Since Valve’s debut in the late 1990s, the studio has become one of the most ubiquitous names in gaming. Beyond the widespread success and popularity of its major franchises likeHalf-LifeandCounter-Strike, Valve revolutionizedthe online marketplace for gamingwith the launch of Steam in 2002. Many of the developer’s classic games likeHalf-Life 2andPortalhave seen universal praise and achieved iconic status among fans. Now, the newest version ofPortalreleased for the Nintendo Switch has seen an interesting discovery hidden within the game’s files.The surprise launch ofPortal: Companion Collectionfollowing Nintendo’s Partner Showcase was a momentous occasion for the fan-favorite franchise.Portal: Companion Collectionmarks the first time a Valve-developed game has released on a Nintendo console. While Nintendo had previously released the Clockstone-developedBridge Constructor: Portalspinoff, none ofValve’s in-house entries had ever come to Nintendo platforms. However, hackers have quickly noticed thatPortal: Companion Collectionis secretly housingHalf-Life 2files as well, tucked away within the compilation.RELATED:Portal: Companion Collection Surprise-LaunchedTwitter user OatmealDome shared the surprise discovery Tuesday followingtheCompanion Collection’s releaseafter diving into its files. While the user confirmed the Switch version’s similarities to the previously released port to Nvidia Shield, they also discovered a wealth ofHalf-Life 2files contained within. Though they confirmed “findingHalf-Life 2files is expected,” givenPortal’s use ofHalf-Life 2assets, the port reportedly contains unnecessary files such as NPCs and models exclusive toHalf-Life 2.
In later testing, OatmealDome was even able to use the files to mod a playable, albeit buggy, version ofHalf-Life 2into thePortalcompilation.Portalnotably borrows several art assets fromHalf-Life 2with thetwo franchises sharing the same universe. While many fans may be hopeful the inclusion ofHalf-Lifefiles may hint at aHalf-Life 2Switch port to come, Valve has not made any statement on the possibility.The Orange Box, another previous console compilation of Valve games, also notably skipped Nintendo platforms on its release in 2007.
The discovery ofHalf-Life 2files contained withinPortal: Companion Collectioncomes as many fans wonder what’s next for the iconic franchise. Recent Valve games likeAperture Desk Jobhave hinted at potentialHalf-Lifegamesto come.Half-Life 2also continues to see plenty of new mods and fan projects even 18 years after its release. WhileHalf-Lifefans may not see theHalf-Life 3they had waited for,Portal: Companion Collectionshows thatHalf-Life 2’s legacy lives on through Valve’s other franchises.
