Hey c/selfhosted,

we've finally done it. After years of people asking for it, GameVault now has its very own Web UI!

For anyone who hasn't heard of it yet: GameVault is a self-hosted gaming platform that gives you a Steam-like library experience, but for your own DRM-free games. You host it yourself, you own your data, and you can share your collection with friends and family. Basically, it's for gamers who also love the selfhosting mindset.

This Web UI / Cross-Platform Client has been the most requested and long-awaited feature for as long as we've been working on GameVault. When we first built it, it was just a small project for the two of us, written with the tech we knew at the time. Over the years, especially here on Lemmy, people gave us plenty of criticism for the tech stack and the UX, because you guys love to use linux. And honestly... fair enough. We knew it wasn't great.

The new Web UI is our way of addressing all the feedback we've received and setting the stage for the future. It’s not just a nicer interface. This also represents the first building block for a new cross-platform client that we’re working on.

The Web UI acts as a cross-platform core, which means that in the future we will be able to package GameVault to run both directly in the browser as well as a native application on Windows, Linux, or even mobile devices. This upcoming client will be built on the same foundation, ensuring a smoother and more unified experience whether you're on a desktop OS or just checking your vault from your phone.

Right now, we're planning to expand the Web UI continuously and figure out how to handle the legacy windows desktop client moving forward. The technology underneath is much cleaner now, so we finally have the freedom to iterate and improve without being stuck in the past.

Anyway, we're really excited about this step. It feels like a true milestone for the project, and we're looking forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback. If you're self-hosting and love gaming, give it a try, I'm curious what you think.

You can also check out a live running demo version on demo.gamevau.lt
Username: demo
Password: demodemo

Hello c/selfhosted,

GameVault is a free, self-hostable gaming platform for organizing, browsing, downloading, installing, and playing your DRM-free game files stored on your home servers. It’s a full-featured alternative to platforms like Steam, designed for users who want complete control over their infrastructure and share their gaming library with friends and family.

With GameVault, you get:

• A native Windows client with full offline gaming support
• A beautiful library to browse your game collection
• Fully automated game installations
• Game progress tracking
• Rich metadata and cover art
• Cloud save functionality for seamless play across devices
• Multi-user architecture with role-based access control

Check it out here if you haven’t had a chance to set it up yet!

We’re excited to announce a major new release: The Identity Update

Why This Update Matters

Until now, GameVault used Basic Auth and supported one user per user device. This simple approach worked when the platform was just a side project for two friends.

But GameVault has grown, thousands of users, more setups, and higher expectations. This update lays the foundation for secure, scalable identity management and multi-user capabilities. We’ve shipped several great features with this release, including:

🔐 Modern Authentication & SSO Support

SSO support has been one of the oldest and most requested features on our issue tracker. Reworking the entire auth system was no small task, it took over five months to implement and test. But it’s done, marking a major step forward.

GameVault now uses OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect as its authentication foundation. This enables secure, modern login flows while staying flexible: traditional username and password login still works, but now runs on token-based authentication with session-based access and refresh tokens instead of basic auth.

If you want to use an identity provider, GameVault can integrate directly with providers like Keycloak, Authentik, Authelia, Google, Microsoft, Discord, or virtually any other RFC-compliant OAuth 2.0 or OIDC service.

This overhaul not only improves security and user experience, but also opens new possibilities for the platform, like web-based clients.

👥 Multi-Profile Support (GameVault+)

Need to support multiple users or connect to multiple servers on the same machine? GameVault+ now offers fully separated user profiles, each with its own server connection, game library, save data, preferences, and more. Whether you’re sharing a PC with family or housemates or just want to stay organized, profiles keep everyone’s games and progress completely separate.

💾 Installing Games Across Multiple Drives

Long overdue: GameVault now supports multiple root install directories, letting you choose where each game is installed. Whether you’re splitting your library across SSDs and HDDs or just organizing games, GameVault manages paths and indexing automatically.

How to Update

Due to the massive changes older clients and servers are not compatible with the newer infrastructure anymore, so you will probably need to update:

• Client: Update via Microsoft Store or GitHub.
• Server: Update via Docker or GitHub.
• Docs: Full documentation available here.

Thank You

Reaching so many regular users and GameVault+ subscribers is something we never imagined when we started this project. Thank you for trying it, testing it, using it and most of all, supporting it.

