> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://gamelauncher.cloud/help/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://gamelauncher.cloud/help/changelog/2025/november-30-2025.md).

# November 30, 2025

Dynamic theming, performance optimizations, and dashboard improvements

***

## 🎨 Desktop Launcher - Dynamic Theming System and Custom Backgrounds!

{% hint style="success" %}
**NEW FEATURE:** Complete dynamic theme customization for your launcher!
{% endhint %}

<div data-full-width="true"><figure><img src="https://4290114470-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbxTY1v1lydkuTpyU2UyA%2Fuploads%2FyhgCJgiuFZF9xEzUe7Jy%2Ffile.gif?alt=media&amp;token=7adf762d-8a70-40d0-a3da-74abcf338a75" alt=""><figcaption><p>Example Game with Purple Theme and Custom Background</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<div data-full-width="true"><figure><img src="https://4290114470-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbxTY1v1lydkuTpyU2UyA%2Fuploads%2FhzPQyV8WmogKtDsZJN35%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=f38f68f9-1ac5-4b78-8e90-1feb9ee5d975" alt=""><figcaption><p>Available Themes in the Dashboard</p></figcaption></figure></div>

**What's New:**

* **Theme Manager** - New dynamic theming system with color presets
* **Custom Colors** - Choose theme colors for panels, buttons, and UI elements
* **Custom Backgrounds** - Set custom background images and opacity
* **Glass Panel Themes** - Configurable glass effects with dynamic opacity
* **Preset Support** - Pre-configured color schemes for quick theming
* **Live Updates** - Theme changes apply instantly without restart

**Appearance Options:**

* Panel background colors and transparency
* Button hover effects and backgrounds
* Glass blur effects and opacity
* Solid backgrounds for better readability

***

## 🖼️ Desktop Launcher - Custom Backgrounds, Overlay and Transparency

{% hint style="success" %}
**NEW FEATURE:** Set custom backgrounds for your launcher with per-app customization!
{% endhint %}

<div data-full-width="true"><figure><img src="https://4290114470-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbxTY1v1lydkuTpyU2UyA%2Fuploads%2FTuLETVqGl5D0rvg4TRTc%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=c4fcec45-bae6-4211-b854-2ec689d0819b" alt=""><figcaption><p>Background Image for the Launcher</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<div data-full-width="true"><figure><img src="https://4290114470-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbxTY1v1lydkuTpyU2UyA%2Fuploads%2FE3pSEB58ujzFtc0j68aN%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=d201dad0-1c64-4ff6-8ab9-9e80f99c16c1" alt=""><figcaption><p>Custom background for the app</p></figcaption></figure></div>

**What's New:**

* **Default Launcher Background** - Set a default background image for the entire launcher
* **Per-App Custom Backgrounds** - Override the default background for specific games/apps
* **Background Opacity Control** - Adjust background transparency (Subtle, Default, Medium, Strong)
  * Subtle (1%)
  * Default (15%)
  * Medium (30%)
  * Strong (50%)
* **Overlay Darkness Control** - Control background darkness with preset levels:
  * None (0%)
  * Light (30%)
  * Default (50%)
  * Dark (70%)
  * Very Dark (90%)
* **Live Preview** - See changes in real-time before applying to your launcher
* **Recommended Specs** - JPG or PNG format, 1920×1080, 5MB max
* **Subtle Opacity Display** - Backgrounds display with subtle opacity for better UI readability

**Perfect For:**

* Brand customization with your studio logo or artwork
* Game-specific backgrounds that match each title's theme
* Creating a unique launcher experience for your users

***

## ⚡ Desktop Launcher - Performance Optimizations

{% hint style="success" %}
**Major Performance Improvements!** Smoother animations and better resource management.
{% endhint %}

**Performance Enhancements:**

* **Performance Mode** - New mode that optimizes launcher during gameplay
* **Image Caching** - Improved preloading and caching system reduces flicker
* **GIF Optimization** - Enhanced GIF rendering with XamlAnimatedGif library
* **Async Loading** - Background images and icons load asynchronously
* **Window Drag** - Async DragMove implementation for smoother window movement
* **Faster Animations** - Reduced animation durations across all UI elements
* **Thread Safety** - Better thread management for image operations

**Visual Improvements:**

* **Reduced Effects** - Optimized blur and shadow effects for better performance
* **Hover Effects** - Enhanced hover darkening effects for news and game covers
* **Resource Management** - Better memory usage with improved image loading

