Robust Games and Chucklefish add native Linux support and Steam Deck touch controls

Robust Games and Chucklefish released Loco Motive version 1.1.0, the Hands On update, on November 10, 2026.

The developers built native Linux and macOS versions of Loco Motive, removing the need for Linux players to rely on Proton, a compatibility layer that lets Windows games run on Linux. CanIRun.gg lists 8 GB of RAM as the macOS recommendation for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, compared with 4 GB recommended for Windows. CanIRun.gg states that Linux and SteamOS support AMD graphics running Mesa and NVIDIA graphics running the proprietary driver, though Intel integrated graphics may run without official support.

The Hands On update introduces native touchscreen controls for Steam Deck. Players can tap objects, drag inventory items, double-tap to run, and use a two-finger downward swipe to skip dialogue. The controls work alongside existing controller and mouse options, and players can switch between input methods on the fly. Dedicated Steam Deck and Steam Controller button prompts appear alongside interface scaling enhancements for handheld systems.

Point-and-click adventures have historically relied on mouse inputs or trackpads on handheld devices, so direct touchscreen optimization is an important usability upgrade for portable platforms like the Steam Deck. The update marks two years since Loco Motive released in 2024.

The update restyles the user interface throughout for Steam Deck and other handheld devices, with new interaction strips for mouse, controller and touch. Each character now has a colored scroll bar in the inventory, and held items show a smooth outline.

The settings menu now uses tabs, changes take effect immediately, and Brightness, Interface Size and Text Backing options were added; Text Backing covers subtitles, hover labels, tutorials and dialogue choices. The dyslexic font was rebuilt with proper kerning and the kerning of the main font was improved.

Subtitle Speed now appears only when players select Text Only mode. Tutorial hints appear in the top left corner and disappear whenever menus or dialogue boxes are open. The “Some time later…” cards are now bigger with a new background, and the credits roll smoothly and speed up while held.

Many performance improvements and improved save performance end gameplay hitches, and loading a save now shows a loading screen. The update recreates lip-sync for every spoken line and upgrades lighting across many scenes so rain responds to moonlight and lightning. The update fixes Steam achievement progress that did not always record correctly.

Some persistent freezes and stuck scenes now work correctly, including Brother Jared when reading, the twins at Herman’s door, and Bergmann sitting. Don sometimes went invisible in his quarters, and roulette sounds continued playing after leaving the casino. Vent grunts now sound appropriately muffled.

Gunter and Hagen’s animations no longer stick after a character shows them the Perfumed Love Note, and the casino waiter’s handshake no longer breaks if the player touches the curtain at the same time. Loading a save made while Arista was scolding the twins no longer causes her Hearing Horn, dialogue and walking animations to fall out of sync. Herman no longer renders in front of Lady Unterwald in her quarters and can no longer bypass the boiler room trigger during the finale.

Loading a save now works correctly after fixes to the club lights, the roulette and Don’s betting, the movement tutorial, and saves created with the inventory open. Chef Rémy’s oyster idle animation in Act One and Herman’s dialogue animation while running no longer stick. April mounting the motorbike, Don grabbing the Magnetic Ball, and Arthur lifting the newspaper and shaking the coat stand no longer cause animations to snap.

The update corrects Arthur’s sorting layer after the rooftop scene with Herman, and speech boxes stop jittering when characters speak as they walk. Some lines displaying the wrong subtitle style are now correct, including April’s dialogue when inspecting the Gadget Bag. The update corrects Arthur’s line about changing out of his suit before reading the letter, and characters no longer carry skipped cutscene animations into the next room.

The HUD no longer briefly disappears when clicking on objects, and hotspot indicators no longer appear during room transitions. The update fixes missing characters in Simplified Chinese text. Many cutscenes now feature new character poses, including scenes on the crashed train, in the cell and during the finale.

Save migration support lets players who previously played the Windows version via Proton with Steam Cloud disabled transfer their saves to the native Linux version. Korean language localization was added, with work handled by Yeonjung Noh and the STOVE team. Loco Motive is listed as Steam Deck Verified and costs $10.79 until November 16, 2026. The game is available on PC and Nintendo Switch in English, Korean and German for £14.99, $17.99 or €17.99.

Robust Games and Chucklefish confirmed that Loco Motive is actively in development for iOS with a scheduled release in 2027. Janette/PossumCoffee said, “It now features touch screen support on the Steam Deck, which should make the game significantly easier to play.”