Portal 2 PS3 Steamworks features detailed

Valve details the Steamworks features you can expect from the PlayStation 3 version of Portal 2, and reveals how you'll link the accounts to access them.

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We knew that Portal 2 is going to include Steamworks, but now Valve has detailed those features.

The specific feature set included with the Steamworks will be cross-platform match-making and play, friends lists, chat, and achievements. It will also include Steam Cloud saves, allowing users to start a game on the PlayStation 3 and continue it on another PS3.

Similar to playing PC games on Steam, it will serve as an overlay within the game itself. This lets users quickly access Steam friends, game invites, and so on. Steam Achievements are also linked to the account, so you'll be earning them and PlayStation Trophies simultaneously when you play on PS3. Score.

You'll need to link your PlayStation Network account to your Steam account in-game to access the features, but it seems like a simple enough process. And of course, if you don't have an account, you can create one for free. Valve has set up a FAQs page for more information.

Portal 2 is due out for the PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 next Tuesday, April 19. If you've got a hankering for more Portaly goodness before then, check out our recent preview and interview with project lead Joshua Weier and writer Erik Wolpaw.

Editor-In-Chief
From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 13, 2011 11:45 AM

    Comment on Portal 2 PS3 Steamworks features detailed, by Steve Watts.

    • reply
      April 13, 2011 11:51 AM

      Besides cross-platform coop (PS3,PC,Mac) go fuck yourselves, Xbox users there is cloud-saving between all 3 platforms as well. So you can save on your PC and continue on your PS3.

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        April 13, 2011 11:51 AM

        [deleted]

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          April 13, 2011 11:53 AM

          [deleted]

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          April 13, 2011 12:01 PM

          Boo

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          April 13, 2011 12:07 PM

          Interesting that they're using steamcloud when cloud saves are one of the features of PSN+.

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          April 14, 2011 6:02 AM

          Well that sucks.. that was one of the reasons I was looking forward to steamworks on the ps3 for this game. I wanted to play portal 2 on my 65" TV + surround sound... and when the controller got frustrating I would save and get past the annoying part on my PC.

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        April 13, 2011 12:01 PM

        Here's why you would want the cloud save support for the Mac:

        http://thenextweb.com/shareables/files/2010/05/PortalMacRage.jpg

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        April 13, 2011 12:15 PM

        [deleted]

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          April 13, 2011 12:18 PM

          well the main obvious goal is to advertise steam, you're required to make a steam account to play online on ps3 so theres some nice marketing there

          the other goal...that I wish would happen, is if other companies implement steamworks on ps3, and in the end we dont have to use the psn friends list to chat/join games. steam is so much cleaner and intuitive

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          April 13, 2011 12:18 PM

          World domination.

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          April 13, 2011 12:47 PM

          [deleted]

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            April 13, 2011 2:17 PM

            What are doing with XBL users piss?

            Or do you mean Piss off XBL users?

            It's very confusing when people don't know how to write.

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          April 13, 2011 12:50 PM

          I thought control over patches and content updates was a big reason

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          April 13, 2011 12:53 PM

          Quicker patches?

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          April 13, 2011 1:02 PM

          Make MS look retarded as usual. They did it on the PC.

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            April 13, 2011 1:09 PM

            [deleted]

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            April 13, 2011 1:39 PM

            Sometimes I wonder if Gabe has a small chip on his shoulder from the years he spent at MS. Not to say that's what motivated Steamworks on PS3, the reasoning behind that is clear.

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              April 13, 2011 1:46 PM

              Did he leave Microsoft on bad terms? I haven't read anything that would indicate that.

              I think it just has to do with the fact that Sony will allow Valve more freedom than they had on XBox Live. TF2 updates were a disaster, and I don't think Valve wants to at least prevent that from happening again on one console.

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                April 13, 2011 1:50 PM

                [deleted]

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                  April 13, 2011 1:55 PM

                  The way to get free DLC on the 360 is to offer it for free on the PS3. They didn't make or maintain the PS3 port of TF2, so they were kind of screwed in terms of being able to update TF2 content.

                  The other thing is that all updates need to go through Microsoft. My understanding is that with Steam on the PS3, that Valve will have control over the updates and will be able to push them out at the same time as the PC/Mac updates without any interference. If I'm wrong then someone correct me.

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                    April 13, 2011 2:31 PM

                    PS3 updates still have to go through certification. The main advantages of Steam on PS3 is stuff like Steamcloud, matchmaking etc.

