⚓ Update 0.8.0 – Steam Deck, Linux & Controller Support!

⚓ Launch Update – Steam Deck, Linux & Controller Support!

Our latest patch sets sail with major platform support upgrades, UI refinements, and a boatload of bug fixes—making Old Salt more accessible and smoother than ever.

🎮 New Platform Support

• ✅ Steam Deck Verified Old Salt now runs beautifully on Steam Deck, complete with optimized controls, input switching, and on-screen keyboard support.

• 🐧 Linux Support You can now play Old Salt on most modern Linux distributions. Multiplayer and controller input have been fully validated.

• 🎮 Full Controller Support Extensive UI/UX work has gone into ensuring a seamless controller experience:

  • Toggle seamlessly between controller and mouse/keyboard.

  • Ability popups, ship commands, and menus are fully navigable via gamepad.

  • UI prompts dynamically reflect your input method.

✨ Improvements

• Automatic input detection: switching from controller to keyboard instantly updates UI.

• Ability UI navigation now accessible by controller.

• Improved feedback when move actions are completed (e.g., "Cancel" button state).

• Visual cues added to highlight active controller buttons.

• Unified fonts for cleaner UI presentation across platforms.

• added on-screen keyboard for controller

• Large overhaul to AI decision making and available actions

🐛 Bug Fixes

AI Player

• Fixed: AI Zealot Free Fire attacking twice

• Fixed: AI Island Claim failure

• Fixed: AI Actions limited from player skip

• Fixed: Broadside retaliation attack requirement error

• Fixed: AI sailing through occupied cells

• Fixed: AI wasting a sail by firing first and still sailing towards target

Gameplay

• Fixed: Barbarian Battle Cry Pathing Path

• Fixed: Conflicting Retreat and Grappling logic

Controller & Input

• Fixed: Controller mode could get stuck with no way to return to mouse.

• Fixed: Sound sliders unresponsive to controller input.

• Fixed: Ability popups could not be selected via controller.

• Fixed: “Cancel” button remained active after movement completion.

• Fixed: Hotkey icons missing in some menus when using a controller.

UI & Visuals

• Fixed: Inconsistent fonts across screens and resolutions.

• Fixed: Movement animation breaking under certain input conditions.

• Fixed: Ability prompt positions incorrect under controller navigation.

• Fixed: Camera drag issues after using mouse clicks.

• Fixed: Island Menu popup in multiplayer

🧭 On the Horizon

With controller support and platform compatibility locked in, our next updates will focus on:

• Visual polish

• New abilities and factions

• UI enhancements

• Gameplay balance tuning

Thanks for sailing with us — see you on deck!