Valve Continues Teasing Future Projects Through Games Like Aperture Desk Job

gamerant.com:

Despite several years' hiatus for some of Valve's biggest series, the developer has demonstrated an interest in gearing up its classics for reintroduction. With Aperture Desk Job and Half-Life: Alyx, fans are again being teased with possible rumors of future Valve projects. Underneath the surface of these games are new foundations for potential sequels or even spin-offs that could pick up where main entries left off.

Even with the momentum driven by fans eager to see a third entry in Portal or Half-Life, Valve maintains a distance from any rumors or alleged leaks, assuring that its current focus is ongoing projects such as refining the Steam Deck. Despite this, while Valve has abstained from even hinting toward confirmation of future projects, it is more than happy to toy with fans' expectations. Spoilers for Aperture Desk Job ahead.

The Steam Deck Gives Valve Good Reason to Revive Old Franchises

With the launch of Valve’s Steam Deck, fans of the Portal series were graced with Aperture Desk Job: a tech demo set within the universe of Portal. Intended to showcase the Steam Deck's capabilities, the game tells an engaging — albeit brief — story that takes players behind the scenes of Aperture Laboratories for a whistle-stop tour of the Steam Deck's unique functionality.

The player takes control as a self-insert protagonist alongside «Grady,» a personality core-turned-assistant. Together they test a toilet production line and, from one mishap to another, ultimately lead to the creation of Portal’s iconic turrets. Blended into this fittingly humorous origin story are gameplay segments examining Steam Deck features such as bumper buttons or dual trackpads. Despite being set within the Portal universe, Aperture Desk Job at first