Torchlight II gets optional beta branch with controller support
XD is testing controller support, crash fixes and other improvements in an optional Torchlight II beta branch.
Fourteen years after its release, Torchlight II is getting an optional beta branch with controller support, crash fixes and a set of technical improvements. Developer XD says the long-standing default version will remain available, so players do not have to move their existing saves or mods to the test branch. 1
The first beta build adds controller support on Windows and macOS, addresses several crash issues, optimises map logic to reduce loading times and introduces new render-scale and anti-aliasing settings. It also corrects some translation problems. 1
A separate branch for an old favourite
XD says the beta will use Steam accounts and friends lists for online multiplayer instead of the TapTap.io requirement it recently introduced. That particular change is expected to move to the main branch once it has been tested, while the wider set of changes remains part of the optional beta for now. 1
The developer says it wants to make “more extensive fixes and optimizations” over time, using AI-assisted coding tools to help review Torchlight II’s older code. It stresses that changes will go through QA testing and compatibility checks, and says mod compatibility will remain a key focus. 1
There is no guarantee that players on different versions will be able to use multiplayer together. XD says it is investigating that possibility, but warns that the differences between the branches create considerable uncertainty. 1
The beta announcement is also available through the game’s official Steam news feed, which confirms that the work is intended as a refreshed and improved version rather than a forced replacement for the current release. 2
Our opinion
An optional branch is the right way to approach a fourteen-year-old game with an established mod scene and a loyal player base. Controller support and crash fixes are useful improvements, but they would be much less welcome if they arrived by silently replacing a version people still rely on.
The real test will be whether XD can modernise the technical foundations without breaking the strange, community-shaped ecosystem that has grown around Torchlight II. Keeping the original branch available gives the experiment room to succeed — and gives players a safe way to decide whether the new one is worth their time.