Use this three-minute triage first
- 01
Read the active requirement
Confirm the current job asks for cleaning, repair, replacement, reprogramming or story progress; each has a different completion trigger.
- 02
Scan every workspace area
Look at the center, side views, shelves and parts boxes for a loose component or a boxed device that moved away from the main bench.
- 03
Return to the menu
Save if the game allows it, return to the title screen and reload before repeating purchases or changing system settings.
- 04
Restart the game
A clean restart has resolved some community-reported first-day state problems and is safer than deleting local data.
- 05
Compare the exact device and version
Open the Steam technical-issues board and search for the device, action and current game version rather than a generic error.
Cleaning makes a sound but nothing changes
Repeated Steam Community reports describe the first Pokia cleaning job playing a cleaning sound without removing dirt. Before treating it as a broken save, confirm that the dirty component has been removed from the device and moved to the cleaning container on the workbench. Select the part itself, choose the available brush or cleaning action and watch the active task rather than relying only on the sound.
If the percentage or requirement still does not change, switch workspace views and inspect every loose component. The remaining target may be a smaller part outside the centered view, or the job may now require replacement or reassembly instead of more brushing. Do not keep applying the same action to the same surface when the task cue points to a different state.
A part or device appears to be missing
Community reports for the early Atari joystick job show that a device can move to a shelf or appear as a box after it has been opened. Check both shelf areas, the right side of the table and any parts container before buying a replacement or assuming the object was deleted. The current interface may place an untouched device differently from one that has already had a screw removed.
If the object is absent from every visible storage area, return to the menu and reload. A restart fixed the state for some players who could not continue the first day. Preserve the save and avoid starting a new game until you have checked Steam Cloud status and current reports; a state bug and a missing local save are different problems and require different evidence.
The story or day will not progress
Finish every active in-person and online order, check the shop computer and inbox, then review whether a newly installed app or purchased license is waiting for an action. When no customer or task is active, ending the day can be the next progression trigger. Working indefinitely inside the same day will not necessarily cause another event to appear.
If the plot still does not move, write down the current day, active customer, unfinished orders and the last story conversation. Search the technical board for those exact details. A report such as ‘stuck’ is hard to compare, while the day, character and last completed action make it possible to tell a missed prerequisite from a reproducible sequence problem.
A save is missing or different on another computer
Steam lists Steam Cloud support for ReStory, but that feature does not guarantee that every interrupted session has already uploaded. Before opening the game on a second computer, let Steam finish synchronization and confirm that both devices use the same Steam account. If Steam shows a cloud conflict, read the timestamps carefully instead of automatically choosing the newest-looking option.
Do not delete a local save, configuration folder or Steam userdata while diagnosing a missing save. First close the game, restart Steam and check whether synchronization completes. If one computer still shows the expected shop, preserve that working copy and contact the official support channel before experimenting. This page does not publish an unverified save-folder path because the location and format can change by platform and build.
Low FPS, stutter or unusual GPU load
An official playtest patch added VSync and target-framerate options and advised players with GPU performance problems to try disabling VSync and selecting a 30 or 60 FPS target. That advice came from an earlier build, so use it only when the same options exist in the current release. Change one setting at a time, return to the same scene and compare the result before changing resolution or driver controls.
Close unnecessary background applications, confirm the game is fully updated and test the minimum supported settings before reinstalling. The official Steam data lists Windows and macOS support with modest minimum requirements, but meeting a minimum does not guarantee identical performance in every repair scene. If the problem began after a patch, include the patch date, hardware, resolution and the scene that reproduces it in the report.
Controller and Steam Deck checks
Steam currently lists partial controller support together with DualShock and DualSense support. Partial support can mean that some menus, text entry or fine pointer actions still work better with a mouse or trackpad. Confirm the controller is detected by Steam before launching, test the default layout and remove a custom layout temporarily when an action is missing.
The current community board contains Steam Deck compatibility questions, but this page does not label the game Verified or Unsupported without a current official compatibility result. On Deck, test the official or default community layout, use the trackpad for pointer-heavy cleaning and compare the live Steam compatibility panel before buying specifically for handheld play.
When to report the problem
Report a problem after the correct task, a menu reload and a full restart all fail. Include the game version, operating system, input method, device or customer name, exact reproduction steps and what the task panel shows. A screenshot of the workbench and active requirement is more useful than a general description, but remove account names or personal information before posting.
Use the official Steam technical-issues board or tinyBuild support for reproducible bugs. If a community workaround requires deleting files, installing third-party software or changing an unknown configuration value, wait for an official answer or make a recoverable backup first. The goal is to restore the shop without turning a small state problem into lost progress.
Frequently asked questions
Why does cleaning make a sound but not remove dirt?
Confirm the part is removed and placed at the cleaning container, select the loose component and use its brush action. If progress still does not change, reload before changing files.
Where did my Atari joystick or device go?
Check both shelves, the right side of the table and boxed parts. Opened devices can move away from the central bench; restart if every storage area is empty.
Why is the ReStory story not progressing?
Finish active orders, check the computer and inbox, install any required app and try ending the day. Record the day and last story event if it remains stuck.
Does ReStory support Steam Cloud?
Steam currently lists Steam Cloud support. Let synchronization finish on one device before opening the game on another, and do not delete local data during a cloud conflict.
How can I reduce ReStory stutter?
Update the game, test one setting at a time and, when the options exist, try the developer's earlier advice of disabling VSync with a 30 or 60 FPS target.
Is ReStory Steam Deck Verified?
Check the current Steam compatibility panel. Community reports exist, but this guide does not assign an official Verified or Unsupported label without a current Steam result.
Sources
Last checked Aug 13, 2026. Game behavior can change after an update, so use the linked Steam pages for the newest information.
- officialOfficial Steam store
- officialOfficial ReStory announcements and patch notes
- communitySteam Community technical issues