half-Life 2.{{cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=April 21, 2011 |title=Game journalist may cash in on the making of Portal 2 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2011/04/21/game-journalist-may-cash-in-on-the-making-of-portal-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223005204/http://venturebeat.com/2011/04/21/game-journalist-may-cash-in-on-the-making-of-portal-2/ |archive-date=December 23, 2011 |access-date=January 26, 2012 |publisher=Venture Beat }} Keighley wanted to recreate a similar work for Portal 2, with focus on making it an interactive work for the iPad.{{cite news |last=Snider |first=Mike |date=April 25, 2011 |title=GameTrailers TV's Geoff Keighley gets interactive with new 'Portal 2' iPad app |work=USA Today |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/04/gametrailers-tvs-geoff-keighley-gets-interactive-with-new-portal-2-ipad-app/1 |access-date=January 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211023/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/04/gametrailers-tvs-geoff-keighley-gets-interactive-with-new-portal-2-ipad-app/1 |archive-date=October 23, 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |last=Keighley |first=Geoff |year=2004 |title=The Final Hours of Half-Life 2 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/the-final-hours-of-half-life-2-6112889/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201065947/http://www.gamespot.com/features/the-final-hours-of-half-life-2-6112889/ |archive-date=February 1, 2012 |access-date=January 26, 2012 |publisher=GameSpot }} Keighley was granted "fly on the wall" access to Valve when Portal 2 was being produced.{{cite web |last=Hill |first=Owen |date=May 18, 2011 |title=Portal 2 – The Final Hours now on Steam |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/05/18/portal-2-the-final-hours-now-available-on-steam/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328075028/http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/05/18/portal-2-the-final-hours-now-available-on-steam/ |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |access-date=January 26, 2012 |work=PC Gamer }} The initial iPad release was written by Keighley with work by Joe Zeff Design, a studio that had also produced digital applications for Time magazine. The interactive work provides movie clips and short applications to demonstrate the various mechanics of the game and stages of the game's development. The work was later ported into a non-interactive eBook, and into an application with the same iPad interactivity on the Steam platform. With the iPad and Steam version, Keighley is able to offer live updates to the work; upon release of the "Peer Review" downloadable content pack, the work was updated with an additional chapter discussing the creation of the new content and what new features players could expect in the future from Portal 2.{{cite web |last=Tolito |first=Stephan |date=October 18, 2011 |title=Valve Tinkering With an Excellent Portal 2 Feature That Talks Back |url=http://kotaku.com/5851007/valve-tinkering-with-an-excellent-portal-2-feature-that-talks-back |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020121041/http://kotaku.com/5851007/valve-tinkering-with-an-excellent-portal-2-feature-that-talks-back |archive-date=October 20, 2011 |access-date=October 19, 2011 |publisher=Kotaku }}

