DekaDuck Kickstarter Launches With Native Linux and Windows Support

The DekaDuck Kickstarter campaign is officially live, promising a high-energy 2D action platformer that isn't shy about its retro inspirations. Developed by Asteristic Game Studio and Glauco Silva, the project stands out immediately for its hand-drawn aesthetic and a central gameplay mechanic that centers on a detachable mechanical arm.

Gameplay and Mechanics

In DekaDuck, you control a half-duck, half-robot bounty hunter. The core of the experience revolves around that detachable arm, which functions as more than just a standard weapon. Players use it to grab enemies and interact with the environment, turning platforming sections into chaotic brawls. Asteristic Game Studio is designing the title to be reactive, encouraging players to improvise by grabbing whatever is on screen and throwing it back at incoming threats.

The studio is pulling from a distinct list of influences, including Mega Man, Alien Soldier, Mischief Makers, Silhouette Mirage, Darkwing Duck, and Earthworm Jim. The goal is to capture the “strange, bold” feeling of those classic titles, focusing on expressive animation that helps players read the screen during fast-paced encounters.

Linux and Windows Support

A major focus of the campaign is the commitment to native Linux support from the outset. Rather than leaving Linux users to rely on workarounds or waiting to see if the game functions via Proton, the team has baked native compatibility into their pitch. While this is a promising signal for the desktop Linux community, it is worth noting that official Steam Deck verification has not been confirmed by the developers at this stage.

If you want to see how the game handles on your specific hardware, a playable demo is currently available on Steam. The team encourages players to test the demo directly rather than assuming current compatibility status.

Campaign Goals and Release Window

The DekaDuck Kickstarter is seeking funding to support the expansion of the game's content and the refinement of its intensive animation work. Given the scope of creating a hand-drawn action platformer with this level of visual detail, the team has set a release window of August 2028.

For those looking for updates on the project's progress, the campaign is currently the primary source for development milestones as the team works toward their goal of bringing this “weird, scrappy” action title to PC players.