Valve has supported several fan-made projects over the years, allowing titles like Black Mesa and Garry’s Mod to reach players through Steam. However, one long-awaited Portal remake has hit an unexpected roadblock despite being finished. The developers behind Portal: Alive & Kicking have confirmed that the project is complete after spending around 14 years in development. Unfortunately, they are still unable to release it because they are waiting for Valve to approve its launch.

The remake was first announced back in 2011 and aims to recreate the original Portal using the Portal 2 engine. According to its Steam page, the project retells Chell and GLaDOS’ story with updated visuals, gameplay improvements, a brand-new dynamic soundtrack, and changes that better align the original game’s world with Portal 2’s lore. The team also plans to release additional free content in the future.

It has been months since the mod was submitted to Valve

Many fans had assumed the project had quietly been abandoned due to the long development cycle. However, one of the developers, Dot Operator, recently confirmed on the Steam forums that the game is finished and ready to go. The only thing preventing its release is Valve’s approval.

I have not had any updates from Valve since filling out a non-commercial license template for Portal: Alive & Kicking a few months ago. I am grateful they initially gave us that option, but now we aren’t hearing anything.

The game is done, but we do not have the ability to release it on Steam right now.

Dot Operator, via Steam Community forums

According to the developer, Valve had originally supported the project by providing access to Portal 2’s source code after the team signed a non-disclosure agreement. More recently, the developers also completed a non-commercial release agreement, which they say was required before the remake could be published.

However, after submitting the paperwork several months ago, the team claims Valve has stopped responding. They also tried contacting the company through Steam Support but reportedly received no updates. Because the remake uses source code provided by Valve, the developers say they cannot release it on Steam (or anywhere else) without the company’s approval.

For now, Portal: Alive & Kicking remains in limbo despite being fully complete. Fans are now hoping Valve eventually responds so the remake can finally reach the public after more than a decade of development. Players may hope to boot it up on their new Steam Machine, ideally with a custom-made Portal-themed case.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.