# PORTAL REVEALED

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2025-03-17  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2025/03/17/portal-revealed

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## Analysis

Multimorphic officially announced Portal, a P3 pinball module based on Valve's Portal video game franchise. The game features the most mechanical features ever on a P3 module, including innovative elements like the Faith Plate launcher, moving Companion Cube, and optional Extended playfield kit with additional lower-playfield mechanics. The game is fully licensed from Valve with voice acting from Ellen McLain (GLaDOS) and includes four playable Test Chamber modes with two additional modes planned.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Portal is the most feature-rich P3 module Multimorphic has ever made — _Official Multimorphic announcement: 'The playfield module is described by Multimorphic as having more features than any module they have made before.'_
- [HIGH] Valve developers worked with Multimorphic team to ensure accurate feature representation and provided access to all Portal/Portal 2 assets — _Official statement: 'The game is fully licenced from Valve, with the video game's developers working with the Multimorphic team to ensure all the features are accurately represented and they had access to all the assets from the Portal and Portal 2 games.'_
- [HIGH] Ellen McLain reprises her voice role as GLaDOS from the original video game — _Official announcement: 'Ellen McLain reprises her role as the voice of the GLaDOS control system which runs the Center and administers the objectives'_
- [HIGH] Portal introduces playfield extenders that mount over and interact with the under-playfield LCD—a design change from previous P3 modules — _'Portal introduces some changes from the design philosophy of previous P3 game modules. For the first time, as well as a packed upper playfield module, significant additional mechanical features have been added to the lower part of the game's playfield.'_
- [HIGH] Portal Standard kit costs $3,900; Extended kit adds $1,600; complete Portal-themed P3 machines start at $11,620 (Standard) or $12,500 (Extended) — _Pricing statement: 'If you already own a P3, the pricing for the Portal game kit is $3,900 for the Standard version, plus another $1,600 if you want the Extended kit. Complete Portal-themed P3 machine pricing is $11,620 for the Standard, or $12,500 for the Extended version.'_
- [HIGH] Production of Portal modules and machines is scheduled to start in summer 2024 — _'The production of Portal modules and entire Portal machines is scheduled to start in the summer of this year.'_
- [HIGH] Ian Harrower previously created Bird Watcher and Blood Bank Billiards mini-games under the Ian Harrower Games brand — _'Ian is his first game working for Multimorphic, although not his first P3 title. He previously created and published the Bird Watcher and Blood Bank Billiards mini-games under the Ian Harrower Games brand.'_
- [HIGH] Brad Albright created the full art package for David Peck's Motörhead game expected to be produced by Spooky Pinball — _'At last year's show he also showed the full art package he created from David Peck's Motörhead game which is expected to be produced by Spooky Pinball.'_

### Notable Quotes

> "We landed on a main 'Hub' mode that presents a '90s-style ruleset, where you have a bunch of objectives to complete to prove you've mastered the playfield features, each resulting in a stackable hurry-up on the Faith Plate, along with three stackable multiballs."
> — **Gerry Stellenberg, Multimorphic head**, Not specified
> _Describes Portal's core gameplay philosophy and ruleset design strategy, comparing it to classic ruleset design patterns_

> "The team have always had the ability to add mechanisms to the lower part of the playfield, but it needed a theme such as Portal, where you are exploring rooms full of interactive items, before it made sense to add them."
> — **Gerry Stellenberg**, Not specified
> _Explains why Portal was the first P3 game to use the Extended playfield extender concept, linking design decisions to theme appropriateness_

