Multi-platform games are constantly picked apart to determine which version has the tiniest edge. Now and then the differences are significant enough to warrant investigation, but that's the exception. Valve doesn't want you to bother - it has declared that the 360 and PS3 versions of Portal 2 will be identical.
That is, the actual content will be the same across both platforms. The PS3 version is getting connectivity with Valve's Steamworks, allowing PS3 users to receive more game updates faster and play side-by-side with PC players. However, if you have the 360 version, the bulk of your experience should mirror the experiences of those playing it on PS3, and you'll be receiving the same updates as PS3 users, according to Valve.
"If you bought the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions and put them side by side you can see they're identical games. The actual content is the same too across all platforms," said Valve's Chet Faliszek in a recent interview with CVG.
Faliszek did admit, however, that the PS3 was a bit more flexible. "As gamers we always look at what we would want and how we wanted it and on the PS3 we've been able to deliver a lot of the things we would like to see," he said. "Sony has been really great to work with; they've been really supportive and helpful for us to do this."
So, if you want the most connectivity options, the PS3 version may be your best bet. But Valve wants it to be clear that despite lacking Steam integration, the 360 version will contain the full experience.
Valve recently announced that console versions of the game will be receiving user-created content, though the mod tools will be, as usual, PC only.
Jan 28, 2011
