EA in talks with Valve on Portal 2 publication

EA Partners boss David DeMartini's said his label is in talks with Valve about publishing Portal 2.

The Washington-based developer announced a February 9, 2011 release date for the title at gamescom last week, but without a mention of a publisher.

"We're still talking about it," DeMartini told EG over any possible deal.

"The interesting thing with Valve is they always make great games. They ship them exactly when they're going to ship them. They're a really high quality partner, and they demand excellence from anybody they have a relationship with. You earn their business every single time.

"We're in the process of earning their business yet again for Portal 2, and we're very optimistic because of our close relationship. We do a lot of business on Steam. They do a lot of business with us on the distribution side."

EA has been in business with Valve since 2005, dating back to the release of Half-Life 2 on the original Xbox and The Orange Box on PS3, 360 and PC, as well as Left 4 Dead 1 and Left 4 Dead 2 on Xbox 360 and PC.

But while DeMartini admits a deal isn't signed "in blood" just yet, he does hope one can be struck.

Game's out on PS3, 360 and PC.