Playnite Setup - LeGeRyChEeSe/Sunshine-AIO GitHub Wiki

Playnite Setup Guide

Complete guide for configuring Playnite with Sunshine-AIO for the ultimate gaming library streaming experience.

🎮 Overview

Playnite is a unified game library manager that consolidates games from all platforms into a single interface, perfect for streaming. It supports:

Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Xbox Game Pass
Origin, Uplay, Battle.net, Itch.io
Emulators and standalone games
Custom categories and metadata

📋 Prerequisites

Sunshine-AIO installed with Playnite component selected
Game launchers already installed (Steam, Epic, etc.)
Controllers configured for couch gaming
Moonlight client set up on streaming device

🚀 Initial Playnite Configuration

First Launch Setup

1. Language and Theme:

Language: English (or your preference)
Theme: Fullscreen theme (recommended for streaming)
Database Location: Default (C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Playnite)

2. Library Integration:

✅ Steam - Import Steam games
✅ Epic Games Store - Import Epic games  
✅ GOG - Import GOG games
✅ Xbox Game Pass - Import Game Pass titles
✅ Origin - Import Origin games
✅ Uplay - Import Ubisoft games
⬜ Emulators - Configure later if needed

3. Metadata Sources:

✅ IGDB - Primary game database
✅ SteamGridDB - Game artwork
✅ YouTube - Game trailers
✅ HowLongToBeat - Game completion times

Fullscreen Mode Optimization

Settings for Streaming:

Interface → Fullscreen:
- Theme: Modern or Console-style
- Top Panel: Show only essential items
- Game Details: Minimal information
- Background: Dynamic game artwork

Controller Navigation:

Input → Fullscreen:
- Guide Button: Open game menu
- Menu Button: Playnite main menu
- View Button: Filter options
- Shoulder Buttons: Quick navigation

🎯 Sunshine Integration

Adding Playnite to Sunshine

Sunshine App Configuration:

{
  "name": "Playnite Fullscreen",
  "cmd": "C:\\Program Files\\Playnite\\Playnite.FullscreenApp.exe",
  "working-dir": "C:\\Program Files\\Playnite",
  "prep-cmd": [],
  "detached": []
}

Alternative Desktop Mode:

{
  "name": "Playnite Desktop",
  "cmd": "C:\\Program Files\\Playnite\\Playnite.DesktopApp.exe",
  "working-dir": "C:\\Program Files\\Playnite",
  "prep-cmd": [],
  "detached": []
}

Prep Commands (Optional)

For Better Streaming Experience:

{
  "prep-cmd": [
    "taskkill /f /im Discord.exe /t",
    "taskkill /f /im Spotify.exe /t",
    "net stop \"Windows Search\""
  ]
}

Display Optimization:

{
  "prep-cmd": [
    "powershell.exe -file optimize_display.ps1"
  ]
}

🛠️ Playnite Watcher Configuration

What is Playnite Watcher?

Playnite Watcher enhances streaming by:

Monitoring game sessions for better statistics
Automatic launcher management
Stream-specific optimizations
Performance monitoring

Installation Verification

Check if Installed:

dir "tools\PlayniteWatcher"
# Should show PlayniteWatcher.exe and configuration files

Manual Setup (if needed):

Download from tools folder
Extract to Playnite Watcher directory
Run PlayniteWatcher.exe as Administrator
Configure monitoring settings

Watcher Configuration

Basic Settings:

{
  "monitor_playnite": true,
  "log_game_sessions": true,
  "optimize_for_streaming": true,
  "auto_close_launchers": false
}

🎨 Theme and UI Customization

Recommended Themes

For Streaming (Fullscreen):

Modern - Clean, controller-friendly
Console - Console-like experience
Stardust - Visually appealing
Night - Dark theme for better contrast

Theme Installation:

1. Playnite → Add-ons → Browse
2. Search for theme name
3. Download and Install
4. Settings → Appearance → Theme

Layout Optimization

Fullscreen Layout:

Main View:
- Grid View: 4x3 or 3x2 for TV viewing
- Game Details: Minimal overlay
- Filters: Quick access sidebar
- Search: Easily accessible

Game View:
- Large cover art
- Essential information only
- Quick action buttons
- Controller-friendly navigation

Custom Fields:

Add custom fields for streaming:
- Streaming Quality: Excellent/Good/Poor
- Controller Support: Full/Partial/None
- Stream Notes: Special requirements
- Last Streamed: Tracking usage

🎯 Game Library Organization

Categories for Streaming

Create these categories:

🎮 Stream Favorites - Best streaming games
🏆 Competitive - Low-latency games
🎬 Story Games - Single-player experiences
👥 Multiplayer - Online gaming
🕹️ Local Co-op - Couch gaming
📱 Controller Only - No KB/M needed
⚡ Quick Play - Short gaming sessions

