Portal: Alive & Kicking fan remake launches on Steam

After 15 years of development, the fan-made remake ‘Portal: Alive & Kicking’ has officially launched on Steam. Developed by Rhubarb & Rhubarb, the project provides a complete visual overhaul of the original Portal game, utilizing the engine and visual capabilities of Portal 2. The remake features improved puzzle cues, a new dynamic soundtrack, and enhanced graphics and textures.

The project received approval from original Portal developer Jeep Barnett. However, the release faced significant delays due to legal and technical hurdles involving Valve. Because the developers used source code provided by Valve under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), the project required a specific license approval that caused months of silence from Valve.

While the remake is free to download, users must already own a copy of Portal 2 on Steam to run it. An optional $3 USD DLC featuring the complete soundtrack is also available. Some users have reported technical difficulties finding the game directly in the Steam store, with workarounds suggested via SteamDB to initiate the installation.