> "So, is there cake, or is the cake a lie?"
> — **Pinball News article author**, Not specified
> _Portal video game reference to famous line from game ('The cake is a lie'), used as transition to playfield reveal section_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Portal | game | Multimorphic P3 pinball module based on Valve's Portal video game franchise, officially announced with Standard and Extended versions |
| Multimorphic | company | Pinball manufacturer developing and releasing Portal P3 module |
| Valve | company | Original creator of Portal video game franchise; granted full license to Multimorphic for pinball adaptation |
| Ellen McLain | person | Voice actress reprising role as GLaDOS artificial intelligence system in Portal pinball |
| Marc Silk | person | Voice actor for Personality Core character Reggie in Portal pinball |
| Ian Harrower | person | Co-Creative Director for Portal handling software design; previously created Bird Watcher and Blood Bank Billiards mini-games |
| Brad Albright | person | Artist creating Portal pinball artwork; regular Texas Pinball Festival exhibitor; created art package for Spooky's upcoming Motörhead game |
| Stephen Silver | person | Co-Creative Director for Portal in charge of video animations |
| Michael Ocean | person | Co-Creative Director for Portal handling software design alongside Ian Harrower |
| TJ Weaver | person | Mechanical designer on Portal pinball, Multimorphic regular |
| Trey Jones | person | Mechanical designer on Portal pinball, Multimorphic regular |
| Rory Cernuda | person | Technical Artist on Portal pinball; contributed to video animations |
| Scott Danesi | person | Game Designer and Musician responsible for Portal pinball audio package |
| Gerry Stellenberg | person | Multimorphic head; discussed Portal design philosophy and playfield extender innovation |
| David Peck | person | Designer of Motörhead pinball expected to be produced by Spooky; used Brad Albright's art package |
| Aperture Science Enrichment Center | organization | Fictional facility setting from Portal video game where Portal pinball action takes place |
| GLaDOS | product | Artificial intelligence control system in Portal video game; reprised in Portal pinball with Ellen McLain's voice |
| Texas Pinball Festival | event | Upcoming event where Pinball News will showcase and test Portal pinball; Brad Albright regular exhibitor |
| P3 | product | Multimorphic's modular pinball platform; Portal is a P3 game module with Standard and Extended versions |
| Motörhead | game | Upcoming Spooky Pinball game designed by David Peck with artwork by Brad Albright |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Portal game announcement and technical features, Multimorphic P3 platform innovation with playfield extenders, Valve licensing and developer collaboration
- **Secondary:** Voice acting and audio design, Game design team and creative leadership, Pricing and availability, Production timeline and pre-order process
- **Mentioned:** Related game: Spooky Pinball's Motörhead

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Official announcement tone is celebratory and detailed. Portal is positioned as a major technological achievement for Multimorphic (most features ever on P3), with full Valve partnership, professional voice acting, and significant design innovations. No controversies or criticisms mentioned. Comprehensive technical coverage demonstrates confidence in the product.

### Signals

- **[event_signal]** Portal pinball will be playable at Texas Pinball Festival (starting Friday); Pinball News will provide show coverage and joint Pinball Magazine industry news podcast episode in early April (confidence: high) — 'We look forward to trying Multimorphic's new Portal game at the Texas Pinball Festival which starts on Friday. Check out the Pinball News show coverage once it begins later this week to find out much more, and then listen to the joint Pinball News and Pinball Magazine Pinball Industry News PIN*cast* at the start of April to hear our thoughts.'
- **[design_philosophy]** Portal ruleset uses '90s-style hub-based objectives with stackable hurry-ups (compared to Attack from Mars), three stackable multiballs, and four playable Test Chamber modes with two additional modes (Rat Man, GLaDOS wizard mode) planned (confidence: high) — Gerry Stellenberg: 'We landed on a main Hub mode that presents a 90s-style ruleset...There's also an elevator call button...Shooting into the elevator takes you to one of six planned (four currently playable) Test Chambers...There are two additional modes planned for Rat Man and the final GLaDOS battle (wizard mode).'
- **[licensing_signal]** Full licensing partnership with Valve; Portal video game developers collaborated with Multimorphic team, provided access to all Portal/Portal 2 assets, and approved voice actor reprises (Ellen McLain as GLaDOS) (confidence: high) — 'The game is fully licenced from Valve, with the video game's developers working with the Multimorphic team to ensure all the features are accurately represented and they had access to all the assets from the Portal and Portal 2 games.' Ellen McLain reprises role from original game.
- **[personnel_signal]** Brad Albright (artist) created Portal pinball artwork and had previously completed art package for Spooky Pinball's upcoming Motörhead game, indicating cross-manufacturer collaboration or artist engagement (confidence: medium) — 'Brad Albright who created the game's artwork. Brad is a regular exhibitor at the Texas Pinball Festival where he can be found exhibiting many examples of his 2D and 3D artworks. At last year's show he also showed the full art package he created from David Peck's Motörhead game which is expected to be produced by Spooky Pinball.'
- **[announcement]** Multimorphic officially announces Portal, a fully licensed Valve video game-based P3 pinball module with extensive mechanical features and two version tiers (Standard/Extended) (confidence: high) — Official Pinball News announcement with detailed specifications, pricing, production timeline, design team credits, gameplay descriptions, and promotional video
- **[product_strategy]** Portal offers two distinct versions (Standard and Extended) with optional playfield extenders, allowing customers to purchase additional mechanical features later—a modular upgrade path ($3,900 base + $1,600 optional extension for module; $11,620/$12,500 for full machines) (confidence: high) — Pricing breakdown: 'If you already own a P3, the pricing for the Portal game kit is $3,900 for the Standard version, plus another $1,600 if you want the Extended kit. Complete Portal-themed P3 machine pricing is $11,620 for the Standard, or $12,500 for the Extended version. The extenders can also be purchased later and added to the Portal Standard playfield to turn it into an Extended model.'
- **[technology_signal]** Portal introduces playfield extenders—mechanical features mounted over the under-playfield LCD—marking the first P3 game to use this architectural approach, expanding design possibilities for future modules (confidence: high) — Gerry Stellenberg quote: 'The team have always had the ability to add mechanisms to the lower part of the playfield, but it needed a theme such as Portal...before it made sense to add them.' Article states: 'Portal introduces some changes from the design philosophy of previous P3 game modules. For the first time...significant additional mechanical features have been added to the lower part of the game's playfield.'

