Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

89 Comments

Portal 2 PS3 Includes Cross-Platform Play, PC/Mac Versions

In a perfect world, every PS3 game will ship with Steamworks support from now on.

As expected, the PS3 version of Portal 2 will feature full cross-platform compatibility with the PC and Mac versions of the game. According to a recent press release, PS3 owners will be able to chat and jump into matchmaking with PC and Mac users, and they’ll also be able to save their game using Steam’s cloud-based service, ensuring that progress is never lost when switching platforms.

And speaking of different platforms, the PC and Mac version of Portal 2 will also come free to PS3 users who link their PSN and Steam accounts, much like how the Mac version of a Steam Play game comes free to PC owners.    

  

  

"We made a promise to gamers at E3 that Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 would be the best console version of the product," Valve head honcho Gabe Newell said in a statement. "Working together with Sony we have identified a set of features we believe are very compelling to gamers. We hope to expand upon the foundation being laid in Portal 2 with more Steam features and functionality in DLC and future content releases," he said.

The PS3 version of Portal 2 was announced back at Sony’s E3 2010 press briefing and traditional Steamworks functionality was promised at the event. This version of the game is still slated to ship day and date with the PC, Mac, and Xbox 360 versions in April, 2011.

89 Comments

Avatar image for bradnicholson
BradNicholson

1557

Forum Posts

665

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By BradNicholson

As expected, the PS3 version of Portal 2 will feature full cross-platform compatibility with the PC and Mac versions of the game. According to a recent press release, PS3 owners will be able to chat and jump into matchmaking with PC and Mac users, and they’ll also be able to save their game using Steam’s cloud-based service, ensuring that progress is never lost when switching platforms.

And speaking of different platforms, the PC and Mac version of Portal 2 will also come free to PS3 users who link their PSN and Steam accounts, much like how the Mac version of a Steam Play game comes free to PC owners.    

  

  

"We made a promise to gamers at E3 that Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 would be the best console version of the product," Valve head honcho Gabe Newell said in a statement. "Working together with Sony we have identified a set of features we believe are very compelling to gamers. We hope to expand upon the foundation being laid in Portal 2 with more Steam features and functionality in DLC and future content releases," he said.

The PS3 version of Portal 2 was announced back at Sony’s E3 2010 press briefing and traditional Steamworks functionality was promised at the event. This version of the game is still slated to ship day and date with the PC, Mac, and Xbox 360 versions in April, 2011.
Avatar image for oneandonlybige
OneAndOnlyBigE

477

Forum Posts

9

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By OneAndOnlyBigE

Awesome!! Another reason to get a PS3.

Avatar image for comradecrash
comradecrash

603

Forum Posts

40

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By comradecrash

Wow...thats so cool!

Avatar image for jroo
JRoo

19

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By JRoo

That is actually really cool.

Avatar image for hiimmikecruz
hiimmikecruz

281

Forum Posts

388

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By hiimmikecruz

If I could preorder PS3 games to get hats for TF2 that would be amazing.

Avatar image for noby_guy
noby_guy

109

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By noby_guy

Valve...I heart you.

Avatar image for stalefishies
stalefishies

488

Forum Posts

39

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By stalefishies

This is pretty damn fantastic, I hope this becomes a new standard.

Avatar image for smashedcontrollers
SmasheControllers

2951

Forum Posts

25972

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 6

Holy Fuck, Really. This sounds awesome!

Avatar image for deactivated-5afdd08777389
deactivated-5afdd08777389

1651

Forum Posts

37

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

A bummer for us XB360 owners! :-( Good on Sony for being open though!

Avatar image for vorbis
Vorbis

2762

Forum Posts

967

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 11

Edited By Vorbis

Had planned to get it on PC but if it comes with the PS3 version I might aswell get that. I think Portal 2 with Move support would be the thing to push me into picking one up, get on it Valve.

Avatar image for mooseymcman
MooseyMcMan

12787

Forum Posts

5577

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 13

Edited By MooseyMcMan

Neat! Be even better if I had Steam on a computer that could run Portal 2, but then, I wouldn't be buying the PS3 version, now would I? But now I can play co-op with my PC owning friend(s) now. 

Avatar image for skald
Skald

4450

Forum Posts

621

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 7

Edited By Skald

Nice. I never thought Sony would let something like this happen.

Avatar image for frankavich
Frankavich

5

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Frankavich

This is the future of video games, not one console, but mutiplatform compatability.

Avatar image for foggen
Foggen

1181

Forum Posts

2010

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By Foggen

Sold.

