Skip to content
drpetersonfernandes edited this page Aug 6, 2026 · 1 revision

17 — Release Notes

Condensed changelog. The canonical, fully detailed file is SimpleLauncher\WhatsNew.md (shown in-app via Help → Update History).

5.6.0 — 2026-08-06 (current)

  • Parameter Resolver API: "Suggest" buttons in Edit System (AI-powered parameter suggestions with confirmation dialog), Explanation: prefix handling, loading overlay, URL normalization with fixed 60 s timeout.
  • Game File Watcher: GameFileWatcherService auto-refreshes the game list on external ROM changes (500 ms debounce, start/stop per system).
  • 7za fallback extraction when SharpCompress fails; bundled 7za binaries across conversion tools.
  • Batch file path validation before execution; UseShellExecute instead of cmd.exe /c.
  • OneDrive error guidance, invalid folder-character validation, CHD support for Kega Fusion + exit-code reporting + Dokan check, CHD mounting on ARM64 (architecture-specific CHDMounter).
  • PCSX2 permission-error detection + portable config path resolution.
  • History database migration: history.xmlhistory.dat (MessagePack) with fallback.
  • Global search: results count, AND/OR operators, better loading state.
  • Downloads: automatic retry with exponential backoff; read-only file handling.
  • Startup robustness: fallback logger, improved init order, timeouts for silent update check & stats, temp-folder check first.
  • F8 hotkey conflict warning; AI parameter suggestions polish; UI/UX (cancel buttons, tooltips, loading overlays, confirmation dialogs); encrypted RA credentials (Windows Credential Manager/DPAPI); nested emulator settings structure.
  • Debug Window restored (constructor + theme), -debug flag, parameters.md path fix; quote trimming.
  • GameCoverScraper removed (use Find Rom Cover / Retro Game Cover Downloader).
  • Serilog structured logging everywhere (ILogger, sinks for Debug Window, rolling file 7 days, bug reports).
  • Massive DI + MVVM refactoring; nullable reference types; Meziantou analyzer; Moq added.
  • Dependency updates: SharpCompress 0.50.4, Tomlyn 2.6.0, MessagePack 3.1.8, Sqlite/Extensions 10.0.10, Serilog 4.4.0, Meziantou 3.0.139, Moq 4.20.72, and more.

5.5.0 — 2026-05-25

Commander Genius support with an intelligent launch strategy (extract to Documents\Commander Genius\games\, detect nested game folder, dir= parameter, cleanup after exit).

5.4.0 — 2026-05-10

%ROMSYSTEMFOLDER% placeholder (system folder containing the selected ROM).

5.3.x — 2026-04

  • 5.3.3: improved .bat file support.
  • 5.3.2: auto-updater refactored into clean service architecture (UpdateService, GitHubService, DownloadService, …).
  • 5.3.1: fixed HTTP request timeouts (15 s) for bug reports, stats, support requests.
  • 5.3.0: Nintendo Wii support (official RA support).

5.2.0 — 2026-03-28

Virtual-drive system built around Dokan with a custom wrapper tool (SimpleXisoDrive/SimpleZipDrive).

5.1.0 — 2026-02-14

Store Xbox/Xbox 360 ISOs in CHD format and convert back to ISO on the fly at launch.

5.0.0 — 2026-02-11

Replaced the monolithic launcher conditionals with the strategy-based launch pattern (ILaunchStrategy) for extensibility.

4.9.x — 2026-01

  • 4.9.1: Microsoft NuGet package updates.
  • 4.9.0: Emulator auto-configuration on setup (RetroArch etc.).
  • 4.8.0: ScanSteamGames (Steam library integration).

4.7.0 — 2025-12-07

Group Files by Folder for multi-file MAME games (Software List CHDs/ROMs).

4.6.0 — 2025-10-30

Introduced GameCoverScraper (later removed in 5.6.0).

4.5.0 — 2025-10-11

(Error handling / parameter validation / UX improvements.)

4.4.x — 2025-09

  • 4.4.2 / 4.4.1: error handling, parameter validation, UX improvements.
  • 4.4: Windows-arm64 support introduced.

4.3 — 2025-07-26

Multiple System Folders: each system can scan across multiple ROM folders.

4.2.0 / 4.1.0 — 2025-06/07

(Stability and incremental improvements.)

4.0.x — 2025-05

  • 4.0.1: parameter handling overhaul — paths in parameters converted to absolute (ParameterValidator, GameLauncher).
  • 4.0: new visual System Selection Screen.

3.13 — 2025-04-27

Batch Convert To Compressed File skips already-compressed files.

3.12 — 2025-03-31

Per-emulator option to turn off error notifications.

3.11.x — 2025-03

  • 3.11.1: file/folder path checks in the parameter field.
  • 3.11: Play History Window (games played + duration).

3.10.x — 2025-02/03

  • 3.10.2: fixed List View preview images.
  • 3.10: gamepad dead-zone exposed to the user.

3.9.x — 2025-02

  • 3.9.1: much faster search engine (main window + global search).
  • 3.9: enhanced Xbox + PlayStation controller support.

3.8.x — 2025-01

  • 3.8.1: bug fixes.
  • 3.8: 17-language translations introduced.

3.7.x — 2024-12

  • 3.7.1: bug fixes/exception handling.
  • 3.7: BAT file generator for Xbox 360 XBLA games.

3.6.x — 2024-11

  • 3.6.3: temp folder moved to the Windows temp folder.
  • 3.6.1: relative UserImagePath preview fix.
  • 3.6.0: major EditSystem validation refactor.

3.5 — 2024-11-09

BAT file generator for Sega Model 3.

3.4.x — 2024-11-03

  • 3.4.1: automatic SystemImageFolder default (.\images\SystemName).
  • 3.4: new Tools menu.

3.3.x — 2024-10

  • 3.3.2: Edit System input trimming/validation.
  • 3.3.1: MAME warning-only output handling fix.
  • 3.3.0: Image Packs for several systems.

3.2 — 2024-10-22

Image-pack downloads enabled.

3.1 — 2024-07-18

File check before launching a favorite game.

3.0 — 2024-07-17

Themes introduced.

2.x — 2023-2024

  • 2.15.1: favorite star icons · 2.15: EasyMode emulator updates · 2.14.4: Global Search AND/OR · 2.14.3-1: update-mechanism fixes · 2.14.0: Easy Mode · 2.13.0: experimental parameter checker · 2.12.1: error notifications · 2.12.0: system/image/emulator path checks · 2.11.x: search engine, cover handling · 2.10.0.10: vertical scroll fix · 2.9.0.90: show-all-games option · 2.8.0.5: Edit System menu · 2.7.0.1: gamepad auto-toggle · 2.6.2.3: .bat files as games · 2.4: mame.xml database · 2.3: thumbnail/gamepad menu items · 2.2: .NET 8.0 upgrade · 2.1: system.xml fixes · 2.0: major UI overhaul.

1.x — 2023

  • 1.3: Xbox controller support · 1.2: fixes + CHD support · 1.1 (2023-08-29): initial release.

Related docs

Clone this wiki locally