***

## 🌍 Desktop Launcher - Environment Management & Environments with Access Codes

{% hint style="success" %}
**Better Environment Control!** Aliases, enable/disable functionality, and beta access codes.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://4290114470-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbxTY1v1lydkuTpyU2UyA%2Fuploads%2FVgBOG5zpV9s9vHHVSwJc%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=19203990-965a-4101-84ec-9128222fa241" alt=""><figcaption><p>NEW: Private Betas</p></figcaption></figure>

<div data-full-width="true"><figure><img src="https://4290114470-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbxTY1v1lydkuTpyU2UyA%2Fuploads%2F4PiUOiuE9G8GbFuNuKgZ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=c2116694-a1b4-4db5-ba06-dc26a5c14f53" alt=""><figcaption><p>App Environments (Production has "Released" alias, Staging is Disabled, and New is a Hidden environment)</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<p align="center">↓</p>

<figure><img src="https://4290114470-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbxTY1v1lydkuTpyU2UyA%2Fuploads%2FL7aSoPChOmFkTf3Ph4Tv%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=f2db69b2-5a57-4f95-a8c8-d989c02fb86f" alt=""><figcaption><p>Production Environment is show as "Released", Staging is disabled completely, and "New" is hidden until the user verify the code</p></figcaption></figure>

**What's New:**

* **Hidden Environments with Access Codes** - Developers can now:
  * **Hide Environments** - Mark environments as hidden from regular users
  * **Set Access Codes** - Add a code that only authorized users can enter
  * **User Control** - Users can unlock hidden environments by entering the access code in the launcher
  * **Perfect for Beta & Testing** - Control when and who gets access to staging, beta, or testing environments
* **Environment Aliases** - Display friendly names for environments
* **Enable/Disable** - Toggle environments on/off without removing them
* **Better Selection** - Improved environment selection interface
* **Library Control** - Renamed "All Games" to "Library" for clarity

***

## 🎨 Dashboard - Dynamic Theming & Environment Access

{% hint style="success" %}
**NEW FEATURE:** Dashboard now supports dynamic theme customization and beta environment access!
{% endhint %}

**Launcher Appearance Customization:**

* **Custom Backgrounds** - Upload custom background images for your launcher
* **Appearance Options** - Configure visual settings directly from the dashboard
* **Live Preview** - See changes before deploying to users
* **Easy Management** - Update launcher appearance without rebuilding

**Environment Management:**

* **Hidden Environments with Access Codes** - Developers can now:
  * **Hide Environments** - Mark environments as hidden from regular users
  * **Set Access Codes** - Add a code that only authorized users can enter
  * **User Control** - Users can unlock hidden environments by entering the access code in their launcher
  * **Perfect for Beta & Testing** - Control when and who gets access to staging, beta, or testing environments
* **Environment Aliases** - Configure friendly display names for environments
* **Environment Visibility** - Toggle environment visibility directly from settings
* **Assignment Warnings** - Clear warnings when assigning apps to launchers
* **Environment Editing** - New dialog for editing environment settings with validation

***

## 🎯 Desktop Launcher - UI/UX Improvements

{% hint style="info" %}
**Smart UI Adaptation!** Launcher interface now adapts based on launcher type and content.
{% endhint %}

**Adaptive Interface:**

* **Single-App vs Multi-App Detection** - Library panel and AllGamesControl automatically hide for Single-App launchers
* **Smart Slideshow** - Slideshow player controls hide automatically when only one news item exists
* **Smart Executable Dropdown** - Secondary executable dropdown only shows when in play status and secondary executable is enabled, hidden in all other states
* **Dynamic Layout** - UI elements adjust automatically for a cleaner, context-appropriate experience

***

## 🔧 Technical Improvements & Bug Fixes

**Code Quality:**

* **Code Refactoring** - Cleaner codebase with better organization
* **Dynamic Resources** - Enhanced ComboBox UI with theme-based styling
* **Library Updates** - Updated to XamlAnimatedGif for better GIF support
* **Image Loading** - Refactored to use async/await and HttpClient
* **UI Controls** - Improved SubNews control management

**Bug Fixes:**

* **Launcher Icon Update** - Fixed launcher icon in main window not updating correctly
* **SubNews Layout** - SubNews now adjusts position downward for consistency when announcements are hidden or panels adapt to launcher type
* **Image Flicker** - Fixed flicker issues in background and favorite game icons
* **Logo Blur** - Renamed Icon\_Blur to Logo\_Blur for consistency
* **Glass Backgrounds** - Added GlassBackgroundSolid brush for opaque UI elements
* **Thread Safety** - Fixed race conditions in image cache operations

***

{% hint style="success" %}
**Update Now!** Download the latest desktop launcher to experience all these improvements and features.
{% endhint %}