Avatar image for xyzygy
xyzygy

10595

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By xyzygy

This is cool... but won't the PS3 controller severely limit the abilities of the user, compared to the PC user? For instance, you can play Portal much faster on the PC because of KB/M. Consoles take a little while long because of the nature of analog sticks. So that brings up the questions of the equality of control between one person playing the PS3 and another playing the PC in a multiplayer session. 
 
Personally having no care in the matter of multiplayer I'll be picking this up for the 360. Even if I wanted to play it online it's not like there'll be a shortage of people online anyway.

Avatar image for solidusmaximus
SolidusMaximus

43

Forum Posts

83

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By SolidusMaximus

3 versions for the price of one sweet.

Avatar image for pkshields
Pkshields

827

Forum Posts

113

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 8

Edited By Pkshields

 3 way Steam Play and cloud saves? Done and done.    

Avatar image for cgoodno
cgoodno

172

Forum Posts

26

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By cgoodno

IMHO, this should be the future of all multiplatform HD games.  I get it on the 360 or PS3 and can play it on the PC as well.

Avatar image for surkov
Surkov

1019

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Surkov

Question: If I buy the PS3 version and I put the PC version on my brother's PC on using my Steam account, can we play coop?  Or can I only play one version at a time on my account?

Avatar image for rirse
Rirse

330

Forum Posts

8

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Rirse
@DreamsTornaApart: There is already a Portal 2 pin in TF2 that isn't obtainable at the moment.
Avatar image for robertorri
RobertOrri

1207

Forum Posts

433

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By RobertOrri

This should be the future of home computers and consoles... games for all of them, compatible with each other, ensuring that players can enjoy them with their friends, regardless of what hardware they decided to buy.
 
Sadly, I don't see the major platform holders agreeing with me, deciding instead to splinter the userbases.

Avatar image for shabs
Shabs

906

Forum Posts

312

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 4

Edited By Shabs

Don't have a PS3, but that's very cool of Valve.  Every PC/Mac player who has a PS3 would be best off buying the PS3 version. *thumbs up*

Avatar image for y2ken
Y2Ken

3308

Forum Posts

82

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 28

Edited By Y2Ken

This is a big deal. Next step would be having all the PS3 saves in the Cloud. But for now I'll take this. May actually buy Portal 2 now to encourage this kind of thing. Well done, Valve and Sony.

Avatar image for cazamalos
Cazamalos

991

Forum Posts

11

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Cazamalos

and both versions are free to play oline too

Avatar image for ssully
SSully

5753

Forum Posts

315

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By SSully

Wow that is amazing. So I get it for PC like I was planning, and I can get it for ps3?!? What more could i ask for? 

Avatar image for steveolio
Steveolio

30

Forum Posts

46

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Steveolio

This is AMAZING!!!  I was only going to get it for the PC, but now I'm getting the PS3 version with PC version!!! 
I <3 Valve!!!

Avatar image for this_dude
This_Dude

311

Forum Posts

508

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By This_Dude

afk, switching pre-order to PS3 version.  2 Platforms for the price of 1,   sold.

Avatar image for is343
is343

118

Forum Posts

32

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By is343

Awesome to the max.

Avatar image for evilnights
EvilNiGHTS

1169

Forum Posts

128

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

Edited By EvilNiGHTS

Dilemna! I generally buy the 360 version of multiplatform games, but this sounds compelling enough to opt for the PS3 version. Only the person I'll likely be playing co-op with will only be able to get the 360 version. Nooooo......

Avatar image for bassman2112
bassman2112

1212

Forum Posts

475

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 12

Edited By bassman2112

I had been worrying that VALVe was kind of... "Slipping" with all of the DotA 2 drama and delays, but this made me jump right back onto the bandwagon (been on it since 1999 <3).
 
Definitely getting the PS3 version now! Do you guys think that if the PC version is linked to your same Steam account on PC (I imagine it has to be), you can play co-op with someone on that same account (PC) while you join them on PS3 (same account)?
 
Edit: not 2003, 1999 haha.

Avatar image for tearhead
tearhead

2485

Forum Posts

17935

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 52

Edited By tearhead

This is amazing! I'm definitely getting the PS3 version! I fucking love Steam.

Avatar image for nadafinga
Nadafinga

1045

Forum Posts

36764

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 10

Edited By Nadafinga

The person who originally convinced me to play Portal only has a Mac, and I only have a PS3. The fact that we can play co-op together in the sequel is really exciting.

Avatar image for aasama
AAsama

85

Forum Posts

176

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By AAsama

Interesting. Cross-platform is usually frowned upon because of the edge PC users have, but in a co-op environment this should be less annoying. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

Avatar image for mosdl
mosdl

3422

Forum Posts

2951

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

Edited By mosdl

OK, when does Sony buy Valve and make Steam be part of the ps4?  Obviously Sony is working hard on getting Valve's love.

