This specific release of (version 1.5.78.11833) was a maintenance update released on October 21, 2021. It primarily focused on bug fixes and performance improvements for the native GNU/Linux version and other PC platforms. Update Highlights (v1.5.78.11833)
: Resolved a persistent bug where certain doors in City of Tears houses remained locked after defeating all enemies.
The 1.5.78.11833 build is one of the ultimate stable iterations of the original game. According to the Hollow Knight SteamDB Patch Notes , this update addressed critical quality-of-life and gameplay bugs:
By the time version 1.5.78.11833 rolled out, Hollow Knight had already received years of post-launch support, including four major, free content packs: Hidden Dreams , The Grimm Troupe , Lifeblood , and Godmaster . These updates added new areas, characters, bosses, and the challenging "Pantheons" of Godhome. The version number itself follows a MAJOR.MINOR.MAINTENANCE.BUILD format, where the first two numbers indicate major and minor feature additions, the third is for general changes, and the fourth is for pure bug fixes. Hollow Knight - 1.5.78.11833 - MULTi10 - GNU Li...
Version 1.5.78.11833 includes updated native controller APIs. This ensures that popular controllers—including the Steam Controller, DualShock 4, DualSense, and Xbox gamepads—are recognized instantly via the Linux kernel's evdev system without requiring third-party mapping software. System Requirements for Linux
A subtle but important detail is that this update migrated Hollow Knight to on platforms like GOG, a newer version of the game engine that offered better performance and stability. Interestingly, about four years later, on October 3, 2025 , a minor hotfix named 1.5.78.11833a was released, though no patch notes were provided.
: This confirms that the package is natively built for Linux operating systems, removing the need for compatibility layers like Wine or Proton. Technical Advantages of Native Linux Support This specific release of (version 1
The update that immediately preceded 1.5.78.11833 was , released on June 6, 2021. This was a landmark update for Linux users because it introduced Vulkan as the default graphics API for the Linux version . Vulkan is a modern, low-overhead graphics API that can offer significant performance improvements, especially on lower-end hardware. However, the transition wasn't seamless. Anecdotal reports from the community suggest that for some players, the native Linux client began to exhibit controller and graphics issues or performed worse than running the Windows version through Proton (Steam Play). One user noted that after the update, the game was "unplayably bad" with framerates around 10 FPS, whereas the Windows version ran at a smooth 60 FPS on the same machine.
While many Linux enthusiasts rely on Proton to play Windows titles, a native offers specific advantages:
Even in a minor bug-fix release, Hollow Knight supports several features that enhance the overall experience: The version number itself follows a MAJOR
| Hardware | Distro | Resolution | Avg FPS (Greenpath) | Lowest (Deepnest) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Intel i5-8250U (UHD 620) | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | 720p | 58 | 42 | | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X + RX 6600 | Arch (Wayland) | 1440p | 144 (capped) | 119 | | NVIDIA GTX 1060 (470 drivers) | Pop!_OS 22.04 | 1080p | 60 (locked) | 54 |
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS or equivalent modern distribution (Arch, Fedora, Debian) Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E5200 Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce 9800GTX+ (1GB VRAM) Storage: 9 GB available space Recommended Launch Tweaks
The native build utilizes system RAM and VRAM efficiently. It scales beautifully across various hardware configurations, from low-end laptops running lightweight desktop environments like XFCE to high-end gaming rigs utilizing KDE Plasma or GNOME. Seamless Controller Mapping
Approximately 9 GB of uncompressed local drive space.