Available Plugins Catalog

Universal Game Launcher implements a high-performance Universal Core Plugins architecture (src/lib/plugins/). Rather than fragmenting platform and metadata features into dozen of fragile, uncoordinated modules, Universal Game Launcher consolidates core functionality into unified, domain-specific Universal Core Plugins paired with Global Helper Modules.

All plugins operate as native TypeScript modules compiled directly into the application, guaranteeing zero network CDN vulnerabilities, 100% offline capability, instant loading, and clean architectural decoupling.

🏛️ Universal Core Plugins Overview

src/lib/plugins/
├── framework.ts                  # Core UniversalPlugin TypeScript interfaces and contracts
├── engine.ts                     # In-memory registry, KV persistence, and metadata helpers
├── catalog.ts                    # Master registry exporting all active Universal Core plugins
├── index.ts                      # Public barrel exports
├── platforms/
│   └── universal.ts              # platform-universal (12 platform specs + global helpers)
├── metadata/
│   └── universal.ts              # metadata-universal (automatic multi-source cascade)
├── utility/
│   ├── title-normalizer.ts       # utility-title-normalizer (clean titles, RPG Maker & ROM normalizer)
│   ├── deals.ts                  # utility-deals (100% free giveaways & store deals)
│   ├── patchnotes.ts             # utility-patchnotes (developer game update feeds)
│   └── storage.ts                # utility-storage (non-blocking drive footprint analyzer)
└── media/
    └── universal.ts              # media-universal (Steam CDN MP4 trailer streaming & soundtracks)

🕹️ 1. Universal Platform Discovery & Launcher Engine (platform-universal)

• Plugin ID: platform-universal
• Version: 1.4.0 · Author: HELIX Origin
• Description: Unified platform engine managing discovery, launch protocol delegation, social rosters, and achievement hooks across all 12 supported PC storefronts and console emulation systems.
• Declared Features: discovery, launch, client_delegation, legendary_cli, cloud_saves, social, achievements, store_cdn, multi_drive_scaffolding

Supported Platforms & Target Specifications

Global Platform Helper Modules

Exported alongside platformUniversalPlugin in src/lib/plugins/platforms/universal.ts:

• getAllPlatformSpecs(): PlatformSpec[] — Returns specifications, colors, protocols, and detection metadata for all 12 platforms.
• detectPlatformLauncher(platformId, config): Promise<LauncherDetectionResult> — Detects whether the official platform client is installed locally.
• installPlatformLauncher(platformId): Promise<boolean> — Opens the official client installation page or installer package.
• getPlatformLaunchSpec(platformId, game, config): PlatformLaunchSpec | null — Derives the exact URI protocol or binary launch arguments for a game.
• getPlatformUris(platformId, game): { installUri?, uninstallUri?, storePageUri? } — Formulates official client install, uninstall, and store URLs.

📚 2. Universal Multi-Source Metadata Engine (metadata-universal)

• Plugin ID: metadata-universal
• Version: 1.4.0 · Author: HELIX Origin
• Description: Automatic multi-source metadata engine cascading across native and community data sources to enrich descriptions, release dates, reviews, and high-resolution artwork without requiring manual intervention.
• Declared Features: automatic_enrichment, multi_source_cascade, steam_store, gog_catalog, wikipedia_wikidata, libretro_cdn, pcgamingwiki, protondb, steamgriddb, igdb

Automatic Enrichment Cascade

When a game is imported or indexed, the Universal Metadata Engine queries sources in priority order:

1. Local Inspector: Parses local game folders, RPG Maker System.json ("gameTitle"), itch.io receipt manifests, rom.ini overrides, and PE binary headers.
2. Libretro Thumbnails CDN: Downloads authentic console box art (Named_Boxarts), title screens (Named_Titles), snaps, and logos for retro console ROMs.
3. Steam Store API: Official Valve store details, genres, developer credits, publisher credits, user reviews, 1080p screenshots, and modern Akamai CDN MP4 video trailers.
4. GOG Catalog v1 API: Official DRM-free store covers, hero wallpapers, and product descriptions.
5. Wikipedia & Wikidata MediaWiki API: Encyclopedic game synopses and Wikidata taxonomy properties (P178 Developer, P123 Publisher, P136 Genre, P577 Release Date) for games without official store pages.
6. PCGamingWiki Cargo API: Game engine detection, architecture flags, save game directory locations, and widescreen/FOV fixes.
7. ProtonDB API: Linux and Steam Deck compatibility ratings (Native, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Borked) and recommended launch arguments.
8. SteamGridDB (Optional): Community capsule covers (600×900), hero banners (1920×620), transparent logos, and square icons (requires free user API key).
9. IGDB / Twitch (Optional): Comprehensive global video game taxonomy and critic ratings (requires Twitch Developer credentials).