File:Portal2-testchamber.jpg

To help the players develop the fictional history of Aperture Science, Valve created a digital comic to tell the story of the "Rat Man", a schizophrenic who is unseen in the games themselves but creates murals and scrawlings that guide Chell in both games.{{cite web |last=Mawson |first=Jarrod |date=April 7, 2001 |title=Portal 2 'Rat Man' comic revealed |url=http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/18640/portal-2-rat-man-comic-revealed/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115010941/http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/18640/portal-2-rat-man-comic-revealed/ |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |website=PALGN }} The comic, "Portal 2: Lab Rat", takes place both during and after Portal, explaining the events that led to Portal 2.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=David |date=March 4, 2011 |title=Portal 2 developer interview: Chet Falisek and Erik Wolpaw |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8359173/Portal-2-developer-interview-Chet-Falisek-and-Erik-Wolpaw.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309212313/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8359173/Portal-2-developer-interview-Chet-Falisek-and-Erik-Wolpaw.html |archive-date=March 9, 2011 }} The Rat Man's artwork appears early in Portal 2, where it retells the plot of Portal.{{cite web |last=Griliopoulos |first=Dan |date=March 28, 2011 |title=Portal 2: Test Subjects |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/115/1157988p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829095625/http://pc.ign.com/articles/115/1157988p1.html |archive-date=August 29, 2011 |access-date=March 28, 2011 |publisher=IGN }} Michael Avon Oeming, who had worked on comics for Valve games Team Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead,{{cite web |last=Goldman |first=Tom |date=April 7, 2011 |title=Official Portal 2 Comic Reveals the Truth About Cake |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109064-Official-Portal-2-Comic-Reveals-Truth-About-Cake |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411043304/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109064-Official-Portal-2-Comic-Reveals-Truth-About-Cake |archive-date=April 11, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=The Escapist }} and Valve in-house artist Andrea Wicklund drew the comic. Ted Kosmatka wrote most of the story with input from the Portal 2 writers.{{cite web |last=Esposito |first=Joey |date=April 6, 2011 |title=Expanding the World of Portal 2 |url=http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/116/1160119p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429085219/http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/116/1160119p1.html |archive-date=April 29, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2011 |publisher=IGN }} The 27-page comic was made available online in two parts about two weeks before the game's release{{cite web |last=Esposito |first=Joey |date=April 8, 2011 |title=Portal 2: Lab Rat – Part 1 |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/116/1160605p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410020811/http://comics.ign.com/articles/116/1160605p1.html |archive-date=April 10, 2011 |access-date=April 11, 2011 |publisher=IGN }}{{cite web |last=Esposito |first=Joey |date=April 11, 2011 |title=Read Portal 2: Lab Rat – Part 2 |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/116/1161043p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413161812/http://comics.ign.com/articles/116/1161043p1.html |archive-date=April 13, 2011 |access-date=April 11, 2011 |publisher=IGN }} and was also bundled with the game itself. Dark Horse Comics has published "Portal 2: Lab Rat" in a printed anthology of Valve comics, Valve Presents: The Sacrifice and Other Steam-Powered Stories, in November 2011.{{cite web |last=Rose |first=Mike |date=July 11, 2011 |title=Comic Book Based On Valve Strips Coming This November |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/comic-book-based-on-valve-strips-coming-this-november |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714032247/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/35767/Comic_Book_Based_On_Valve_Strips_Coming_This_November.php |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2011 |publisher=Gamasutra }}

In the comic, Doug Rattmann (also known as The Rat Man) is a scientist working in the Aperture facility. He escapes GLaDOS's initial neurotoxin attack, but suffers symptoms as his schizophrenia medication runs out, causing hallucinations of his Weighted Companion Cube talking. Noticing that Chell is uniquely tenacious among the test subjects held by Aperture, Rattmann moves her to the top of the queue of testing subjects, thus starting the events of the first Portal. After Chell defeats GLaDOS, Rattmann escapes Aperture, but returns against the Companion Cube's objections when he sees the Party Escort Bot dragging an unconscious Chell back inside and into a disabled cryo chamber. He ensures that Chell is kept in indefinite suspended animation, but he is shot by a turret in the process. He then enters a stasis pod himself, leaving his fate afterward unknown.{{cite web |title=Portal 2: Lab Rat |url=http://www.thinkwithportals.com/comic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412162513/http://www.thinkwithportals.com/comic/ |archive-date=April 12, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2001 }}

A board game version of Portal, developed by Cryptozoic Entertainment with oversight from Valve, was released in 2015. Titled Portal: Uncooperative Cake Acquisition Game, the game is based on players manipulating their tokens – which are representative of unwitting test subjects – through various test chambers in the Aperture Laboratories. The goal being to test the most lucrative chambers while attempting to stall the progress of other players. Valve had approached Cryptozoic with the core concepts of the board game, which the publisher found only needed small modifications in gameplay for the purpose of balance.{{cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |date=March 5, 2014 |title=How Valve and Cryptozoic came together for a Portal board game |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/5/5458072/portal-board-game-interview-valve-cryptozoic-entertainment |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305193455/http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/5/5458072/portal-board-game-interview-valve-cryptozoic-entertainment |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |publisher=Polygon }}