Avatar image for endlessobsidian
EndlessObsidian

523

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By EndlessObsidian

I wonder if PS Move will work with Portal 2 similar to how the Razor Hyrda works?

Avatar image for akeldama
Akeldama

4373

Forum Posts

28

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Akeldama

Dude....that solves my dilemma.

Avatar image for zidd
zidd

1940

Forum Posts

2905

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 24

Edited By zidd

Kudos to Valve for a killer cross-platform product. it almost makes up for their complete lack of understanding of what the "episodic" model is.... almost.

Avatar image for ssully
SSully

5753

Forum Posts

315

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By SSully
@RobertOrri said:
" This should be the future of home computers and consoles... games for all of them, compatible with each other, ensuring that players can enjoy them with their friends, regardless of what hardware they decided to buy.  Sadly, I don't see the major platform holders agreeing with me, deciding instead to splinter the userbases. "
Seriously, this is the exact reason why Valve is one of my favorite developers and software providers, they are fair to the customers. I will support whatever they do because of the simple fact they portray themselves as developers who actually give a damn about the customers. 
Avatar image for korwin
korwin

3919

Forum Posts

25

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By korwin

Man, this is a huge deal.  So when does the PS4 just become the Steam box? :D

Avatar image for sodapop7
sodapop7

705

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By sodapop7

Awesome, one less decision I have to make this year!

Avatar image for onigenko
Onigenko

333

Forum Posts

48

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Onigenko

Yep, I still love Valve.

Avatar image for the_painted
The_Painted

183

Forum Posts

22

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By The_Painted
@wewantsthering said:
" A bummer for us XB360 owners! :-( Good on Sony for being open though! "
Yes, and it's a bummer for us PS3 owners when Microsoft aggressively tries to secure timed exclusivity rights to DLC all the time. 
 
Anywho, I'm pretty excited by this. I'm not sure how well my laptop will be able to run Portal 2, so being able to get it on the PS3 and have a free copy of the PC version is handy.
Avatar image for mosdl
mosdl

3422

Forum Posts

2951

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

Edited By mosdl

I wonder if MS will counter with buy on 360, get free on Games for Windows?  This would begin a new war...

Avatar image for gs_dan
GS_Dan

1438

Forum Posts

68

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 1

Edited By GS_Dan
@xyzygy said:
" This is cool... but won't the PS3 controller severely limit the abilities of the user, compared to the PC user? For instance, you can play Portal much faster on the PC because of KB/M. Consoles take a little while long because of the nature of analog sticks. So that brings up the questions of the equality of control between one person playing the PS3 and another playing the PC in a multiplayer session.  Personally having no care in the matter of multiplayer I'll be picking this up for the 360. Even if I wanted to play it online it's not like there'll be a shortage of people online anyway. "
Shouldn't really matter, since it isn't competitive. 
Avatar image for sgt_match
sgt_match

141

Forum Posts

1931

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 10

Edited By sgt_match

valve, you warm my ice cold cynnical heart

Avatar image for xyzygy
xyzygy

10595

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By xyzygy
@GS_Dan said:
" @xyzygy said:
" This is cool... but won't the PS3 controller severely limit the abilities of the user, compared to the PC user? For instance, you can play Portal much faster on the PC because of KB/M. Consoles take a little while long because of the nature of analog sticks. So that brings up the questions of the equality of control between one person playing the PS3 and another playing the PC in a multiplayer session.  Personally having no care in the matter of multiplayer I'll be picking this up for the 360. Even if I wanted to play it online it's not like there'll be a shortage of people online anyway. "
Shouldn't really matter, since it isn't competitive.  "
I thought speedrunning was a pretty competitive part of Portal.
Avatar image for majortoms
MajorToms

493

Forum Posts

2158

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 3

Edited By MajorToms
@mosdl: 
I'm pretty sure Valve's games are only available through Steam on PC. That would be hilarious though.
Avatar image for shadowknight508
ShadowKnight508

796

Forum Posts

7680

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 6

Edited By ShadowKnight508

This is why Valve is such a popular developer among gamers. They are not afraid to take great ideas and make them into reality with their fine products. Other developers should take a look at this and hopefully more games will feature cross-platform play in the near future.

Avatar image for mosdl
mosdl

3422

Forum Posts

2951

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

Edited By mosdl
@MajorToms said:
" @mosdl:  I'm pretty sure Valve's games are only available through Steam on PC. That would be hilarious though. "
Especially if they then had to distribute steam with the game.
 
Also, Portal 2 on PC will be sold in boxed form (Amazon has it listed and priced).