Portal 2

The year marked a series of fixes for Linux clients, addressing persistent crashes that affected gameplay. From June 2024 to February 2025, multiple updates resolved compatibility issues, ensuring a smoother experience for players on that platform.

• Linux Fixes: A sequence of updates focused on fixing crashes for Linux clients, with notable updates on:
  • June 3, 2024
  • June 24, 2024
  • January 20, 2025
  • February 5, 2025

The year marked significant improvements for Portal 2 with the resolution of several critical exploits in cooperative mode. On February 2, 2024, a major patch addressed multiple vulnerabilities, including fixes for remote code execution and out-of-memory exploits that could affect players during co-op gameplay.

• Exploits Fixed: The February 2 patch fixed various exploits that could lead to crashes or remote code execution against a co-op partner.
  • Resolved remote code execution exploit in cooperative mode.
  • Fixed out-of-memory exploit in cooperative mode.
  • Addressed exploits that could crash remote players.

• Ping Tool Functionality: On January 5, 2024, the patch fixed issues with the ping tool that was not functioning correctly during cooperative gameplay.

• Local Splitscreen Play: A fix on April 26, 2023, resolved issues preventing players from using local splitscreen mode.

The March 2023 patch marked a significant update for Portal 2, focusing on critical security fixes, particularly addressing remote code execution vulnerabilities in co-op mode. This followed earlier updates aimed at improving stability and user experience.

• Security Fixes:
  • Fixed remote code execution and crash exploits in co-op on March 14, 2023.
  • Addressed similar vulnerabilities reported via HackerOne on November 19, 2022.
• Crash Exploits:
  • Resolved several co-op game crashing exploits on March 25, 2023, ensuring a smoother multiplayer experience.
  • Fixed additional remote player crash exploits on December 15, 2022.
• Gameplay Improvements:
  • Fixed a regression in ping tool targeting on March 14, 2023, enhancing communication between players.
• Launch Stability:
  • Fixed a crash on launch for some users on December 15, 2022, improving accessibility for new players.
• Controller Enhancements:
  • Fixed issues with LED color on supported controllers on July 21, 2022, and again on April 29, 2022, ensuring better visual feedback during gameplay.

Portal 2 received significant updates during its eleventh year, highlighted by the update to DXVK version 2.0 on February 24, 2022, which improved performance. Additionally, the game saw enhancements in controller support on June 2, 2021, making it more accessible for players using various controllers.

• Localization Update: The game received an update to its localization on January 31, 2022, improving accessibility for non-English speaking players.

Portal 2 received several important bug fixes during its tenth year since release, notably addressing game launch issues on OSX and correcting broken voice overs in various localized languages. Additionally, there were improvements to controller glyphs and audio settings in non-English languages.

• OSX Launch Fix: The game launch issue on OSX was resolved on March 2, 2021, ensuring players could start the game without problems.
• Voice Over Corrections: On March 1, 2021, the game fixed broken voice overs in Russian, French, Spanish, and German, enhancing the experience for players in those languages.
• DLC Launch Issue: A potential fix for the motion pack DLC launch issue was implemented on March 1, 2021.
• Controller Glyph Fix: The game corrected issues with controller glyphs on March 1, 2021, improving the user interface for players using controllers.
• Audio Settings Fix: Also on March 1, 2021, the game fixed unusable audio settings in non-English languages, ensuring better accessibility.
• Map Compilation: Compiled cubemaps were added to the a3_crazy_box map on March 1, 2021, enhancing visual quality.
• Text Fixes: The text on the PeTI map selection was fixed on March 1, 2021, improving clarity for players.

Tracked sources for Portal 2 were limited between 2015-04-18 and 2016-04-18, with only 2 verified changes captured in this window. The recorded activity centers on Steam Controller Integration and Steam Controller Integration and sits between Steam Controller Integration on 2014-06-17 (new_content) and Fixed broken voice overs in localized languages on 2021-03-01 (bug_fix), making this a light but still readable period in the game's history.

• Verified activity: 2015-10-10 - Steam Controller Integration: Added native Steam Controller integration allowing rebinding of game actions.; 2015-10-10 - Steam Controller Integration: Added native Steam Controller integration allowing rebinding of game actions..
• What stands out: The period is defined more by a small number of isolated updates than by a large roadmap beat or expansion-sized release.
• Before this window: The closest earlier tracked activity was Steam Controller Integration on 2014-06-17 (new_content).
• After this window: The next tracked activity was Fixed broken voice overs in localized languages on 2021-03-01 (bug_fix).

Tracked sources for Portal 2 were limited between 2014-04-18 and 2015-04-18, with only 2 verified changes captured in this window. The recorded activity centers on Steam Controller Integration and Steam Controller Integration and sits between Steam Workshop Integration on 2012-05-08 (new_content) and Steam Controller Integration on 2015-10-10 (new_content), making this a light but still readable period in the game's history.

• Verified activity: 2014-06-17 - Steam Controller Integration: Added native Steam Controller integration allowing rebinding of game actions.; 2014-06-17 - Steam Controller Integration: Added native Steam Controller integration allowing rebinding of game actions..
• What stands out: The period is defined more by a small number of isolated updates than by a large roadmap beat or expansion-sized release.
• Before this window: The closest earlier tracked activity was Steam Workshop Integration on 2012-05-08 (new_content).
• After this window: The next tracked activity was Steam Controller Integration on 2015-10-10 (new_content).

The Perpetual Testing Initiative (PeTI) launched on May 8, 2012, transforming Portal 2 by allowing players to create and share custom test chambers. This update introduced a powerful Puzzle Maker Tool and integrated Steam Workshop support, enabling a vibrant community of creators to thrive.

• Perpetual Testing Initiative (PeTI): Players gained the ability to construct their own test chambers, marking a significant expansion of gameplay.
• Puzzle Maker Tool: This user-friendly tool facilitated the creation and publication of custom test chambers, enhancing player engagement.
• Steam Workshop Integration: The update allowed players to easily browse, download, and share community-crafted puzzles, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Aperture Science Employee of the Moment Award: Beta tester Mevious received this award for outstanding contributions to test chamber design, highlighting community involvement.
• Access to Mevious' Maps: Players could subscribe to and play maps created by Mevious, showcasing the creativity within the community.

Peer Review, a free DLC, launched on October 4, 2011, introducing an all-new co-op adventure featuring Atlas, P-Body, and GLaDOS, set after the events of Portal 2. Additionally, players gained access to the Simplified Puzzle Creator and a community site for player-created puzzles on October 27, enhancing the creative possibilities within the game.

• Free DLC: Peer Review released on October 4, 2011, adding a new co-op campaign.
• Puzzle Creation Tools: The Simplified Puzzle Creator launched on October 27, 2011, allowing players to create and share custom puzzles.
  • Community Site: A dedicated site for player-created puzzles also launched on October 27, 2011, facilitating easy access and sharing.
• New Music: Songs to Test By: Volume 2 released on July 1, 2011, enriching the game's soundtrack.
• Soundtrack Completion: Songs to Test By: Volume 3, the final volume of the soundtrack, became available on September 30, 2011.
• Improved Puzzle Discovery: A feature launched on October 27, 2011, enabling players to quickly find and add new puzzles with a single click.