Auto-categorization Rules:

Steam Games with "Controller" tag → Controller Only
Games with multiplayer → Multiplayer
Games under 2 hours completion → Quick Play

Metadata Optimization

Essential Metadata:

Cover Art - High resolution for streaming
Background Images - Fullscreen themes
Game Descriptions - Help with selection
Tags - For filtering and organization
Play Time - Track usage

Custom Scripts:

// Auto-tag games for streaming compatibility
if (game.platform == "Steam" && game.features.includes("Full Controller Support")) {
    game.tags.push("Stream Ready");
}

🎮 Controller Configuration

Steam Input Integration

For Steam Games:

1. Enable Steam Input in Steam settings
2. Configure controller in Steam Big Picture
3. Test in Playnite → should work automatically
4. Create custom configurations per game type

Controller Templates:

Action Games - Standard gamepad
FPS Games - Gyro aiming enabled
Strategy Games - Mouse emulation
Racing Games - Analog triggers optimized

Non-Steam Games

Controller Setup:

1. Add games to Steam as non-Steam games
2. Configure Steam Input for each game
3. Launch through Steam from Playnite
4. Or use native controller support if available

📊 Performance Optimization

Playnite Settings for Streaming

Performance Options:

Advanced → Performance:
- Disable animations: For lower latency
- Reduce metadata loading: Faster startup
- Cache game images: Smoother browsing
- Minimize background tasks: More resources for games

Memory Management:

Advanced → Application:
- Close Playnite when game starts: Optional
- Minimize to tray: Saves resources
- Disable fullscreen optimizations: Windows 10/11

Database Optimization

Large Libraries:

Tools → Database:
- Regular database cleanup
- Remove unused metadata
- Optimize image sizes
- Archive old game data

🛠️ Troubleshooting Common Issues

Playnite Won't Launch via Streaming

Issue: Playnite opens locally but not via Moonlight

Solutions:

Check Sunshine app path:

Verify: C:\Program Files\Playnite\Playnite.FullscreenApp.exe
Test locally: Run the exact command

Disable Global Prep Commands:
- Sunshine Web UI → Configuration
- Uncheck "Global Prep Commands"
- Test Playnite streaming

Run as Different User:

{
  "cmd": "runas /user:Administrator \"C:\\Program Files\\Playnite\\Playnite.FullscreenApp.exe\""
}

Controller Not Working in Playnite

Steam Input Issues:

Disable Steam Input for Playnite:
- Steam → Settings → Controller
- Desktop Configuration → Disable for Playnite
Configure Playnite Controller:
- Playnite → Settings → Input
- Configure controller manually
- Test each button mapping

Games Not Launching from Playnite

Launcher Issues:

Update game launchers (Steam, Epic, etc.)
Verify game installation paths in Playnite
Check launcher login status
Run Playnite as Administrator

Performance Issues During Streaming

Optimization Steps:

Close unnecessary launchers
Disable Playnite animations
Reduce streaming bitrate
Use wired network connection

🎯 Advanced Configuration

Custom Scripts

Useful Playnite Scripts:

// Auto-close launchers after game ends
function onGameStopped(game) {
    if (game.platform == "Steam") {
        // Keep Steam running
        return;
    }
    // Close other launchers
    closeProcess(game.platform + ".exe");
}

Streaming Optimization Script:

# optimize_for_streaming.ps1
Stop-Process -Name "Discord" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Stop-Process -Name "Spotify" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Set-Process -Name "Playnite.FullscreenApp" -ProcessorAffinity 0xF

Extensions and Add-ons

Recommended Extensions:

Extra Metadata Tools - Enhanced game info
Duplicate Hider - Clean up duplicates
How Long To Beat - Game length info
Success Story - Achievement tracking
Game Activity - Detailed play tracking

For Streaming:

Fullscreen Helper - Better fullscreen mode
Controller Support - Enhanced controller features
Night Theme - Better for dark rooms

📱 Mobile and Portable Integration

Steam Deck Specific

Playnite on Steam Deck:

1. Add Playnite as non-Steam game
2. Configure Steam Input template
3. Use Desktop mode for setup
4. Stream from Windows PC with Playnite

Recommended Settings:

Resolution: 1280x800 for Steam Deck native
Interface: Large text and buttons
Controller: Steam Deck native support

Smartphone/Tablet Streaming

Moonlight Mobile + Playnite:

Touch controls: Enable in Moonlight
On-screen keyboard: For search/navigation
Portrait mode: Some games support it
Virtual controller: For non-controller games

For troubleshooting specific games or advanced configurations, see the Troubleshooting Guide or Gaming Setup FAQ.