Understanding Video Playback for LaunchBox & Big Box in 13.21 and Beyond

Written By AstroBob

Last updated 10 months ago

🎬 LaunchBox Now Uses Windows Media Player for Video Playback

Starting with LaunchBox version 13.21, we’ve switched the primary video playback engine to Windows Media Player (Legacy) and are officially deprecating VLC.

🧩 What Is the Video Playback Engine in LaunchBox & Big Box?

The video playback engine is responsible for playing videos in both LaunchBox (e.g., the game details pane) and Big Box (e.g., gameplay videos). Previously, users could choose between Windows Media Player (Legacy) or VLC.

VLC was bundled with LaunchBox, while Windows Media Player typically comes pre-installed with Windows. Each option had its strengths depending on your system setup and the types of videos in your collection.

With version 13.21, Windows Media Player (Legacy) becomes the default engine, and VLC is no longer included or supported going forward.

🤔 Why Are We Deprecating VLC?

We understand this change may be surprising—VLC is widely used and includes broad codec support.

However, LaunchBox didn’t use VLC directly. Instead, it relied on a portable version bundled with the app, paired with a third-party .NET wrapper that allowed it to render within our WPF-based interface.

The problem?
That wrapper hasn’t been maintained in years and is no longer compatible with .NET 9, which our platform is now using. This has caused frequent instability and playback issues that we can no longer support reliably.

While VLC itself is excellent, our integration with it was fragile. Windows Media Player (Legacy), by contrast, provides a more stable and consistent experience across setups.

🧪 Codec Support & Fixing Black Screen Issues

Windows Media Player (Legacy) supports all videos downloaded from EmuMovies, but it doesn’t include every codec out of the box. For example, certain formats like WebM (commonly used on Steam) may result in a black screen if the required codecs aren’t present.

To address this, LaunchBox now includes the basic version of the K-Lite Codec Pack in its installer and updater. If the codec pack isn’t already installed, the updater will prompt you to install it automatically.

💡 We highly recommend installing K-Lite for the best video playback experience across all formats.

🛠️ Troubleshooting: Missing Windows Media Player (Legacy)

If you’ve installed K-Lite but still see a black screen, Windows Media Player (Legacy) might not be installed or enabled on your system.

Here’s how to fix it:

✅ Check if Windows Media Player (Legacy) is Enabled

  1. Open the Start Menu, search for Windows Features, and press ENTER.

  2. In the Windows Features window, expand Media Features.

  3. Make sure Windows Media Player (Legacy) is checked.

  4. Click OK to confirm.

📥 Installing Windows Media Player (Legacy) Manually

If it’s not listed in Windows Features, follow these steps based on your OS:

Windows 11

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features.

  2. Click View Features next to Add an optional feature.

  3. Search for Windows Media Player (Legacy) and install it.

Windows 10 N

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps and Features > Optional Features > Add a feature.

  2. Find and install the Media Feature Pack.

Windows 11 N

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features.

  2. Click View Features next to Add an optional feature.

  3. Find and install the Media Feature Pack.

Once installed, video playback in LaunchBox should work as expected. If you’re still having trouble, don’t hesitate to reach out for support—we’re happy to help!