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              April 13, 2011 1:51 PM

              I wouldn't say so, quite the contrary. From what I heard he made a lot of money out of Microsoft, and you could see until very recently that all their development and software was VERY MS-centric (SDK relies on Visual Studio, Steam used IEView, CS/HL used native windows UI controls)... nothing indicates they dislike Microsoft.

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        April 13, 2011 12:51 PM

        i wonder how useful cloud saving would even be between PS3 and PC. do people really imagine themselves playing through the SP between platforms?

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      April 13, 2011 12:11 PM

      ha the steam overlay is in the ps3 version too
      http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/13/valve-reveals-portal-2-for-playstation-3-steam-details/

      i can text chat with you mofos on ps3! would be crazy if other companies started using steamworks for ps3.....the xbox live invite/join system definitely works well so it'd be nice of valve took the initiative to just do everything for sony

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        April 13, 2011 12:17 PM

        [deleted]

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          April 13, 2011 1:22 PM

          I dunno, legitimate cross-platform multiplayer is amazing. Maybe you're right, but this is a huge deal to me and I hope it's a sign of things to come.

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          April 13, 2011 1:45 PM

          Valve isn't helping Sony in any way. PSN already had cloud save, friends and chat features. It's more about Valve getting to bring Steam onto the playstation, which is a large market for them they've been unable to directly reach.

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            April 13, 2011 1:52 PM

            [deleted]

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            April 13, 2011 1:53 PM

            [deleted]

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              April 13, 2011 1:55 PM

              All of which makes my point that this is more for Valve's benefit to reach new customers (and provide a middlewear client for PS3 developers) than Sony's. Sony has no need for what Steamworks brings.

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                April 13, 2011 2:07 PM

                If Capcom said 'OK now you PS3 people can play the Steam-PC people in Street Fighter', it seems like it would be a giant win for all involved.

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                  April 13, 2011 2:19 PM

                  For Capcom. Sony doesn't care about PC sales. It's not like it is going to noticeably increase the number of sales for the PS3 version (unless they give away a free PC version too, like Valve is doing).

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      April 13, 2011 12:23 PM

      Imagine if steam became the digital download service of choice for the consoles too. One system to rule them all so to speak.

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      April 13, 2011 1:00 PM

      I am playing Portal 1 again, this time with the dev commentary. Man, Valve can really do no wrong.

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      April 13, 2011 1:09 PM

      Can you play Co-op with 1 person playing on the PS3 and the other playing on the PC with the same PC steam account that is linked to the PS3? Just curious.

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        April 13, 2011 1:14 PM

        all signs point to yes, 1 time access code for pc, infinite access code for ps3(since you need the disc anyways to play, thats antipiracy enough)

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        April 13, 2011 2:01 PM

        No.

        From the FAQ page:
        "Can two players play online co-op with each other using a single purchase of Portal 2 for PlayStation®3?

        Only PlayStation®3 split-screen co-op can be played using a single copy of the game. When you purchase a new copy of Portal 2 for PlayStation®3, you will receive an in-box code which provides your linked Steam account with access to your copy of Portal 2 on your computer. The game is still owned by only a single Steam account--another copy will be required to play online co-op with a friend."

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          April 13, 2011 6:58 PM

          That's a real missed opportunity I think. You could allow a PS3 and a PC on the same LAN with the same copy to play with each other and do the separation of versions if it's over the Internet.

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      April 13, 2011 1:24 PM

      http://chattypics.com/files/CapturePNG_pydk7klnghbz56pyi2x9.png

      The 33 people on that want list need to be buying the game now!

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      April 13, 2011 1:52 PM

      [deleted]

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        April 15, 2011 4:04 AM

        Sony owns SecuRom, I think they would make their own serial system before they signed that over to Valve.

        Why exactly would it be awesome for more DRM on games?

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      April 13, 2011 3:38 PM

      Excited? of course I am http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/04/13/portal-2-writer-says-it-39-s-the-best-valve-single-player-game-ever.aspx here's another article -- Portal 2 Writer Says It's The Best Valve Single-Player Game Ever... Valve doesn't just say things like this so I'll take their word for it :P

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      April 13, 2011 4:13 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 13, 2011 4:48 PM

      Steam on a console. Killer combo. This is a key feature that more games should support. Titles that take advantage of cross platform play and community will do better than their stove piped rivals.

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      April 13, 2011 7:18 PM

      Can I buy the PS3 version w/o a PS3 and still activate the PC version on Steam?

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