Developer Bit Loom has officially announced its latest project, Glenmara: Still Life Artist, a story-rich art simulation heading to both Linux and Windows. Revealed during the Glasgow Indie Games Festival 2026, the title focuses on the creative process of arranging personal objects into still life paintings, set against the backdrop of a fictional Scottish island.
Quick Facts
- Platforms: Linux and Windows (via Steam).
- Developer: Bit Loom (known for PHOGS! and Tray Racers!).
- Support: Confirmed native Linux support at launch.
- Release Date: Currently TBD.
A Creative Loop Without Pressure
In Glenmara: Still Life Artist, you take on the role of an artist tasked with capturing the stories of your neighbors. Residents provide you with objects that hold personal meaning—ranging from books and cups to various ornaments—which you then arrange into a composition. The game grants you full control over the layout, framing, backdrop, and lighting, allowing you to tinker with the scene until it feels just right.
Bit Loom has designed the experience to be free of stress. There are no timers, no failure states, and no customers pressuring you to work quickly. Once you are satisfied with your arrangement, you use a set of customizable painting tools to finalize the artwork. For those who want to experiment without constraints, a Freeplay mode allows you to create compositions using any unlocked objects and tools, independent of the game’s story progression.
As an added detail, the developer has confirmed that players can place googly eyes on any object in the game, a feature that may not add to the narrative weight but certainly changes the tone of the compositions.
What We Know About Technical Support
The announcement confirms native Linux support, which is a significant detail for the platform's community. Players should be able to run the game without relying on compatibility layers like Proton. However, other technical specifications remain under wraps. Bit Loom has yet to confirm system requirements, controller support, Vulkan compatibility, or whether the game will receive official Steam Deck verification.
While the relaxed, non-linear structure of the game seems like a natural fit for handheld devices like the Steam Deck, official support remains unconfirmed. Similarly, there is no word yet on a potential demo or specific performance targets.
The Vision Behind the Canvas
Bit Loom, the studio behind the BAFTA-nominated PHOGS! and the Green Game Jam 2023 winner Tray Racers!, is moving in a more personal direction with this project. During the announcement in Glasgow, developer James Morwood expressed his enthusiasm for the project, noting that the Scottish setting feels like a perfect fit for the game's intimate scale.
The studio intends to allow for a wide variety of player expression. Because every player starts with the same basic tools but different objects and creative instincts, the final paintings will vary wildly. Whether you choose to pursue perfect artistic balance or build a chaotic pile of sentimental trinkets, the game is designed to accommodate those individual choices.
For now, players can track the game's progress on its official Steam page as the team continues development.