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Steam Integration for Non-Steam Games Launched Through LaunchBox

LaunchBox for Windows

📋 Summary

Add native support to LaunchBox for maintaining Steam integration (overlay, controller config, and “Now Playing” status) when launching non-Steam games through LaunchBox after it has been added as a non-Steam shortcut in the Steam client.

🎯 Feature Overview

This feature would replicate the functionality of the now-unmaintained SteamLauncher plugin by:

  • Ensuring all games launched from LaunchBox/Big Box (when LaunchBox is run via Steam) retain Steam overlay and controller support.

  • Displaying the current game being played in the user’s Steam status.

  • Avoiding the need to clutter Steam with hundreds of manual emulator/ROM shortcuts.

  • Optionally providing settings to customize platform labels and control per-platform or per-game Steam integration behavior.

📦 Benefits

  • Seamless Steam overlay support for any LaunchBox game, including emulated titles.

  • Full use of Steam controller profiles and per-game bindings.

  • Improved experience for users who launch LaunchBox via Steam and want continuity of Steam features.

  • Removes the need for third-party plugins or manual configuration.

Posted by Cleverk ·
Status: Open To Community3 comments

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Comments3

  • AstroBob changed status to Open To Community
    Team•

    Jul 25, 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

  • Yorrick

    •

    May 6

    I hope this gets more traction, because this seems like a vital piece to of integration for allowing the new Steam Controller to function with games launched through Launchbox/Bigbox.

  • Cleverk

    •

    Jul 25, 2025

    Steam integration when launching non steam games through LaunchBox.

    Whatever it was that the SteamLauncher plugin did!

    It is possible to add Launchbox to Steam but if you launch a game through that launchbox, Steam does not recognize it. I really would like to be able to open Launchbox through Steam and have its integration continue on the launched games. (Overlay and the “playing” feature on friends page especially).