Narrative incremental game Big Dig launches with Steam Deck Verified status, Proton Linux support

Big Dig, a narrative incremental game from two-person studio Bird Gang Games, launched on Steam this week with immediate Steam Deck Verified compatibility and Linux support through the Windows build via Proton. The game has sold over 25,000 copies and holds a 95% Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam. Players dig for relics to clear land for a highway while building a museum, with the story providing structure beyond typical upgrade loops.

The $5.99 title is explicitly not a native Linux build, which matters for players tracking Proton versus native port trends. The developers, Dan Schumacher and Hjalte Tagmose, previously released the cooking roguelike Omelet You Cook. No frame rate data or detailed Proton compatibility testing has been published yet.

Steam Deck and Linux compatibility details

• Proton, not native: The game runs on Linux through the Windows build using Proton; no native Linux binary is available.
• Steam Deck Verified: Valve has granted the game Verified status for Steam Deck, indicating controller support and readable text at default resolution.
• No performance data published: The source contains no frame rate benchmarks, battery life estimates, or specific Proton version tested.
• Mac version mentioned: Release notes reference a macOS build but provide no technical details on architecture or compatibility.
• Unity engine implied: The article tags include "unity," suggesting the engine used, though the source does not explicitly confirm this in body text.

Why it matters

The launch illustrates the continuing trend where small indie studios target Steam Deck compatibility through Proton rather than investing in native Linux ports, shaping how Linux gamers set expectations and how tools like Proton and DXVK serve as the default compatibility path. For the Steam Deck ecosystem, Verified status provides a baseline confidence level, though the absence of published Proton version or performance metrics leaves technical validation to community reports.