Exclusive Portal 2 levels for Razer Hydra

By Fred Dutton Published 10 January, 2011

Valve backs new PC motion controller.

PC users who pick up the new Razer Hydra motion controller will be able to play exclusive Portal 2 content unavailable in console versions of the game.

According to Joystiq, Razer has teamed up with Valve to offer a Portal 2 bundle including the new controller, the game and additional levels built specifically for the new device.

What, you may ask, is the Razer Hydra? Well, it's a new motion control system developed by Sixense. You play with two wands, both with thumb sticks. Instead of using a camera to track your movements, a la PlayStation Move, the Hydra uses a small base station to create an electromagnetic field with a six foot radius.

Take a look at the video below, courtesy of Venturebeat, for an idea of how the gadget looks in action.

According to the Razer spokesperson, the Hydra will let users "manipulate the [game's] lasers better than anyone else because of the six degrees of freedom" the controller offers."

There's no price or release date confirmed for the bundle or standalone units but Razer has stated its aiming for a sub-$100 (about £64) price point.

We've requested further information about the exact nature of the exclusive Portal 2 content from Valve and will update when we get a response.

Portal 2 launches on 22nd April on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It's looking great.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • altitude2k #1 1 year ago

    Using motion control at a desk will be about as convenient as using a mouse and keyboard on the sofa.

  • ZuluHero #2 1 year ago

    Unless I can use it to create real portals, then i'm not interested...

  • Dizzy #3 1 year ago

    How silly.

  • Redcoat-Mic #4 1 year ago

    Man, I loved my game gear, you shut your mouth! :(

  • Lord_Gremlin #5 1 year ago

    Ok, this basically means console versions should be bought only after price drop.

  • Sharzam #6 1 year ago

    Well portal is meant to be played on the PC anyway (same goes for all Valve games) but i really cant see the point of this what did he do that would be hard/annoying with a mouse?

  • Der_tolle_Emil #7 1 year ago

    Man, I loved my game gear, you shut your mouth! :(

    A friend of mine had one. I remember the days when he came over and we crawled under a table because you couldn't see anything unless it was really dark; and even then Sonic was just a blur. After about an hour when the batteries were dead we went back outside. Good times.

    On topic: As good as Portal 2 is looking I really think I can make it without the few extra levels and another controller I'll never use.

  • FogHeart #8 1 year ago

    Ah, but not every PC is at a desk...some are used as HTPCs and double up as game PCs. So this is actually going to replace a mouse and keyboard on the sofa in my household :)

    Yeah, I know, there are very few people who have their PC connected to their TV, but this is a niche product for a niche I happen to be in, and I'm pretty happy about it.

  • GrandpaUlrira #9 1 year ago

    Motion control for the PC will be about as successful as the Game Gear
    You really think it will sell 11 million!?

  • gjgjg #10 1 year ago

    Portal doesnt need gimicks.

  • teh_MBK #11 1 year ago

    Portal doesnt need gimicks.

    No, but that motion controller surely does. I realise, as has been said, it does fill a niche, but that is a small niche.

  • Iain815 #12 1 year ago

    There's amateur videos, then there's that.

  • TheMoonRat #13 1 year ago

    electromagnets... around hard drives.... errrr?????

  • Mentat_Idaho #14 1 year ago

    I also have my PC hooked up to a plasma and play on my sofa. In my opinion it is a good thing that they are releasing a more mainstream motion controller for the PC - it may get a few more people interested in the platform and shut up those who constantly claim PC gaming is dead. Actually, who am I kidding? There's no chance of that...

  • polymorph #15 1 year ago

    According to jojstiq, and venturebeat??
    You don't read http://www.tested.com then?
    Edited by polymorph at 11/01/11 @ 03:16

  • polymorph #16 1 year ago

    [link url=http://www.tested.com/ces-2011-day-3-wrapup/47-249/
    ]http://www.tested.com/ces-2011-day-3-wra...[/link]
    50 seconds in, posted 2 day's ago!!

  • Der_tolle_Emil #17 1 year ago

    I have a PC connected to my TV as well (makes for a nice SNES Emulator) but if I had the choice between Portal 2 on the big screen on the 360 or my PC I'd probably pick the 360 version.

    I do agree though that a good mouse replacement for the sofa is something that I could indeed make good use of.

  • arcam #18 1 year ago

    Another one with PC connected to the telly here, but after about 5 years I've finally taught myself how to play an FPS with a controller (still prefer it on the m/k upstairs, but not very sociable).

    I'm not convinced this will be any better than a pad, just like the Move isn't much better either, just different. If this offered a more comfortable control for web browsing and HTPC stuff I'd be interested, but I don't think it will either. So what's left? Mini-games and fitness titles?

  • crozon #19 1 year ago

    Cool buying this for my PC connected to the .....wait for it....TV. Also be cool to play Left4Dead with this.

    As much as I love M/K, it doesn't work too well on a sofa, so this might be a good substitute.

  • TwitchyMcTwitch #20 1 year ago

    @TheMoonRat

    They said the magnetic field it generates is less then the field generated by a hair dryer. Have you ever had any problems with your hard drives do to a hair dryer being in use near by?

    Anyway, although I'm interested in these controllers, I would prefer to use them the consoles. Since these were what I hoped the playstation move would be.