When Portal 2 was first announced, it was expected to be released sometime this holiday season. But, in traditional Valve fashion, the developer has announced that the game has been delayed and is now expected to launch at some point next year.

The news comes via a press release titled "VALVE ANNOUNCES MAKING GAMES IS HARD," in which the company explained that "even though Portal 2 will arrive slightly later than planned, all life on earth won't instantaneously stop as every molecule in your body explodes at the speed of light."

This news comes soon after the announcement that Valve had cancelled its previously planned Portal 2 event at E3 and replaced it with a "surprise." However, it looks like that surprise—which Ars has a meeting to see—will be Portal-related. Valve describes it as the "E3 ***PORTAL-2-THEMED-FOR-GOD'S SAKE*** surprise."

Stay tuned for further details, which should be revealed at E3 next week.