{{main|The Lab (video game)|l1 = The Lab}}

The Lab is a VR game developed by Valve that as part of its partnership with HTC and the VR headset, the HTC Vive. It was described as a "room-scale" VR experience, consisting of about a dozen small experimental experiences that highlight the use of VR; such include experiencing a fully panoramic view that has been stitched together from a number of photographs, a physics game where the player attempts to launch personality cores into piles of boxes using a catapult, and a bow-and-arrow based game.{{cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=March 16, 2016 |title=Valve's 'Lab' and desktop theater mode could be the perfect introduction to virtual reality (hands-on) |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/htc-vive-valve-the-lab-steamvr-desktop-theater-mode-gdc-2016/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317011947/http://www.cnet.com/news/htc-vive-valve-the-lab-steamvr-desktop-theater-mode-gdc-2016/ |archive-date=March 17, 2016 |access-date=March 17, 2016 |work=CNet }} The Lab was announced at the 2016 Game Developers Conference, and was released free on April 5, 2016, following the public release of the HTC Vive.{{cite web |last=Perez |first=Daniel |date=March 7, 2016 |title=Valve's 'The Lab' is a compilation VR experience set in Portal's universe releasing this Spring |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/93619/valves-the-lab-is-a-compilation-vr-experience-set-in-portals-universe-releasing-this-spring |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308115542/http://www.shacknews.com/article/93619/valves-the-lab-is-a-compilation-vr-experience-set-in-portals-universe-releasing-this-spring |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=March 7, 2016 |work=Shacknews }}

{{main|Bridge Constructor Portal}}

Valve licensed the use of Portal to Headup Games and Clockstone Software, the developers of Bridge Constructor, to develop Bridge Constructor Portal. The game follows the same type of gameplay as Bridge Constructor, where players are tasked to create a bridge from a limited set of parts to cross a river or chasm, using physics simulations to test if the bridge will hold up against traffic crossing it. Bridge Constructor Portal adds in elements from the Portal series, such as portals, as part of the construction challenge. The game is set within Aperture Laboratories, with the puzzles monitored by GLaDOS. The game released on December 20, 2017, for personal computers and mobile devices, and later in 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch consoles.{{cite web |last=Donneley |first=Joe |date=December 6, 2017 |title=A new Portal game will launch this month—Bridge Constructor Portal |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/a-new-portal-game-will-launch-this-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206153555/http://www.pcgamer.com/a-new-portal-game-will-launch-this-month/ |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2017 |work=PC Gamer }}{{cite web |last=Nunneley |first=Stephany |date=December 6, 2017 |title=Bridge Constructor Portal is exactly what it sounds like |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/06/bridge-constructor-portal-is-exactly-what-it-sounds-like-really/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206195650/https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/06/bridge-constructor-portal-is-exactly-what-it-sounds-like-really/ |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2017 |work=VG247 }}

{{main|Aperture Hand Lab|l1 = Aperture Hand Lab}}

Aperture Hand Lab is a roomscale VR video game co-developed by Canadian studio Cloudhead Games and Valve, released free for Windows on June 25, 2019. It is a tech demo set in the Portal universe that showcases the functions of the hand, knuckle, and finger tracking technology used by the Valve Index.{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/cloudhead-valve-aperture-hand-lab-index/|title=Valve's 'Aperture Hand Lab' Index Demo Updated to Support Oculus Touch|first=Scott|last=Hayden|date=June 28, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2022|website=roadtovr.com}}

{{main|Aperture Desk Job|l1 = Aperture Desk Job}}

Aperture Desk Job is a free game set in the Portal universe released on March 1, 2022. It is a demonstration of the various features of the Steam Deck handheld system.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/25/22951072/valve-portal-steam-deck-aperture-desk-job |title=Valve made a bite-sized new Portal game for the Steam Deck |first=Sean |last=Hollister |date=February 25, 2022 |accessdate=February 25, 2022 |work=The Verge}} In the game, the player works as a quality assurance checker for toilets manufactured by Aperture Science in its early years. They are guided by the personality core Grady through the steps, but as the game progresses, mishaps in the automated factory lead Grady to suggest that the player develop a weaponized toilet as an invention to pitch to Cave Johnson.{{Cite web |last=Livingston |first=Christopher |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Weaponize toilets in Valve's hilarious short game Aperture Desk Job |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/weaponize-toilets-in-valves-hilarious-short-game-aperture-desk-job |access-date=March 1, 2022 |website=PC Gamer}}

