Valve signals that Portal 2 will be a holiday release, and hints that it will not come bundled with other games, as did the original. The image shows Portal's classic sterile walls leading to a brand new terrain for the game: a lush, leafy forest. Game Informer's April issue features a '12-page cover story gives you the first details on Portal 2's new gameplay mechanics, storyline, and some surprising new twists.' To whet gamers' appetites, the magazine released its cover illustration Friday.

Run by retail megachain Game Stop, it's a regular platform for early peeks at games вЂ“ just remember that the magazine's publisher has an interesting in convincing you to buy those games. News of Portal 2 came Friday via Game Informer, a magazine that's heavy on scoops, yet light on journalistic vigor. Some even argue that this stocking-stuffer title outshone the more anticipated Half-Life and Team Fortress games that came bundled with Portal in the 2007 hit Orange Box for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Simple yet canny вЂ“ and with a healthy dash of humor вЂ“ Portal surprised many gamers. Trapped in a labyrinthine laboratory, the protagonist must puzzle her way through the game's many traps. The player's gun fires dimension-bending doorways that allow the main character to instantly travel from one area to another.

After years of fans crossing their fingers and a week of deciphering curious images patched into the original Portal, Valve has confirmed that a sequel is on the way.

Portal 2 pc cover