The good news: Valve has announced via press release and subsequent clarification to Shacknews the updated release date for Portal 2, which is April 20th in North America and Australia, and April 22nd in Europe. The bad news: Portal 2 was originally scheduled to hit before the end of 2010, and then delayed until February 2011.

At least the folks at Valve attempt to acknowledge gamers’ frustration over delays with a little self-deprecating humor in the press release, pointing out that the original Portal “won over 30 game of the year awards, despite missing its original ship date” and that this delay “not only marks the shortest delay in Valve’s proud tradition of delays, it represents the approaching convergence of Valve Time and Real Time.” I, for one, am appreciative of the human touch a few jokes can put on a situation like this one, and it makes me far more likely to forgive and forget than a cold, corporate-speak announcement and apology for “any inconvenience.” Besides, as I’ve said before, delays are better than bugs. I’m looking at you, Fable 3. And you, New Vegas.