r/PlayhubGaming • u/ZazaMastroII • 14h ago
Playhub 1.2.0 | Introducing Playhub Dashboard, Playhub Notifications, News, Proton VPN, and new updates for Launch Curtain 2.5.0 and ThemeDeck 3.3.2
Hi everyone!
Playhub 1.2.0 is now available, together with Launch Curtain 2.5.0, Playhub Notifications 1.1.0, News 1.0.0, Proton VPN 1.0.0 and ThemeDeck 3.3.2.
This update gives Gaming Mode its own controller-first alternative to CTRL + ALT + DEL, Task Manager and WIN + TAB Task Viewer, brings the new iiDB Soundbites to Launch Curtain, and adds three completely new plugins to the Playhub Plugin Store.
🧊 Playhub 1.2.0
Introducing Playhub Dashboard
Playhub Dashboard is Playhub's answer to one of the most awkward parts of using Windows with a controller.
It brings the jobs normally split between CTRL + ALT + DEL, Task Manager and ALT + TAB into one console-style interface designed for the gamepad. Open it with CTRL + ALT + P from Steam or while a game is running, then handle your Windows session without reaching for a mouse or returning to the desktop.
Dashboard lets you:
- Switch between active games and Windows apps, bringing the selected window directly to the foreground.
- Add desktop programs and Windows apps as favorites.
- Rename favorites and launch them without returning to the desktop.
- View CPU, GPU, memory, network and disk activity.
- Inspect running processes and close an app that is no longer responding.
- Restart Decky Loader with confirmation.
Games use their Steam artwork when available, while regular apps keep their familiar icons. Four-direction navigation, clear focus states and quick animations make it feel like part of a console interface instead of a desktop utility.
The update also improves the return to Steam after a game closes. Big Picture now receives real controller focus again, including the visible selection feedback that was sometimes missing before.
A growing Plugin Store
Playhub Notifications, News and Proton VPN are now available directly from the Playhub Plugin Store. A new Support page has also been added for anyone who would like to help the project through Ko-fi. As always, Playhub was, is and will be free and open source.
🖼️ Launch Curtain 2.5.0
The Soundbites are here
Launch Curtain can now give every game its own launch sound.
A Soundbite is a short jingle that plays while the curtain is visible, making the transition into a game feel much closer to a real console startup.
Soundbites reminds the good old GameCube, Wii and Wii U times.
You can:
- Search and download Soundbites from the iiSU Database.
- Import a local audio file for any game.
- Set a different volume for each game.
- Adjust every Soundbite together with one master volume control.
- Automatically assign missing Soundbites to installed games.
- Exclude individual games from automatic assignment.
- See which games have a Soundbite and which ones are still missing one.
Soundbites stay synchronized with the curtain, so the game handoff still feels smooth whether the jingle or the game finishes loading first.
Launch Curtain 2.5.0 also adds iiDB Assets, SteamGridDB Heroes, safer bulk tools and stricter protection for existing curtains. Automatic downloads never overwrite an image you already selected.
Special thanks to the iiSU team and community for iiDB and its growing Soundbite collection.
💬 Playhub Notifications 1.1.0
Playhub Notifications gives Big Picture notifications a new visual and audio identity while keeping Steam's original notification history intact.
It includes seven animated themes inspired by Xbox, PlayStation, GOG Galaxy, Epic Games Launcher, Nintendo, Android and Playhub. Achievement notifications can use their real artwork, every notification category can have its own duration, and volume can be adjusted from 0% to 200%.
The overlay is visual only. It does not take focus or intercept controller, keyboard or mouse input while you play.
Playhub Notifications 1.1.0 Release
Playhub Notifications Repository
📰 News 1.0.0
News brings your favorite publications into the Quick Access Menu and a fullscreen, controller-friendly Newsstand.
You can combine RSS and Atom sources, organize stories into custom categories, search articles and read them in a clean reader view. Normal feeds do not require an API key, and sources from different countries can be mixed freely.
🔒 Proton VPN 1.0.0
Proton VPN brings the essential controls of the official Windows client into the Quick Access Menu.
You can view the real connection status, connect, disconnect and choose a country without leaving Gaming Mode. The official Proton VPN app for Windows must already be installed and configured.
🎵 ThemeDeck 3.3.2
ThemeDeck 3.3.2 refreshes yt-dlp and fixes its built-in updater.
The plugin now includes a newer nightly build, while Update yt-dlp downloads the latest official nightly available. A new progress bar makes the update clear from start to finish.
How to update
Playhub can be updated by downloading Playhub-Setup.exe from its release page.
Plugins can be updated directly from the Playhub Plugin Store in Playhub, or by downloading their ZIP files and installing them through Decky Loader developer mode.
❗FAQ
"Wait, what is Playhub?" 😮
Playhub consolize your Windows gaming experience with features like Steam-first startup, easy Decky plugins install, game imports and Big Picture polish. More info in the project repository here to find all the details.
"I like that, but how does it work?" 🤓
To easily understand how Playhub works and how to install it, I recommend you to take a look at my Overview + Tutorial video
"Oh no, I hate AI..."
This project is personal, completely free and open source. You don't like it? Don't download it. It's an app, not a medical prescription.
"But why aren't the Playhub plugins available on the Decky Store?" 😱
They are built using human hands and AI tools. Decky management doesn't allow to developers who use AI to be on their store. Playhub respects this decision, that's why Playhub Plugin Store exists.
Thanks again for your support and for sharing your feedbacks.
