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Sync Gamelist XML Data from Retro Devices

📋 Summary

Allow LaunchBox to import and sync data from gamelist.xml files used by other frontends—particularly useful for retro handhelds like Anbernic, Miyoo, and devices running EmuELEC, Batocera, or RetroPie. This would help keep LaunchBox as the central source of truth for gameplay statistics and metadata.

🎯 Feature Overview

Enable LaunchBox to read gamelist.xml files and intelligently sync relevant data such as:

  • Play time

  • Last played date

  • Favorite status

  • Game descriptions

  • Custom names or artwork references

    Provide options for:

  • One-time import or recurring sync

  • Merging with existing LaunchBox metadata or overwriting

  • Selecting specific platforms or game paths to sync

🛠 Example Use Case

  • A user plays several games on a retro handheld during travel.

  • After returning, they connect the device and import its gamelist.xml file into LaunchBox.

  • LaunchBox updates the associated games’ playtime and last played data, keeping the master library accurate and up to date.

📦 Benefits

  • Consolidates gameplay data from multiple devices into one unified library.

  • Helps track total playtime and progress across platforms.

  • Enhances LaunchBox’s usefulness as a personal game hub and archive.

💡 Notes

This could open the door for additional integrations with open standards or scraping utilities used in other retro-focused ecosystems.

Status: Open To Community2 comments

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Comments2

  • AstroBob changed status to Open To Community
    Team•

    Jul 18, 2025

    Pinned

    Hi there!

    Thanks so much for submitting this request and for taking the time to explain your use case — that context is always super helpful.

    I’ve gone ahead and fleshed out the main idea using the info you provided, and I’m opening it up to the community for further discussion and feedback. Please let me know if this fleshed-out version doesn’t match your original intended request.

    Feel free to let me know if you have any extra thoughts, examples, or edge cases you think might be relevant!

    Cheers,
    The LaunchBox team

  • dolfan058

    •

    Jul 18, 2025

    Allow importing or syncing of Gamelist XML

    For those of us who have retro handhelds and want to sync our time played and other things back to Launchbox as our central source of truth, it would be great if LB had the ability to digest the data from those XMLs and incorporate into its data/statistics.