Enthusiastic fans of Valve are aiming to surpass the simultaneous player record for Portal, yet the obstacle could be more daunting than anticipated
In the realm of video games, records are often sought after, and one such record that has stood for quite some time is the concurrent player count for the popular puzzle-shooter game, Portal. According to Steam Charts, the all-time record stands at 3,370 concurrent players. However, SteamDB reports a significantly higher peak of 20,672 concurrent players back in 2010, during Steam's rollout to Mac when Portal was offered for free for a limited time.
Despite the discrepancy, the gaming community is not resting on its laurels. An event called #RememberPortal, organised by Valve fansite LambdaGeneration, YouTubers Noclick, and Radiation Hazard, took place on August 4, 2025, with the aim of surpassing the Steam Charts record of 3,370 players and ambitiously also trying to beat the SteamDB number of 20,672 players simultaneously.
Rick Lane, a PC gaming enthusiast and former games journalist for publications such as Edge, Eurogamer, the Guardian, and PC Gamer, among others, is one of the many participants eager to be part of this historic event. Rick, who started playing games like Doom at the age of seven, has also worked as a freelance games journalist and games editor for Custom PC magazine and bit-tech.net from 2013 to 2022.
For those looking for the perfect gaming gear to join the #RememberPortal event, here are some recommendations:
- Best Wireless: Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro
- Best MMO: Razer Naga Pro
- Best Lightweight: Turtle Beach Burst II Air
- Best Wired: Logitech G502 X
- Best Budget Wired: Glorious Model O Eternal
- Best Budget Wireless: Logitech G305 Lightspeed
- Best Compact: Razer Cobra Pro
- Best Ergonomic: Keychron M5
- Best Ambidextrous: Logitech G Pro
Participants in the #RememberPortal event can receive a special achievement on LambdaGeneration by sharing Portal fan art and setups. The event aims to increase Portal's concurrent player counts, and while the higher SteamDB record has not yet been surpassed, the community's efforts are ongoing.
In a recent development, Half-Life 2 almost doubled Portal's record after hitting its 20th birthday last year, achieving a new Steam concurrent record of 33,467 during its 25th anniversary celebrations in November 2023. It remains to be seen if the community can break the records set by both Portal and Half-Life.
Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a newcomer to the world of Portal, the #RememberPortal event presents a unique opportunity to be part of gaming history. So, grab your favourite gaming gear, join the community, and let's aim for new records together!
[1] https://steamdb.info/app/400/graphs/ [2] https://steamcharts.com/app/400
- The goal of the #RememberPortal event organised by LambdaGeneration, Noclick, and Radiation Hazard is to surpass the current record of 3,370 concurrent players set by Portal on Steam Charts and ambitiously attempt to beat the record of 20,672 concurrent players reported by SteamDB from 2010.
- Participants in the #RememberPortal event can receive a special achievement on LambdaGeneration by sharing Portal fan art and setups.
- Rick Lane, a former games journalist for Edge, Eurogamer, the Guardian, and PC Gamer, among others, is one of the many participants eager to be part of this historic event.
- For those looking for the perfect gaming gear to join the #RememberPortal event, recommendations include the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro for best wireless, the Razer Naga Pro for best MMO, and the Logitech G502 X for best wired.