In February 2013, Valve president Gabe Newell and film director J. J. Abrams announced that they were to collaborate on a film adaptation of the Portal series.[https://www.engadget.com/2013/02/06/valve-bad-robot-games-film/ Portal and Half-Life Creator Gabe Newell teams up with Filmmaker J. J. Abrams to plan and produce a Game and Film Collaboration]{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/02/valve-bad-robot-dice/|title=Portal, the Movie: Valve, J.J. Abrams Team Up for Future Games, Films|first=Chris|last=Kohler|magazine=Wired |via=www.wired.com}} In 2016, Abrams stated that he still has plans to direct these films in the future, with both films in the writing stage.{{cite web |last=Strom |first=Steven |date=March 12, 2016 |title=J.J. ABRAMS: PORTAL, HALF-LIFE MOVIES STILL HAPPENING |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/12/jj-abrams-portal-half-life-movies-still-happening |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312012459/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/12/jj-abrams-portal-half-life-movies-still-happening |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |access-date=March 12, 2016 |work=IGN }} Abrams confirmed in May 2021 that the film adaptation was still in the works as they were still working on a script for the film from Warner Bros. Pictures.{{cite web |last=Jorgenson |first=Tom |date=May 24, 2021 |title=Portal Movie Still Alive, in Development at Warner Bros., Says Producer JJ Abrams |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/portal-half-life-jj-abrams-news |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211023/https://www.ign.com/articles/portal-half-life-jj-abrams-news |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |accessdate=May 24, 2021 |work=IGN}}{{cbignore}}

In March 2025, Multimorphic announced a Portal-themed pinball table, with Ellen McLain providing original GLaDOS voice lines. It is set to enter production in the summer of 2025.{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=2025-03-18 |title=New Portal pinball table may be the closest we're gonna get to Portal 3 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/03/were-getting-a-full-size-portal-pinball-table-before-portal-3/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}}

