How to Play Portal 2 Co-op on Steam Remote Play
To play Portal 2‘s co-op mode remotely with a friend via Steam, the host player simply needs to launch the game, open the Steam overlay interface (shift+tab) and click "Remote Play Together" under the friends list to send out invites. Friends can accept the invite through the Steam client to join remotely as though sitting at the same PC, without needing to own Portal 2 themselves.
What Makes Portal 2 Co-op So Great?
As a long-time gamer and Portal fan, I consider Portal 2‘s cooperative mode to be one of the best co-op experiences available. It features a dedicated campaign, separate from the exceptional single-player story, where you and a friend play as the lovable robots Atlas and P-Body.
Over 5+ hours of innovative, challenging puzzles, you literally think with portals together to tackle tests that require razor-sharp coordination between players. The ending even ties back into the main storyline in genius fashion. Portal 2 co-op is worth playing for the hilarious robotic banter alone!
So being able to easily enjoy this iconic co-op campaign remotely with friends is fantastic. Here‘s how Steam Remote Play enables just that:
How Steam Remote Play Works
Remote Play is Valve’s streaming technology that lets you play local multiplayer games online. It works by essentially streaming the host computer‘s game session to your friend‘s device.
Inputs from their controller are sent back to the host, allowing both players to participate as though on the same couch. Only the host actually needs to own and run the game – the connected friend streams it remotely. Up to 4 extra players can join through Remote Play Together.
You’ll need:
- A good internet connection – For 1080p 60fps streaming, Valve recommends hosts have at least 10-30 Mbps upload speed.
- The Steam client – Available free for PC and Mac. Mobile apps provide Remote Play access on the go.
- A gamepad – Connect an Xbox or Playstation controller to your device. Keyboard and mouse works too.
Setting up Portal 2 co-op via Remote Play is thankfully simple, but optimizing your network is key.
Hosting Network Requirements
Let‘s go over networking best practices for hosting buttery-smooth Portal 2 co-op sessions:
- Wired over WiFi – Always use Ethernet cables for your gaming PCs when possible. WiFi adds latency and instability.
- 5Ghz band – If connecting wirelessly, stick to the less crowded 5Ghz WiFi band. Avoid 2.4Ghz networks congested with smart devices.
- Quality router – Invest in a robust WiFi 6 or 6E router for ample bandwidth and multiple device support.
- QoS enabled – Prioritize gaming traffic on your network through Quality of Service settings if available.
Adhering to these tips provides plenty of bandwidth overhead for streaming Portal 2 gameplay without disruption. Having an optimal environment to host from is just as important as your internet speeds.
Now let‘s get into the nuts and bolts of running Portal 2 co-op over the internet.
How To Play Portal 2 Co-op Using Steam Remote Play
Follow these steps to run Portal 2 co-op sessions remotely:
Host starts Portal 2 on primary gaming PC – Have at least one controller ready if doing local+online co-op. Ensure Steam and Portal 2 are fully updated.
Open Steam overlay in-game – Press Shift+Tab to bring up the interface overlay.
Click "Remote Play Together" under friends list – This sends invites to online friends to join your game remotely.
Friends accept invite through the Steam client – They can now play over the internet, streaming video/audio from your game session.
And that‘s all there is to it! Super simple and intuitive.
Both local and online players will be visible in split-screen if you have controllers connected to your host PC. Make sure voice chat is enabled so you can come up with Machiavellian test chamber solutions together.
Average Clear Times for Portal 2 Co-op
| Difficulty | Avg. Completion Time |
|---|---|
| Main objectives only | 8.5 hours |
| Completionist run | 21.5 hours |
Source: HowLongToBeat
Be prepared for a good 10+ hour puzzle party! The co-op campaign features some extra challenging levels requiring deft teamwork. Take breaks to maintain sanity.
Troubleshooting Portal 2 Remote Play Sessions
Despite seeming straightforward, Remote Play can exhibit connectivity hiccups or lag at times. Try these tips to smooth out your Portal 2 sessions if running into issues:
- Disable hardware encoding on host PC – Resorts to software encoding which reduces stream quality slightly but can fix lag. Accessed through host options.
- Ensure ports are open – Remote Play uses UDP ports 27031 and 27036. Check your firewall isn‘t blocking these.
- Re-invite if glitchy – Sometimes inviting to a fresh Remote Play session fixes wonkiness.
As mentioned earlier, rule out WiFi interference or congestion if the host connection seems shaky. There are also advanced options in Steam Client settings > Remote Play to further optimize streaming performance.
Parting Thoughts as a Passionate Gamer
Portal 2 still holds up wonderfully to this day as a genre-defining puzzle game. I wish more modern titles captured its spirit of innovation layered so masterfully over brilliant writing and memorable characters.
And being able to play the iconic cooperative campaign – which serves up hours of brilliantly crafted problem-solving challenges – remotely with friends thanks to Steam remote play? Absolute chef‘s kiss.
Gone are the days of lugging gaming rigs for LAN parties or only playing limited local multiplayer games. I sincerely hope developers continue expanding online co-op support. And that Valve keeps refining remote play access for preserving beloved couch co-op experiences like that found in Portal 2.
Let me know your own thoughts on Portal 2‘s co-op campaign or questions around playing remotely via Steam! I‘m always down to gush about one of my all-time favorite games.
