The Desolation mod for Portal 2 features a graphical overhaul that will bring the game's visuals up to par with Half-Life: Alyx. Notably, Portal 2's Desolation mod first entered the public consciousness in late 2020, with development team Emberspark teasing a fan-made campaign packed with a new original story, original characters, and fresh locations. A gameplay teaser from the group also showcased a cybernetic Portal Gun referred to as the ARM. Apart from the occasional OST-related release, Emberspark has kept quiet about Desolation for quite some time.
Over 10 years after its release, Portal 2 continues to receive impressive mod builds that reignite interest in the award-winning experience. Portal 2 Reloaded hit PC via Steam in April 2021, for example, allowing players to traverse between two separate timelines - present-day and 20 years into the future. The time travel premise introduced new portal mechanics, too, specifically the green time portal denoted by a bright green rectangle. Fans will be pleased to learn that the Portal 2 Reloaded mod is not the only fan-made build they should have on their radar.
Recently, Emberspark Games (via PCGamesN) shared a new update on its Portal 2 Desolation project. A five-minute "Graphics Overhaul Showcase" highlights several graphical and lighting changes for the mod, all inspired by the upgrade City 17 received in Half-Life: Alyx. The team approached the overhaul with two goals in mind - enhancing Portal 2's surface rendering and drastically improving the lighting system. Because of the game's age, Valve couldn't previously differentiate between surface types such as metal and plastic. The Desolation group's all-new "physically based renderer" debuts a host of new shading methods, which meant the developers had to rebuild more than a fair few Portal 2 assets from the ground up. As such, this particular Portal 2 mod won't launch anytime soon.
The lighting improvements on display in the showcase warrant applause, as well. Emberspark notes that every light is now rendered in real-time, ensuring Portal 2 looks as modern as possible in terms of its visual quality. Will Desolation hold a candle to Half-Life: Alyx in the end? That much remains to be seen, yet it's clear Emberspark has no intention of leaving any stones unturned while bringing the beloved Portal sequel up to modern graphical standards.
Portal 2 originally launched digitally and at retail for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in April 2011. The puzzle title went on to win many a Game of the Year award, even while competing against the likes of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. But while fans hold out hope for a potential Portal 3 release, the only Portal-branded project Valve's developed in recent years came in the form of a free Steam Deck demo titled Aperture Desk Job.
Source: Emberspark Games/YouTube (via PCGamesN)