• During Portal, the player explores areas outside of the test chambers where scrawled messages left by Rattmann and others warn of GLaDOS' deception. In particular, while GLaDOS promises that Chell will receive cake for completing the training courses, the messages alert that this reward does not exist, and that "The cake is a lie". The phrase became an Internet meme, leading to numerous cake-related jokes, as well as its adaption as a term relating to a false promise. When writing Portal 2, Wolpaw stated that they were so sick of cake jokes that they purposely avoided any reference to them, save for one subtle nod.{{Cite web |last=Remo |first=Chris |date=June 18, 2010 |title=Portal 2 's Wolpaw: 'I Do Not Want To Resurrect A Three-Year-Old Meme' |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/119942/Portal_2s_Wolpaw_I_Do_Not_Want_To_Resurrect_A_ThreeYearOld_Meme.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511154600/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/119942/Portal_2s_Wolpaw_I_Do_Not_Want_To_Resurrect_A_ThreeYearOld_Meme.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=January 10, 2022 |website=www.gamasutra.com |language=en}}
• Valve has sold several Portal-based prints, T-shirts, and other memorabilia through its own store, often riding on the popularity of certain memes that the series has created.{{cite web |date=November 9, 2007 |title=Steam Updates: Friday, November 9, 2007 |url=http://www.steampowered.com/Steam/Marketing/message/1301/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111201436/http://www.steampowered.com/Steam/Marketing/message/1301/ |archive-date=November 11, 2007 |access-date=November 9, 2007 |publisher=Valve }} When first released, both were sold out in under 24 hours.{{cite web |last=De Marco |first=Flynn |date=December 15, 2007 |title=Official Plush Weighted Companion Cube Sells Out |url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/sold-out/official-plush-weighted-companion-cube-sells-out-334413.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304073947/http://kotaku.com/gaming/sold-out/official-plush-weighted-companion-cube-sells-out-334413.php |archive-date=March 4, 2008 |access-date=February 21, 2008 |publisher=Kotaku }} Valve also has partnerships with other vendors for similar merchandise. WizKids has released collectible miniatures of the turrets, cores and companion cube(s) within the game.{{cite press release |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/173675/NECAWIZKIDS_ANNOUNCE_NEW_PORTAL_2_SENTRY_TURRET_COLLECTIBLEFIGURES.php |title=NECA/WizKids Announce New Portal 2 Sentry Turret Collectible Figures |publisher=WizKids |date=July 5, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217194506/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/173675/NECAWIZKIDS_ANNOUNCE_NEW_PORTAL_2_SENTRY_TURRET_COLLECTIBLEFIGURES.php |archive-date=December 17, 2014 }}
• Minecraft officially features the Portal characters Chell, Atlas, and P-Body as cosmetic skins purchasable from the Minecraft Marketplace for Minecraft Bedrock Edition.{{Cite web |title=Skin Pack 3 - Classic |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/marketplace/pdp?id=297ef7fb-debf-40a5-aea7-4e7acf141c59 |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=Minecraft |language=en}} The skin pack featuring these characters was originally released as DLC for Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition.{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2012 |title=MineCraft Xbox 360 Skin Pack 3 Adds Half-Life 2, Portal 2 Cast |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/games/MineCraft-Xbox-360-Skin-Pack-3-Adds-Half-Life-2-Portal-2-Cast-48151.html |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=CinemaBlend |language=en}}
• Ellen McLain voiced the AI of the Jaeger suite in the 2013 film Pacific Rim, explicitly using the GLaDOS voice in the films trailer.{{Cite news |last=Steve Tilley |date=January 4, 2013 |title=Guillermo del Toro says 'Pacific Rim' A.I. an homage to 'Portal's GlaDOS |url=https://torontosun.com/2013/01/04/guillermo-del-toro-says-pacific-rim-ai-an--homage-to-portals-glados |access-date=December 18, 2023 |newspaper=Toronto Sun}}
• Atlas appears as a player-character in the downloadable content package for Runner2.{{cite web |last=Vandell |first=Perry |date=July 10, 2013 |title=Psychonauts, Spelunky, and Portal 2 characters join the cast of Runner 2 |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/psychonauts-spelunky-and-portal-2-characters-join-the-cast-of-runner-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912002759/http://www.pcgamer.com/psychonauts-spelunky-and-portal-2-characters-join-the-cast-of-runner-2/ |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |access-date=August 26, 2015 |work=PC Gamer }}
• The crossover video game Lego Dimensions, which incorporates the use of Lego minifigures with a special gamepad, includes Portal-themed elements, as first demonstrated during its Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015 trailer. A Portal-themed level appears as part of the main story campaign, with GLaDOS playing a significant role in the game's plot. A Chell minifigure was released that comes packaged with buildable sentry turret and companion cube; the figure unlocks an additional level and open-world area based on the series when used in-game.{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Tom |date=May 11, 2015 |title=Lego Dimensions' Portal 2 and Doctor Who expansions confirmed - Eurogamer.net |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-11-see-lego-dimensions-doctor-who-portal-2-sets |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514014826/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-11-see-lego-dimensions-doctor-who-portal-2-sets |archive-date=May 14, 2015 }}{{cite web |last=Ogilvie |first=Trisian |date=June 17, 2015 |title=E3 2015: LEGO DIMENSIONS BUILDS A PORTAL GAME FOR EVERYONE |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/17/e3-2015-lego-dimensions-builds-a-portal-game-for-preschoolers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621230734/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/17/e3-2015-lego-dimensions-builds-a-portal-game-for-preschoolers |archive-date=June 21, 2015 |access-date=June 29, 2015 |publisher=IGN }} The Portal levels include Easter eggs based on Doug Rattmann hiding himself away.{{cite web |last=Philips |first=Tom |date=November 18, 2016 |title=It took Lego Dimensions players over a year to find the secret Portal Easter egg |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-11-18-lego-dimensions-secret-portal-easter-egg-found-after-more-than-a-year |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119023627/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-11-18-lego-dimensions-secret-portal-easter-egg-found-after-more-than-a-year |archive-date=November 19, 2016 |access-date=November 18, 2016 |work=Eurogamer }} The game also features a new song written by Jonathan Coulton and performed by Ellen McLain that plays over the end credits.