---

## Transcript

Multimorphic today announced the latest game kit for their P3 pinball platform with the reveal of *Portal*.

[![The translite image for Portal pinball](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/001-portal-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/001-portal.jpg)

The translite image for Portal pinball

Based on the popular first-person puzzle platform game by Valve, *Portal* pinball’s action takes place within the Aperture Science Enrichment Center human testing facility, and features many of the video game’s key elements including the portals themselves, two Companion Cubes, turret guns, jumps and the acid pit.

The game is fully licenced from Valve, with the video game’s developers working with the Multimorphic team to ensure all the features are accurately represented and they had access to all the assets from the *Portal* and *Portal 2* games.

Ellen Ellen McLain reprises her role as the voice of the GLaDOS control system which runs the Center and administers the objectives, while an additional Personality Core called Reggie is voiced by Marc Marc Silk. Personality Cores are plug-in layers which were designed to (and ultimately failed to) prevent GLaDOS turning on its human creators.

The game design is a team effort, with a mix of established Multimorphic members mixed with some new talent.

Stephen Silver is Co-Creative Director and in charge of video animations, Michael Ocean is also Co-Creative Director and handles the software alongside Ian Ian Harrower who is the third Co-Creative Director.

*Portal* is Ian’s first game working for Multimorphic, although not his first P3 title. He previously created and published the *Bird Watcher* and *Blood Bank Billiards* mini-games under the Ian Ian Harrower brand.

Also making his Multimorphic team debut is Brad Brad Albright who created the game’s artwork. Brad is a regular exhibitor at the Texas Pinball Festival where he can be found exhibiting many examples of his 2D and 3D artworks. At last year’s show he also showed the full art package he created from David Peck’s Motörhead game which is expected to be produced by Spooky Pinball.

Multimorphic regulars TJ Weaver and Trey Jones created the mechanicals for *Portal*, while Rory Cernuda was the Technical Artist and also worked on the video animations.

Game Designer and Musician, Scott Danesi, was in charge of the audio package for *Portal*.

As usual with new Multimorphic releases, the title is available as either a plug-in playfield module or as an entire *Portal*-branded P3 machine.

So, is there cake, or is the cake a lie? Let’s find out by taking a look at the full *Portal* pinball.

[![The left side of Portal complete with the optional topper](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/021-portal-512x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/021-portal.jpg)

The left side of Portal complete with the optional topper

[![The right side of Portal complete with the optional topper](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/022-portal-505x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/022-portal.jpg)

The right side of Portal complete with the optional topper

[![The Portal playfield module](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/011-1-portal-1024x676.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/011-1-portal.jpg)

The Portal playfield module

The playfield module is described by Multimorphic as having more features than any module they have made before.

