If you have executed a flawless co-op run and earned three stars in a stage, only to watch your trophy fail to pop, you do not need to replay the level. The developer's June 1 patch introduced a permanent, retroactive fix: simply open the Level Select screen, and any stuck trophies will automatically sync and unlock. Here is the complete breakdown of why the launch bug occurred, how the API callback failed, and the exact steps to permanently resolve achievements not unlocking Linebound.
When Linebound launched on May 31, 2026, the asymmetric co-op puzzle platformer immediately drew praise for its innovative mechanics. One player (the Artist) draws platforms in real-time, while the other (Sketch) navigates a treacherous living sketchbook. However, the launch was marred by a frustrating client-side bug. Players executing flawless, high-speed runs were left empty-handed when the game client failed to register their completions with the server.
Why Are Achievements Not Unlocking Linebound? The 3-Star Bug Explained
To understand the root cause of the issue, we have to look at how the game's developer, FutureBound—a seven-person indie team including Samuel Luecke, Oliver Svensson, and Tristan Berglund—structured the game's reward logic. Linebound relies heavily on a strict three-star rating system. Earning three stars requires tight communication, precise platform drawing, and rapid navigation without taking damage.
For indie developers, integrating the Steamworks API for achievement tracking is often a complex, final-week task before launch. The architecture requires the game engine to send a secure callback to the Steam client confirming that a specific condition has been met.
When a duo successfully completes a level with a three-star rating, the game client is supposed to send this trigger immediately. However, in the May 31 launch build, a logic error in the code prevented this trigger from firing correctly. The callback was placed at the very end of the level-tally screen. If a player clicked through the tally screen too quickly to proceed to the next stage, the scene transitioned before the network callback could resolve.
This race condition meant the local save file updated to reflect your victory, but the network packet was dropped. This discrepancy is the core reason behind achievements not unlocking Linebound. The game knew you won, but the platform did not.
How to Fix Achievements Not Unlocking Linebound: The Level Select Workaround
Fortunately, FutureBound acted quickly. On June 1, 2026, they deployed a critical "Bug Fix Update" that addressed the core API failure. Historically, when games suffer from broken achievements, the fix is punitive. Titles have occasionally required players to start entirely new save files to trigger bugged boss trophies. FutureBound's approach, however, is remarkably player-friendly.
Rather than forcing players to replay difficult stages to re-trigger the trophies, the developers implemented a retroactive sync. By placing the check function inside the Level Select menu's initialization script, the game performs a silent audit of your save file every time the menu loads.
Here is the exact step-by-step process to force the game to recognize your progress:
- Update to the June 1 Patch: Ensure your client has downloaded the latest version of Linebound. The fix is hardcoded into this specific update.
- Launch the Game: Boot the game and navigate past the main title screen to the primary interface.
- Open the Level Select Screen: This is the crucial step. Do not load into a specific stage. Simply click to open the "Level Select" menu.
- Wait for the Sync: The moment the Level Select screen renders, the game runs a background check against your local save file. It will detect any three-star clears that lack a corresponding achievement and fire the API triggers automatically.
| Condition | Launch Build (May 31) | Patched Build (June 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Star Clear | Saved locally, API call fails | API call triggers immediately |
| Retroactive Sync | Not available | Triggers upon opening Level Select |
| Spike Hitboxes | Oversized, causing unfair deaths | Reduced size for precise platforming |
| Widescreen Support | UI elements cut off or stretched | Black bars added for consistent framing |
By tying the API check to the Level Select screen, FutureBound ensured a frictionless experience. You do not need to replay anything. If you are still experiencing achievements not unlocking Linebound after following these steps, verify your game files to ensure the patch installed correctly.
Other Glitches Tied to Achievements Not Unlocking Linebound
The June 1 update was a comprehensive housekeeping patch. While the trophy sync was the headline fix, FutureBound also resolved several mechanical and visual issues that were artificially inflating the game's difficulty and causing failed runs. If you were struggling to get three stars in the first place, these accompanying fixes explain why.
Spike Hitboxes and Damage Logic Prior to the patch, the hitboxes for spike traps were notoriously unforgiving. The developers explicitly noted that "spike hitboxes have been made smaller," allowing Sketch to squeeze past tight gaps with a bit more breathing room. Furthermore, they fixed a bizarre bug where spikes were occasionally not dealing damage under certain conditions, which had allowed some players to cheese their way through hazard zones.
Visual Framing and Draw Zones The update also introduced mandatory black bars for widescreen resolutions and black borders across all scenes to ensure consistent framing. This was a critical fix for the Artist player. Previously, an issue existed where "level bounds being outside the books in some levels" caused the Artist to lose track of where they could legally draw platforms.
The Artist player is restricted to drawing platforms within predefined "draw zones" to prevent them from simply creating a staircase straight to the exit. However, the launch build featured several stages where these invisible zones did not align with the visual artwork of the sketchbook pages. Sketch would jump, the Artist would attempt to draw a platform, and the ink would simply fail to appear because the cursor was technically out of bounds. Missing draw zones have now been patched, ensuring that if you see empty space, you can utilize it.
These mechanical tweaks go hand-in-hand with resolving achievements not unlocking Linebound. By standardizing the hitboxes and the visual boundaries, the game now provides a fair playing field for earning those elusive three-star ratings.
Artist and Sketch: Maximizing Your Co-Op Runs
With the technical hurdles cleared, the focus returns to the gameplay loop itself. Linebound thrives on its asymmetric design. The game's visual identity—a literal living sketchbook where pencil strokes and ink splatters form the terrain—is more than just a stylistic choice; it informs the gameplay. When the Artist draws a platform, the ink has a physical weight and duration. It does not last forever.
This ephemeral nature means Sketch cannot simply stand on a drawn platform indefinitely to plan their next move. The constant forward momentum is what makes earning three stars so challenging, and why the achievement bug was so devastating to the community.
Progress is strictly gated by communication. If the Artist draws a platform too high, Sketch cannot reach it. If Sketch jumps too early, the Artist will not have time to draw the safety net. The recent patch makes this dance significantly smoother. Now that the level boundaries are strictly confined within the book's visual edges, the Artist no longer has to guess where the playable area ends.
For players chasing 100% completion, the most effective strategy is to designate roles and stick to them. The Artist requires a macro understanding of the puzzle's layout, anticipating where Sketch will need to be three seconds in the future. Sketch requires micro-level platforming skills, executing precise jumps and communicating exactly when a platform is needed. When both players synchronize, the three-star clears flow naturally—and thanks to the Level Select workaround, the trophies will finally follow.
FAQ: Achievements Not Unlocking Linebound
Do I need to replay the level to get my missing achievements? No. As long as you have the June 1 patch installed, you simply need to open the Level Select screen. The game will automatically detect your three-star clears and unlock the corresponding trophies.
Does this bug affect both the Artist and Sketch players? Yes. Because the bug was tied to the game client failing to send the API trigger to Steam, both the host and the joining player were vulnerable to the issue. Both players should boot their respective games and open the Level Select menu to sync their profiles.
What if the Level Select workaround doesn't work? If you have opened the menu and the trophies still refuse to pop, close the game and verify your local files through Steam. This ensures the June 1 update was fully applied. Also, double-check your save file to confirm you actually earned three stars on the level in question.
Will future levels be affected by this bug? According to the developer's notes, the logic error has been permanently resolved. Any new three-star clears you achieve will unlock their trophies in real-time upon level completion, exactly as intended.
Sources
- Steam Community Announcements: Linebound Bug Fix Update (June 1, 2026).
- FutureBound Developer Patch Notes and Community Updates.