• The series' main antagonist, GLaDOS, was included as the dealer in Poker Night 2. This game features Portal themed unlockables such as playing cards, table and room. Wheatley is also featured as a bargaining chip. A Portal based downloadable content for Zen Pinball 2 Pinball FX2 was made in collaboration with Valve and Zen Studios.{{cite web |date=May 5, 2015 |title=Portal is turning into a pinball game |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/5/8515441/portal-pinball |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819102639/https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/5/8515441/portal-pinball |archive-date=August 19, 2017 }}
• GLaDOS guest stars in Defense Grid: The Awakening in a full-story expansion.{{cite web |date=February 2, 2015 |title=Defense Grid: You Monster |work=Thunderbolt |url=http://www.thunderboltgames.com/review/defense-grid-you-monster |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093935/http://www.thunderboltgames.com/review/defense-grid-you-monster |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |last1=Kemph |first1=Calvin }}{{cite web |last=Tarason |first=Dominic |date=April 13, 2018 |title=Super Bomberman R returns a classic to PC with portals |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/13/super-bomberman-r-returns-a-classic-to-pc-with-portals/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211023/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/13/super-bomberman-r-returns-a-classic-to-pc-with-portals/ |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun}}{{cbignore}}
• A cosmetic set based on the Companion Cube was released as a visual replacement for the "Io" character in Valve's multiplayer online battle arena game, Dota 2.{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Sam |date=May 19, 2017 |title=Valve Reveals Companion Cube Cosmetic For Dota 2 Hero |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/05/19/valve-reveals-companion-cube-cosmetic-for-dota-2-hero |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519033242/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/05/19/valve-reveals-companion-cube-cosmetic-for-dota-2-hero |archive-date=May 19, 2017 |access-date=May 20, 2017 |website=IGN }}
• P-Body is a playable character in the Windows release of Super Bomberman R.
• In 2012, a laser engraved panel featuring Wheatley was launched aboard the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s Kounotori 3 mission on its way to resupply the International Space Station.{{Cite web |last=Pearlmanpublished |first=Robert Z. |date=2012-07-23 |title='Portal 2' Space: Video Game Robot Launched Into 'Actual' Space |url=https://www.space.com/16711-portal-2-video-game-robot-space.html |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Space.com |language=en}}
• In April 2018, set of seven Portal-themed DLC levels were added to the game The Ball.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
• A few Portal characters, including Chell and P-Body, feature as avatar customization items in the game Fall Guys for 5 crowns each.
• The portal gun is one of several weapons used alongside ones from other game and film franchises in a climactic fight for the 2021 film Free Guy which takes place within a video game.{{cite web |last=Egan |first=Toussaint |date=August 14, 2021 |title=Free Guy's IP-bonanza ending was inspired by the entire crew |url=https://www.polygon.com/22622314/free-guy-ending-interview |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211023/https://www.polygon.com/22622314/free-guy-ending-interview |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |accessdate=August 14, 2021 |work=Polygon}}{{cbignore}}
• A reference to GLaDOS appears in a sub-quest in Cyberpunk 2077 as a murderous AI driving a taxi and eventually tries to kill the protagonist.{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2020 |title=There's A Reference To Portal's GLaDOS in Cyberpunk 2077 |url=https://www.thegamer.com/cyberpunk-portal-glados-taxi/ |access-date=January 24, 2022 |website=TheGamer |language=en-US}}
• In 2022, GEICO released a commercial entitled "The Gecko Visits Portal", featuring elements from the Portal games such as an unreleased test chamber shown in trailers for Portal 2, with McLain reprising her role as GLaDOS.{{cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=January 12, 2022 |title=Geico made the Portal ad we never asked for |url=https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2022/1/12/22881121/geico-portal-ad-never-asked-for-gecko-glados |accessdate=January 12, 2022 |work=The Verge}}
• Rocket League released free DLC that includes a variety of items from the Portal series available for vehicle customization.{{Cite web |title=Rocket League Introduces Free Portal DLC This Week |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rocket-league-introduces-free-portal-dlc-this-week/1100-6432644/ |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=GameSpot |language=en}}
• Evil Genius 2: World Domination includes a free Portal themed expansion pack which adds Portal-themed rooms and traps to the game.{{Cite web |title=Aperture Science Meets Evil Genius │ FREE New DLC |url=https://evilgeniusgame.com/en/news/aperture-science-portal-evil-genius-dlc |access-date=January 24, 2022 |website=Evil Genius |language=en}}
• Escape Simulator features a free Portal Escape Chamber DLC in which players will need to escape from the Aperture Science Laboratories by solving various puzzles.{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2023 |title=Escape Simulator - Official Portal Escape Chamber DLC Trailer |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/escape-simulator-official-portal-escape-chamber-dlc-trailer |access-date=September 11, 2023 |website=IGN |language=en}}