It includes two aerial ball features (the Faith Plate and the Momentum Jump), an upper-left mini-playfield with a moving Companion Cube, a loop, plus two standup targets, the Faith Plate landing zone and right Companion Cube, two playfield lift ramps with portals underneath, a full left/right orbit lane, plus a centre orbit shot, a Turret Control Center scoop, a captive ball on the right in front of another portal, a right-side dual-purpose sculpt featuring a Personality Core (Reggie) with an animated iris on one side and a turret with LEDs for its iris and guns on the other, plus three more standup targets on the main playfield level.

[![The upper mini-playfield with an animated Companion Cube](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/008-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/008-portal.jpg)

The upper mini-playfield with an animated Companion Cube

The Companion Cube on the mini-playfield can be ‘pushed through’ the portal so it disappears on the upper playfield and re-appears out of the other side of the portal at the base of the Faith Plate landing zone. This can then be used as a ball lock for multiball.

[![The Companion Cube comes out of the portal to act as a Faith Plate ball lock](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/004-portal-1024x732.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/004-portal.jpg)

The Companion Cube comes out of the portal to act as a Faith Plate ball lock

There is a captive ball in front of a portal which pushes the ball through, so it too ‘reappears’ on the other side. It is flanked by two of the three playfield-level standup targets (plus the other two seen above on the upper playfield).

Next to the captive ball is a rotating sculpt with different features on either side.

[![The rotating sculpt with a turret gun on one side...](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/18-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/18-portal.jpg)

The rotating sculpt with a turret gun, eyes and gun flashes on one side…

[![Reggie's animated eye is on the other side](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/012-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/012-portal.jpg)

Reggie’s animated eye is on the other side

Also shown above is one of the game’s two lift ramps, each with portals beneath. Between them is the Faith Plate aerial ball launcher.

[![The two lift ramps with the Faith Plate launcher](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/003-portal-1024x748.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/003-portal.jpg)

The two lift ramps with the Faith Plate launcher

Next to the left lift ramp is the Turret Control Center scoop where Turret Multiball is started, and also where the Office Party Surprise mystery award is given.

[![The Turret Control Center](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/17-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/17-portal.jpg)

The Turret Control Center

[![The Office Party Surprise award, including Cake](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/025-portal-1024x589.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/025-portal.jpg)

The Office Party Surprise award, including Cake

[![Build enough speed before entering the portal, or the ball will fall out into the acid pit](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/009-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/009-portal.jpg)

Build enough speed in the orbit lanes before entering the portal, or the ball will fall out here into the acid pit

[![Get more momentum and the ball exits the portal to either the middle or upper landing zones](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/19-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/19-portal.jpg)

Get more momentum and the ball exits the portal to either the middle or upper landing zones

[![The Gel Pump Station targets](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/005-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/005-portal.jpg)

The Gel Pump Station targets

*Portal* introduces some changes from the design philosophy of previous P3 game modules.

For the first time, as well as a packed upper playfield module, significant additional mechanical features have been added to the lower part of the game’s playfield.

These new top-mounted mechanisms extend over, and interact with, the under-playfield LCD. They include and right inlane diverter (which sends the ball either to the inlane or to a kickback), the kickback mech, a right lift ramp, a left-side user-controlled Wall Plate, a left-side orbit lane entrance, a spinner, and four additional standup targets.

[![The Portal game with the playfield extenders installed](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/010-portal-806x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/010-portal.jpg)

The Portal game with the playfield extenders installed

[![The right-side additional playfield mechs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/014-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/014-portal.jpg)

The right-side additional playfield mechs

On the extended left side, the flipping Wall Plate mechanically attaches to the upper left flipper on the main playfield level to allow it to push the ball off the ramp return.

[![The left-side additional playfield mechs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/20-portal-1024x771.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/20-portal.jpg)

Part of the left-side’s additional playfield mechs

These playfield extenders are optional and the game will work perfectly well without them, although there are some changes to the gameplay. The *Portal* P3 game is available with or without the extenders. Without them, the game is called *Portal Standard*, whereas the version which includes them is referred to, reasonably enough, as the *Portal Extended*. The extenders can also be purchased later and added to the *Portal Standard* playfield to turn it into an *Extended* model .

Multimorphic head, Gerry Stellenberg, told Pinball News that the team have always had the ability to add mechanisms to the lower part of the playfield, but it needed a theme such as *Portal*, where you are exploring rooms full of interactive items, before it made sense to add them.

