Version 1.5.0

This update delivers a complete visual and technical overhaul for Now Playing, with a redesigned Quick Access Menu, improved fullscreen mode, application-specific volume control, configurable cover art sources and top bar integration.

What’s new

• Added a completely redesigned Quick Access Menu interface, with a larger album cover, updated text styles, reorganized controls and a layout that uses the available panel width more effectively.
• Added animated album cover glow effects that react to playback.
• Added application-specific volume control, allowing the volume of the active music application to be adjusted directly from Now Playing without changing the main Windows volume.
• Added configurable cover art sources:
  • Online | High resolution, for higher-quality artwork retrieved through online matching.
  • Windows | Faster, for artwork provided directly by the active Windows media session (capped at 300x300 pixel, that's a Windows limit).
• Added the new Cover Blur Fullscreen Mode visual effect, which uses the current album artwork as an animated blurred background.
• Added optional song information in the Steam top bar, including the current service icon and track title.
• Added an option to move the Steam clock and Now Playing information to the left side of the top bar.
• Added time and Weather information in fullscreen mode when the Weather plugin is available.
• Added service-specific color accents for Spotify, TIDAL, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon Music and SoundCloud.

Improvements

• The Quick Access Menu now uses a cleaner and more consistent visual hierarchy for artwork, song information, playback controls and service actions.
• Album artwork is now displayed with a consistent square format, improved cropping and softer rounded corners.
• Long track, artist and album names now use responsive scrolling instead of being constrained by the previous fixed-width layout.
• Gamepad and keyboard navigation have been improved across the redesigned interface, including precise volume adjustment in 1% increments.
• The fullscreen interface has been redesigned with improved artwork placement, typography, control sizing and visual blending.
• Steam Big Picture’s top bar and footer are now hidden immediately when entering fullscreen mode.
• The selected music service is now shown as the panel title instead of the generic “Now Playing” label.
• Media-session updates and cover retention have been improved for more responsive track changes and more stable long-running playback sessions.