Portal Prelude is a 2008 single-player mod that takes place before the events of Portal. A remastered version using Nvidia RTX Remix was released in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Portal: Prelude |url=http://www.portalprelude.com/rtx.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718144803/http://www.portalprelude.com/rtx.php |archive-date=July 18, 2023 |access-date= |website=portalprelude}}

{{Main|Portal Stories: Mel}}

Portal Stories: Mel is a single-player mod of Portal 2 released on June 25, 2015, developed by Prism Studios.

Portal Stories: VR is a single-player virtual reality fangame of Portal 2 released on May 16, 2016, developed by Prism Studios.{{Cite web |title=Portal Stories: VR on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/446750/Portal_Stories_VR/ |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}

{{Main|Aperture Tag: The Paint Gun Testing Initiative}}

Aperture Tag: The Paint Gun Testing Initiative is a 2014 first-person puzzle-platform video game developed by the Aperture Tag Team.

{{Main|Thinking with Time Machine}}

Thinking with Time Machine is a single-player mod for Portal 2 released on April 18, 2014, developed by Ruslan Rybka, also known as Stridemann, and released by SignHead Studio.

{{Main|Portal Reloaded}}

Portal Reloaded is a 2021 single-player mod for Portal 2 developed by Jannis Brinkmann.{{cite web|url=https://bit-tech.net/features/gaming/pc/portal-reloaded-is-the-game-portal-2-should-have-been/1/|title=Portal Reloaded is the game Portal 2 should have been|first=Rick|last=Lane|work=Bit-Tech|date=June 29, 2021|access-date=October 25, 2022}}

{{Main|Portal Revolution}}

Portal: Revolution is a 2024 single-player mod for Portal 2 developed by Second Face Software. It serves as a prequel to Portal 2!

{{Main|Mari0}}

Mari0 is a fan-made video game released on March 3, 2012, that combines elements of the video games Super Mario Bros. and Portal.Mari0 Puts a Portal Gun in Super Mario Bros {{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5835600/mari0-puts-a-portal-gun-in-super-mario-bros |title=Mari0 is What Happens when Mario Gets a Portal Gun |date=August 29, 2011 |access-date=February 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204411/http://kotaku.com/5835600/mari0-puts-a-portal-gun-in-super-mario-bros |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }} - Kotaku

In August 2011, Dan Trachtenberg released a fan film based on the series called Portal: No Escape. The video would later go viral.{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/08/portal-no-escape-a-live-action-short-film/ |title=Portal: No Escape, A Live Action Short Film |last1=Wood |first1=Roy |date=August 27, 2011 |access-date=September 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920065737/https://www.wired.com/2011/08/portal-no-escape-a-live-action-short-film/ |archive-date=September 20, 2016 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/cloverfield-sequel-dan-trachtenberg-portal-no-escape-fan-film-1538150 |title=Cloverfield sequel director Dan Trachtenberg caught Hollywood's eye with this Portal fan film |last1=Skipper |first1=Ben |date=January 15, 2016 |access-date=September 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920080828/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/cloverfield-sequel-dan-trachtenberg-portal-no-escape-fan-film-1538150 |archive-date=September 20, 2016 }}

