Portal Launches Gen8 Beta for Creating 2D Games from Text Prompts
Written with artificial intelligence.
Portal has launched the beta version of Gen8, a prompt-to-play engine that allows users to create 2D games from written descriptions. The open beta runs from October 1 to October 31, offering users the chance to earn rewards while refining their game creations.
Overview of Gen8 Beta
On October 8, Portal announced the beta launch of Gen8, a new feature that allows players to transform text prompts into playable 2D games. Users can type out their game ideas, select a template, and generate a playable version that can be continuously improved. The Gen8 engine is accessible at portalgaming.com/gen8, where sections such as Discover, My games, Leaderboard, and Top creators are marked with a beta tag.
Open Beta Details
The open beta is ongoing from October 1 to October 31. Participants in this beta can earn Shards, which are tokens redeemable for gift cards in the Portal Shop, as they create games and generate assets. Previous months saw the hosting of game jams with a prize pool of 50,000 Shards each in August and September.
Product Development Timeline
Gen8 is the third of four products in Portal's roadmap, following the Studio and Nexus features. Studio is designed for creators to work with AI agents to develop game elements, while Nexus routes prompts to specialized models for various functionalities. GameHub, the final product, has not yet been released.
Background and Future Plans
Prior to the open beta, a Gen8 Creators Program allowed 20 selected creators to test the platform and provide feedback. Portal aims to streamline the game development process for indie teams, saving them time on basic design elements. Following a year of significant changes, including a rebranding and a focus on AI tools, Portal plans to use revenue from these developments to facilitate buybacks of its PORTAL token, promising early access and voting rights to token holders.