PC5 1.9.3

Covers and backgrounds from SteamGridDB, and menus that are readable to the last word.

Install

• ProsperoStore: update PC5 from its page in the store.
• PC5's own updater: Settings › System › Update now, or Update now when PC5 asks as it opens. It downloads only the files that changed. PC5 restarts by itself when the update is installed.

What's new

• SteamGridDB: covers and backgrounds made by SteamGridDB's members, with a free key of your own. PC5 makes /data/prospero-win/api_keys.txt the first time it opens: put your key after STEAMGRIDDB_API_KEY=. SteamGridDB's covers come after Steam's when PC5 picks one, and are offered beside the others when you choose one by hand. When Steam has a game's cover but no background, SteamGridDB's background is used. Without a key PC5 works as before. PC5 never shows your key or writes it to its logs. See SteamGridDB.
• No more Wikipedia pictures: they were often not the game's cover. Steam, SteamGridDB, GOG, PCGamingWiki and Wikidata remain, each in Settings › System › Picture sources.
• Less kept on the console: a game keeps only its cover and background, not the picture as it was downloaded; copies earlier versions kept are deleted. Uninstalling a game with Keep saves now deletes its cover and background too; installing it again gets them anew.
• Graphics API in a window: △ › Graphics › Graphics API opens a window with each choice and all it does, the one in use marked.
• Menus read in full: the description of the chosen row takes two lines when it needs them, in Settings and in a game's menu, and nothing runs under the ✕ / ○ hints any more, the update rows of Settings › System included. Messages and questions grow to fit their text.
• Everything in 1.9.2 is unchanged: a Graphics API for each game, the large overlay, updates that download only what changed, and all since 1.8.2.

Which games run

See the game compatibility list, made from players' reports and issues. Got a game running? Add it: the form takes a minute.

Reporting a problem

Please report problems as an issue on GitHub, not in ProsperoStore's comments: A game doesn't run for a game, A problem with PC5 for PC5 itself. Attach the game's zip from /data/prospero-win/logs/ (issue-…zip, or the game's newest log-…zip when nothing crashed): the form asks for it, as the cause can't be found without it. △ on PC5's crash message opens the form for you, filled in. If an update from PC5 fails, the message says why; turn on Settings › System › Keep all logs, try again and attach PC5's own log. See Logs and debugging for what an issue may ask for.

Not supported

Games that need a store's launcher or client running (Steam, EA app, Ubisoft Connect, Rockstar Games Launcher), anti-cheat, and games that need kernel drivers. .NET programs that mix .NET and C++ (C++/CLI). 16-bit Windows and DOS programs. Recording or saving video from inside a game. Frame generation for DirectDraw games, games drawn without 3D, and HDR output. Changing a game's controller mode, resolution or aspect ratio while it runs. DRM protected. PC5 installed as a package (.pkg) can't update itself: it updates from a folder only.