Here’s some Steam Deck news I didn’t expect to write in 2026: Torchlight II, Runic Games’ classic 2012 action RPG, now has native Linux and Steam Deck support. It’s part of a new public beta update, so you have to opt in, but it means one of the best couch-friendly loot games of its era can now run natively on SteamOS rather than through Proton.
I spotted it thanks to u/MMORPGDev, whose “Torchlight 2 adds Steam Deck Support” post on r/SteamDeck has passed 500 upvotes. Thanks to them and the r/SteamDeck community for flagging it. Below I’ll go through what the update adds, how to switch to the beta, and what to watch out for before you jump in.
What the Torchlight II public beta adds
The team behind the game laid it all out in the official Public Beta Update: Linux and Steam Deck Support Added post on Steam, published on 30 October. The headline is simple: the public beta branch now supports Linux, and the game can be played on Steam Deck. Alongside that, there’s a decent list of quality-of-life changes:
- Optional WASD keyboard movement, which you switch on in the in-game settings.
- Directional audio, so sounds have a clearer sense of where they’re coming from, plus a new Surround Sound toggle. The team notes this one isn’t available on Linux yet, so Deck players won’t get it for now.
- A fix for clicks landing in the wrong place when you move the mouse quickly.
- Tidier interaction prompts for things like fishing spots and shrines, so old prompts no longer stack up.
- Controller and UI fixes, including a crash when closing a teammate’s info panel in multiplayer, cut-off quest text in controller mode, wrong item icons in the trading screen, and text issues in the multiplayer party list.
- Better localised text in several languages, plus fixes for text overflowing some UI elements.
Windows players also get Direct3D 11 rendering tweaks and a fix for disconnects when running several clients on the same network, while Mac players get HDR highlight settings in Metal mode. Neither matters on SteamOS, but it shows the team is working across all three platforms.
Why it suits Steam Deck and Steam Machine
This isn’t the first beta. Back on 23 October, the team opened the separate public_beta branch with controller support for Windows and macOS, Steam account login for online multiplayer instead of TapTap.io accounts, faster map loading, and render scale and FXAA settings. Those notes also said Linux work was ongoing, and this update is where that lands.
Put together, it makes Torchlight II a much better fit for SteamOS. It’s a bright, fast ARPG that suits a handheld screen and a sofa, and now it has controller fixes and native Linux support on the same branch. If you’ve got a Steam Machine under the TV, this is exactly the kind of game I’d want on it for a few evenings of co-op loot hunting. Valve’s own rating for the game is currently Playable on both Steam Deck and Steam Machine, with notes about controller glyphs not matching the device and text input not opening the on-screen keyboard automatically. That rating reflects the default version, so it doesn’t tell us how the new beta behaves yet.
It’s also worth knowing who’s doing the work. The Steam store now lists XD as the publisher, and in the earlier beta notes the team says AI-assisted coding tools have opened up more possibilities for reviewing the game’s old code and fixing longstanding issues, with QA testing and compatibility checks on the changes. If you want to look at the store page yourself, it’s here on Steam.
How to switch Torchlight II to the public beta on Steam Deck
The update won’t replace the default version, so you need to opt in. On Steam Deck or a Steam Machine, it works like this:
- Find Torchlight II in your Steam Library and open its Properties (on the Deck, press the cog on the game page, then Properties).
- Go to Game Versions & Betas (Betas on some clients) and select public_beta.
- Let Steam download the update, then launch the game.
- In the earlier notes, the team says to check the version number reads 1.27.0.1 after switching, so it’s worth a quick look on the title screen.
If you’re already on the beta branch, just update as normal. If you change your mind, switch back to the default branch in the same menu.
Things to know before you opt in
A few caveats from the official notes are worth reading before you switch:
- Multiplayer doesn’t work between branches. Players on the default version and the beta can’t play together, so you and your co-op friends all need to be on the same branch.
- Mods may not all work. The team says some mods should keep working but can’t guarantee them all, and given the game’s age, compatibility issues may still pop up depending on your system, hardware or mods.
- Back up your saves. Both branches share save data, but modded and unmodded saves live in separate folders, so turning mods on or off after switching can stop an old save loading. The team recommends a backup first.
- Your old TapTap.io friends list won’t carry over on the beta, because it uses your Steam friends instead.
I haven’t played the new beta myself yet, so I can’t tell you how it runs on the Deck. What I can say is that the team is actively asking for bug reports through its Discord, so if you hit problems on SteamOS, reporting them with your game version and device should help get them fixed.
Steam Deck news verdict: is the Torchlight II beta worth trying?
I love seeing an old favourite get this kind of care. Native Linux support, controller fixes and WASD movement in a 14-year-old ARPG is a genuinely nice surprise, and it makes Torchlight II an easy one to revisit on a handheld. Just make sure your co-op group is on the same branch first.
If you’re after more to play, my round-up of November’s newly Steam Deck Verified and Playable games has plenty more. And if you’re playing on a Steam Machine with a TV, my Steam Machine HDMI-CEC tip saves a bit of remote juggling.
