Newell: Portal 2 has sold 3 million copies since launch

by JC Fletcher on Jun 22nd 2011 12:17PM

Speaking at Games For Change in New York City (right now), Valve's Gabe Newell casually noted that Portal 2 has sold 3 million copies since its release on April 18. He didn't specify platforms, as it was an incidental reference and not a press release -- but he's probably referring to all platforms (PC, Mac, Xbox 360, and PS3).

Since Newell is one of the only people on Earth with access to Steam sales data, that 3 million number is likely to be one of the most accurate estimates of Portal 2's sales we'll ever see. For comparison, the first Portal had sold four million copies as of Portal 2's launch -- though that number doesn't take Steam into account.

Tags: gabe-newell, games-for-change-2011, mac, microsoft, pc, playstation, portal, portal-2, ps3, sales, valve, xbox

Reader Comments (43)

Hooray for good games that sell well!

That's a pretty good amount of sales. :) Bring out some DLC(not just for the motion control people) and I'm sure they'll get a lot more sales.

@Accessgranted

They don't need dlc....they already included all the content for the game...wait for portal 3

@Timjoy
Just play some custom maps, theres some great ones.

@Timjoy Dude, everyone knows Valve can't count to 3 ;o

"Portal had sold four million copies as of Portal 2's launch -- though that number doesn't take Steam into account."

And hopefully Steam doesn't add _too_ much to that amount, since they have given it away for free on numerous occasions.

@sigma8 Counting free copies as sales would be kind of dumb and make the 3m figure ridiculously inflated, considering you got the Steam version of Portal 2 for free with the PS3 copy.

@sigma8

Almost all (90%+) of my steam friends have portal, and I don't think anyone of us actually directly bought the game.

@sigma8
I have Orange Box, the XBLA version and i got it for free on steam on steam for mac day. I own the game 3 times and i'd buy it in any rerelease format for future consoles. hey Valve, 3ds version pls! (probably vita though for 2x joysticks)

@killerjuice

Shame on you then.

Yes, but the first Portal was sold almost entirely within the Orange Box bundle, one of the great values of full-price games.

still haven't got around to it. I hope the steam + ps3 deal never ends.

now hurry up and bring out the DLC

@Gonzie

Telling Valve to hurry up and release something... why didn't anyone think of that? Surely they will respond quickly and deliver, right? RIGHT?

@Uncle Jesse

I think it was lighthearted jesse...

@Getchow hands out my fries

I invented lighthearted!!

@Uncle Jesse
Lighthearted...JUST DO IT VALVE!!! Spaaaaaace!!! (I want playable Cave Johnson vs. MantisMen!)

I completed it and haven't played again since. Still didn't do any co-op stuff - are there challenges like in POrtal 1?

Portal 2 was good but it was too short - the puzzles were too few and too easy. There weren't any rooms where you really had to use all of the tricks together - and there wasn't much need for twitchy-ness (where as there was in Portal 1).

@b3n

was the story good? did Weatley get annoying? you're the first one whos pointed out flaws so i figure i would at least get the other side of the fence since this is one of those "we shall not speak ill of.." games.

@b3n

they said the DLC coming (for free, I believe?) will have more challenge maps. Could always change though.

@PR0F3TA

I agree that the puzzles were a little simplistic. There were only a few rooms in which I got stuck for more than a minute or two, and I beat the game within 10 hours without using an FAQ.

That said, there are new puzzle dynamics and the story is just as amazing as in the first game. Weatley is one of the /best/ parts of the game and they keep him interesting throughout.

Hold out until the game is around the $20 mark if you want, but every gamer should experience this one.

@PR0F3TA

Wheatley is one of the best things in the game. Definitely not annoying. I do agree though with a lot of what b3n said. I finished the single player and haven't touched it since. I don't know if I ever will again, really. Once you figure out the puzzles, there isn't a whole lot to come back to. It's not like you will be scratching your head since you've already beat them.

