Ball x Pit’s Regal Update makes this Breakout roguelike even more Deck-friendly

This caught my attention because I spent more hours on Ball x Pit on my Steam Deck last year than almost any other game – and the Regal Update promises to steal even more of my commute and couch time.

Ball x Pit Regal Update: Two new characters, eight new balls, and more reasons to play on the Steam Deck

• Free major content drop launches Jan 26, 2026 – first big update from developer Kenny Sun and Friends.
• Adds two new characters (The Carouser, The Falconer) and eight additional balls that expand combo variety.
• Deepens Breakout-style, combo-driven pinball roguelike gameplay – more permutations and replayability, plus a teased surprise next week.
• Feels ideal for handheld play: short rounds, low requirements, and a design that clicks on Steam Deck.

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Publisher|Kenny Sun and Friends
Release Date|January 26, 2026
Category|Breakout-style roguelike
Platform|PC (Steam), Steam Deck
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Main analysis — why this update matters for fans and why it works on Deck

Ball x Pit sits at an odd and delicious intersection: part Balatro-esque combo roguelike, part pinball, and part unexpectedly competent farming sim. That mashup is why the base game hooked me — each run is a puzzle of chaining abilities and angles so that the “numbies” (the score explosions) balloon into ridiculous numbers. The Regal Update isn’t flashy marketing; it’s focused and surgical: two fresh characters and eight new balls meaningfully expand the build space without breaking the game’s best qualities.

The new characters shift how you think about each run. The Carouser’s returning balls that orbit around them change hit geometry and timing; that mechanic invites synergy with traits that boost return speed, bounce, or multi-hit effects. The Falconer brings an avian duo that independently throws projectiles — in practice that’s another source of controlled shots you can set up for combos. Both designs feel like they were made to nudge players into new, creative loadouts rather than just re-skinning existing playstyles.

Eight new balls — deliberately kept under wraps in the teaser — are the real wildcard. Balls in Ball x Pit often carry unique physics or effect modifiers that interact with artifacts, trinkets, and room hazards. Even one novel ball can shift the meta for dozens of item combinations; eight could open entirely new routes to high scores or exploit previously niche synergies. That’s exactly the sort of content that keeps roguelikes alive: modest, potent additions that multiply existing systems.

From a design standpoint, this is the right kind of post-launch support. Many indie roguelikes either flood players with consumable quality-of-life patches or treat content drops as DLCed megacaps. Kenny Sun and Friends has chosen a middle path: a free, focused expansion that deepens systems and teases a follow-up surprise — enough to re-engage existing fans and give newcomers a lively roadmap to jump in.

Steam Deck and playability

Practically speaking, Ball x Pit is built for short, intense runs — perfect for handheld sessions. Its low system requirements and simple control set make it feel native on the Deck: pick up a run on the bus, get a satisfying ten-minute combo, and quit without losing momentum. Valve has highlighted the title among top-played Deck games, and that word-of-mouth momentum matters; this update doubles down on what made it a Deck favorite.

What this means for players

If you already love Ball x Pit: expect more reasons to revisit runs and rebuild your mental combo map. The Falconer and Carouser will create new anchors for experiments, and the unknown balls could upend existing best practices — which is the best kind of change in a game built on discovery.

If you haven’t tried it yet: this is a good moment. The base game is affordable, approachable in short sessions, and the free Regal Update gives you extra content to explore without waiting for a sale cycle.

TL;DR

Ball x Pit’s free Regal Update (Jan 26) is a compact, meaningful expansion: two new characters and eight new balls that noticeably enlarge the game’s combo space. It’s the kind of indie update that boosts replayability without betraying the core design — and it keeps the game feeling excellent on the Steam Deck. I’ll be reinstalling it the moment the patch drops.