The Portal games have found application in educational aspects outside of game development. The first game was praised as an example of instructional scaffolding where the student is first given an environment to learn new tools with sufficient hand-holding, but these facets are slowly removed as the student proceeds.{{Cite journal |title=A Portal to Student Learning: What Instruction Librarians can Learn from Video Game Design |first=Nicholas |last=Schiller |year=2008 |url=http://www.mendeley.com/research/portal-student-learning-instruction-librarians-learn-video-game-design/ |access-date=June 25, 2009 |journal=Reference Services Review |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=351–365 |doi=10.1108/00907320810920333 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061501/http://www.mendeley.com/research/portal-student-learning-instruction-librarians-learn-video-game-design/ |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |citeseerx=10.1.1.623.999}} At least one college, Wabash College, introduced Portal as part of required coursework; at Wabash, the game is used as an example of Erving Goffman's dissemination on dramaturgy, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/06/column_lingua_franca_portal_an.php |title=Column: 'Lingua Franca' – Portal and the Deconstruction of the Institution |publisher=GameSetWatch |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=June 1, 2009 |first=Daniel |last=Johnson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605155924/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/06/column_lingua_franca_portal_an.php |archive-date=June 5, 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102951-College-Professor-Requires-Students-to-Study-Portal |title=College Professor Requires Students to Study Portal |first=Tom |last=Goldman |publisher=The Escapist |date=August 22, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825173617/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102951-College-Professor-Requires-Students-to-Study-Portal |archive-date=August 25, 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/news/intro-to-glados-101-a-professors-decision-to-teach-portal/3206/ |title=Intro to GLaDOS 101: A Professor's Decision to Teach Portal |first=Patrick |last=Klepek |date=May 18, 2011 |access-date=May 18, 2011 |publisher=Giant Bomb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521075740/http://www.giantbomb.com/news/intro-to-glados-101-a-professors-decision-to-teach-portal/3206/ |archive-date=May 21, 2011 }}

At a mid-2011 presentation at the 2011 Games for Change Festival at New York University, Gabe Newell stated Valve's intention to direct Portal and Portal 2 towards education. Newell stated that Valve "doesn't see divide between making a game that can do well and be educational", and was already working with schools to develop lesson plans around the game.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/06/23/newell-portal-2-has-hit-three-million-sales/ |title=Newell: Portal 2 has hit three million sales |first=Tyler |last=Wilde |date=June 23, 2011 |access-date=June 28, 2012 |work=PC Gamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225071221/http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/06/23/newell-portal-2-has-hit-three-million-sales |archive-date=December 25, 2011 }} In one example, Valve brought in students from nearby Evergreen School to watch them interact with the game in an educational setting.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/09/portal-is-used-to-teach-science-as-valve-gives-game-away-for-limited-time/ |title=Portal is used to teach science as Valve gives game away for limited time |first=Ben |last=Kuchera |date=September 16, 2011 |access-date=June 28, 2012 |publisher=Ars Technica |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604065345/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/09/portal-is-used-to-teach-science-as-valve-gives-game-away-for-limited-time/ |archive-date=June 4, 2012 }} As part of this effect, the company promoted Portal for free use by any user during September 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/38654/Portal-goes-free-in-Valve-education-push |title=Portal goes free in Valve education push |first=Rob |last=Crossley |date=September 16, 2011 |access-date=June 28, 2012 |work=Develop |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716023211/http://www.develop-online.net/news/38654/Portal-goes-free-in-Valve-education-push |archive-date=July 16, 2012 }}

In speaking at the 2012 Games for Change Festival, Newell said that the response to these efforts was praised by educators.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/geekmom/2012/06/valve-wants-schools-to-teach-with-portals/ |title=Valve Wants Schools to Teach With Portals |first=Ariane |last=Coffin |date=June 28, 2012 |access-date=June 28, 2012 |magazine=Wired |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701015552/http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2012/06/valve-wants-schools-to-teach-with-portals |archive-date=July 1, 2012 }} Their efforts culminated in a "Teach with Portals" program that Newell announced at the Festival. The effort is built on a standalone "Puzzle Maker" that incorporates the level editor for Portal 2 that was released as free content for the game in early 2012. Valve had built the Puzzle Maker with the aid of educators, as to make it suitable for lesson plans as well as making it as easy for teachers to use to construct such plans. The Puzzle Maker is not limited to physics, but designed to be modular so that other fields, such as fundamental electronics or chemistry, could be included. The "Teach with Portals" initiative is built atop a stripped-down version of the Steam client, "Steam for Schools", that is designed to be used in schools, allowing instructors to control the installation of the games and lesson plans on the students' computers. These tools, as well as copies of Portal 2 and the Puzzle Maker, are being offered for free for all educators.

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Official website|www.thinkwithportals.com}}

{{Portal series}}

{{Half-Life}}

{{Valve}}

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