🔤 3. Universal Title Normalizer (utility-title-normalizer)

• Plugin ID: utility-title-normalizer
• Version: 1.4.0 · Author: HELIX Origin
• Description: Dedicated title normalization engine operating across frontend TypeScript and backend Rust (src-tauri/src/plugins/title_normalizer.rs) to produce clean, authentic game titles across PC and console libraries.
• Capabilities:
  • RPG Maker Inspection: Inspects 1-level child folders for www/data/System.json or data/System.json to extract authentic gameTitle (e.g. resolving relicts-auf-aeson to Relicts of Aeson).
  • Slug Separation: Intelligently decomposes concatenated lowercase directory slugs (e.g. myfutafamily to My Futa Family).
  • Article Inversion: Converts inverted library titles to standard reading format (e.g. Legend of Zelda, The - The Wind Waker to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker).
  • ROM Dump Tag Stripping: Strips dump tags (USA), [!], (Rev 1), (Track 01), and .nkit extensions.
  • Deduplication: Generates canonical title keys to prevent duplicate entries in custom game listings.

🎬 4. Universal Ambient Audio & Media Engine (media-universal)

• Plugin ID: media-universal
• Version: 1.4.0 · Author: HELIX Origin
• Description: Powers the consolidated media showcase in /library with streaming video trailers and ambient soundtrack playback.
• Capabilities:
  • Modern Steam CDN Trailer Streaming: Parses Steam Store movies arrays to extract high-definition Akamai MP4 video streams (https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/{movie_id}/movie_max.mp4) rendered via native HTML5 video with full player controls.
  • Ambient Game Audio: Plays official game soundtrack themes and ambient music in the background while viewing titles in the showcase.
  • Dynamic Tab Rendering: Media tabs dynamically adapt: 🖼️ Screenshots & Art, 🎬 Trailers (displayed only when trailers are available), and 🎵 Soundtracks (rendered dynamically when audio is present).

🎁 5. Free Games & Store Deals (utility-deals)

• Plugin ID: utility-deals
• Version: 1.4.0 · Author: HELIX Origin
• Description: Delivers real-time notifications and browser feeds for 100% free game promotions and major store sales across Steam, Epic Games, GOG, and Humble Bundle.
• Capabilities:
  • Live giveaway tracking powered by GamerPower feeds.
  • Highlights limited-time 100% discount promotions.
  • Direct store delegation to claim giveaways safely in your browser or official client.

📰 6. Patch Notes & News Feed (utility-patchnotes)

• Plugin ID: utility-patchnotes
• Version: 1.4.0 · Author: HELIX Origin
• Description: Aggregates developer patch notes, update announcements, and community news for installed games in your library.
• Capabilities:
  • Automatically queries official client news feeds for installed titles.
  • Displays formatted update changelogs and version release notes directly on the Dashboard.

💾 7. Storage & Drive Footprint Analyzer (utility-storage)

• Plugin ID: utility-storage
• Version: 1.4.0 · Author: HELIX Origin
• Description: Non-blocking disk storage analytics engine inspecting drive capacities and installed game footprints.
• Capabilities:
  • Offloaded to native background thread workers (spawn_blocking) for 0ms UI freezing.
  • Computes per-drive capacity gauges and per-platform game storage consumption.
  • Powers the Storage view (/storage) and the Settings → Storage & Cache controls.

➡️ Next Steps

• Metadata Providers Architecture — multi-source automatic cascade details.
• Organizing Your Library — the Library showcase, unified media tabs, and game management.
• Artwork Management — custom artwork studio and slots.
• Settings & Plugin Configuration — configuring optional API keys.
• Plugin Development Guide — authoring new plugins.