*Portal*‘s gameplay sees the player attempting to complete a series of objectives based around areas of the playfield. These are: Ramps, Loops, Portal Mini-Loops, Hard Light Bridge, Momentum Jump, Repulsion Gel, All Targets and All Portals.

Completing one of the objectives leads to a hurry-up on the Faith Plate at the top of the playfield. These hurry-ups can be stacked if you can complete them quickly enough, rather like the hurry-ups on *Attack from Mars*. After completing them all, they reset and become both more valuable and more difficult to complete the next time.

[![The bottom apron's instruction](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/026-portal-1024x427.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/026-portal.jpg)

The bottom apron’s instruction

Gerry described how they created the rules for Portal.

He told us, “*We landed on a main ‘Hub’ mode that presents a ’90s-style ruleset, where you have a bunch of objectives to complete to prove you’ve mastered the playfield features, each resulting in a stackable hurry-up on the Faith Plate, along with three stackable multiballs. There’s also an elevator call button, which, when hit, brings up the left-most scoop as the elevator. Shooting into the elevator takes you to one of six planned (four currently playable) Test Chambers, where we introduce different and theme/story-integrated patterns and puzzles. There are two additional modes planned for Rat Man and the final GLaDOS battle (wizard mode)*.”

The four Test Chambers currently in the game are:

* **The Big Fling** (shoot the flashing shots to climb higher)
* **Encouragement via Discouragement** (shoot pedestal buttons to invite team members, shoot the spinner to rotate beam, & activate four receptacles to open the exit)
* **Proactive Energy Redirection** (shoot the flashing shots to set deflection panels in the correct position)
* **It Takes Two** (grab the Companion Cube and carry it through to the end)

A pinball based on a video title needs to respectfully honour the look and feel of the video game. That means extensive use of dynamic imagery on the under-playfield LCD panel not only to convey the atmosphere and illustrate your progress through the game, but also to indicate the required shots.

[![Progress and shot indications on the under-playfield LCD](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/16-portal-771x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/16-portal.jpg)

Progress and shot indications on the under-playfield LCD

[![Virtual inserts on the LCD](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/015-portal-1024x758.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/015-portal.jpg)

Virtual inserts on the LCD

[![Rotate the beam, press the pedestal buttons and avoid the turret guns](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/002-portal-771x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/002-portal.jpg)

Rotate the beam, press the pedestal buttons and avoid the turret guns

[![How the game looks without the Extended  kit installed](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/006-portal-771x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/006-portal.jpg)

How the game looks without the Extended kit installed

[![One of the on-screen animations](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/013-portal-771x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/portal/013-portal.jpg)

One of the on-screen animations

If you already own a P3, the pricing for the *Portal* game kit is $3,900 for the *Standard* version, plus another $1,600 if you want the *Extended* kit.

Complete *Portal*-themed P3 machine pricing is $11,620 for the *Standard*, or $12,500 for the *Extended* version.

The optional topper is priced at $750.

Orders for *Portal* pinball are open from 10am Central Time through the [Multimorphic website](https://www.multimorphic.com/).

Pre-order deposits are required to secure your order and your place in the production schedule. The production of *Portal* modules and entire *Portal* machines is scheduled to start in the summer of this year.

Multimorphic have also created a promotional video for *Portal* showing many of the game’s features, the *Extended* model’s additions, and a first chance to hear the voices of GLaDOS and Reggie.

Here it is:

VIDEO

The [current Referral Program](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fFsLtzO2KLbdpvnkT9bIpN0ZHEGBZGbB/view) which offers a $1,000 discount to new P3 buyers and $1,000 store credit to P3 owners who refer the new P3 purchaser is still open. To speed up the process and ensure buyers don’t risk any delays in securing their spot, *Portal* buyers just need to indicate the referrer’s name and registered e-mail address when placing their order.

We look forward to trying Multimorphic’s new *Portal* game at the [Texas Pinball Festival](https://texaspinball.com/tpf/) which starts on Friday. Check out the Pinball News show coverage once it begins later this week to find out much more, and then listen to the joint [Pinball News and Pinball Magazine Pinball Industry News PIN*cast*](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pinball-industry-news) at the start of April to hear our thoughts.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 22fbbf81-31a2-4bb8-91d2-4bd49b94f474*