I have played the co-op though and it is a blast. There's no engaging story or anything like in the single player campaign - and the single player stuff is awesome - but I had more fun going through puzzles with a friend, timing and coordinating and talking things out. Again, it's short though. Too short. It just sort of ends all of a sudden.

Even though it's a bit short and not much re-playability, I absolutely loved every second of this game and it's the best game I have played this year so far. I was completely engrossed in the single player story and then the co-op portion was awesome.

@b3n

Yeah, the co-op tests are more complicated and often do require you to use most things in the room. Not as much twitch-reflex needed true.

@ Prof3ta - Wheatley never got annoying at all. In fact if you stand motionless and do nothing he has a lot more to say! I'd hang around sometimes just to hear what else he says.

I wish some of the 1P tests were harder, but i'd also accept MORE tests in place of tweaking the same ones to be hearder. I'm up for some DLC asap.

Steam numbers for Portal 1 would be really off, seeing as it was free (forever, not just a limited time) when Steam launched on Mac's (I think) so I'm sure lots of people got it then, or when they bought Portal 2

Nice! Congrats Valve!

That's a lot of science!

"Ohhh, nicely done!"

Wow! 3 Million copies sold....I'm making a note here, Huge Success.

i just started Portal 1 & got addicted. pretty cool seeing a game that actually makes me use some sort of intelligence instead of going all out unloading clips on enemies

Relevant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PQoO31VQLI&feature=player_embedded

Well, not really. it's just that when i see Valve and a number 3 in the same sentence i get like this, sorry guys

Gabe your great but......

Don't you dare talk unless it's something got to do with half life !!!!

That will be all

That's great cause i friggin loved this game. Now go finish Half Life damnit!

I was never sure if VGChartz was accurate or not, and I guess this proves that they aren't. They say 1.92 million.

OMG now we only need the retail sales and we can totally infere the Steam numbers!

More PIES for Fatty Gabe Newell then LoL

Portal 2 was the best game I played in a long while.

I'm leaving a note here...wait why would I do that? Nobody would read it.

I'm emailing Valve...wait, they wouldn't read that either.

I'm starting a petiton for Portal 2 DLC/Portal 3...huge success! Because obviously online petitions work all the time. Obviously.

So far this is my game of the year.

Glad to know that. I wish Steam all the luck, they respect gamers.

Wonder how many Half Life Episode 3 will sell....course I'll be too old to play it then.

@daevv
I'll be eating my dinner through a straw by then

And getting the hot nurse to pick up my "pen"

I find it encouraging that a game that doesn't involve shooting dudes in the face perpetually can sell this much. This industry has hope.

Also, $1000 on Left 4 Dead 3 (Left 3 Dead?) coming out before another HL game.

>:|

Portal 2

Newell: Portal 2 has sold 3 million copies since launch

Reader Comments (43)

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:19PM archipelagos said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:23PM Accessgranted said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 1:26PM Timjoy said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 2:56PM DarkNightRJ said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 3:30PM jameskond said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:27PM sigma8 said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:40PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:43PM killerjuice said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 1:04PM SuperWoody64 said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 2:35PM szimm said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:29PM Aerothorn said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:30PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:31PM Gonzie said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:53PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 1:27PM Getchow hands out my fries said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 2:08PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 11:44PM SuperWoody64 said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:32PM b3n said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:41PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:42PM sicsided said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:53PM vidguy said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:59PM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 1:00PM Goldenspiral said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:33PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:33PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:38PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:40PM Ospov said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:55PM xFenixKnightx said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:56PM Slight of Ham said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 12:59PM EDZiLLUH said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 1:24PM Mr Period said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 1:33PM A bit a puddin said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 1:40PM dtrain1183 said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 3:17PM Slayer15 said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 3:23PM fco said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 4:13PM RealityCheck2011 said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 5:15PM MGTrey said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 7:45PM Nutsnbolts said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 8:38PM Meghterb1985 said

Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 10:51PM daevv said

Posted: Jun 23rd 2011 5:25PM A bit a puddin said

Posted: Jun 23rd 2011 6:10PM iceveiled said

Posted: Jun 23rd 2011 6:11PM iceveiled said

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