We still enjoy spending all our free time on this project, and as long as you keep us going, we won’t stop.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts,

The Phalcode Team

Hey c/selfhosted,

It's been a while since our last update, but we've been busy working on exciting new GameVault features!

For those unfamiliar: GameVault is a self-hosted gaming platform that offers a Steam-like library experience for DRM-free games on your own server. It allows you to organize, share, and play your game collection with friends and family, all while keeping complete control over your data. If you are a gamer and self-hoster and never heard of it, you are probably missing out!

Based on your valuable feedback, we've significantly improved GameVault+, our main source of income, to ensure that it truly provides value for its price.

So what's new in GameVault+?

💾 Cloud Saves

GameVault now supports cloud saves through integration with Ludusavi. Your server becomes your personal cloud - automatically syncing save files between PCs and your GameVault server. Easily continue playing on another device or uninstall games and return to them later without losing your progress!

💬 Discord Integration

Your friends can now see exactly which GameVault games you're playing, thanks to a brand-new Discord Presence integration.

🚂 Steam Integration

Manage all your games in one place! GameVault can now fully synchronize your library with Steam as non-Steam shortcuts, letting you launch everything from Steam's familiar interface or your TV using Steam Big Picture.

👪 Affordable Family & Friends Plan

We've especially heard your feedback on pricing for families and groups loud and clear. Our new Family & Friends Plan lets you use GameVault+ with up to 6 users for just €8.99/month - making the premium features affordable for almost everyone!

🎯 Other Improvements

The latest updates also includes various bug fixes, improved stability, better theme management, UI enhancements, and performance optimizations.

Lastly.. Thank you for reaching 1k Discord members, 10k active users, and over 100k Docker Pulls, and for supporting our passion and work on this hobby project by subscribing to GameVault+. Your feedback continues to shape GameVault, so please share your thoughts and suggestions here, on our GitHub, or on our Discord!

Happy Gaming,

The Phalcode Team

Hey everyone,

it’s me again, one of the two developers behind GameVault, a self-hosted gaming platform similar to how Plex/Jellyfin is for your movies and series, but for your game collection. If you've hoarded a bunch of games over the years, this app is going to be your best friend. Think of it as your own personal Steam, hosted on your own server.

If you haven’t heard of GameVault yet, you can check it out here and get started within 5 minutes—seriously, it’s a game changer.

For those who already know GameVault, or its old name He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, we are excited to tell you we just launched a major update. I’m talking a massive overhaul—so much so, that we could’ve rebuilt the whole thing from scratch. Here’s the big news: We’re no longer relying on RAWG or Google Images for game metadata. Instead, we’ve officially partnered with IGDB/Twitch for a more reliable and extended metadata experience!

But it doesn’t stop there. We’ve also rolled out a new plugin system and a metadata framework that allows you to connect to multiple metadata providers at once. It’s never been this cool to run your own Steam-like platform right from your good ol' 19" incher below your desk!

What’s new in this update?

• IGDB/Twitch Integration: Say goodbye to unreliable metadata scrapers. Now you can enjoy game info sourced directly from IGDB.
• Customizable Metadata: Edit and fine-tune game metadata with ease. Your changes are saved separately, so the original data stays intact.
• Plugin System: Build your own plugins for metadata or connect to as many sources as you want—unlimited flexibility!
• Parental Controls: Manage age-appropriate access for the family and children.
• Built-in Media Player: Watch game trailers and gameplay videos directly in GameVault.
• UI Overhaul: A fresh, streamlined look for the app, community, game and admin interface.
• Halloween Theme: For GameVault+ users, we’ve added a spooky Halloween skin just in time for the season!

Things to keep in mind when updating:

• GameVault Client v1.12 is now required for servers running v13 or above.
• Older clients won’t work on servers that have been updated to v13.

For a smooth update and a guide on how to use all these new features, check out the detailed migration instructions in the server changelogs. As always, if you hit any snags, feel free to reach out to us on Discord.

If you run into any issues or need help with the migration, feel free to join and open a ticket in our Discord community—we’re always happy to help!

If you want to support our pet-project and keep most upcoming features of GameVault free for everyone, consider subscribing to GameVault+ or making a one-time donation. Every little bit fuels our passion to keep building and improving!

Thanks for everything! We're more than 800 Members on our discord now and I can’t wait to hear what you think of the latest version.

Hey everyone,

it’s me again, one of the two developers behind GameVault, a self-hosted gaming platform similar to how Plex/Jellyfin is for your movies and series, but for your game collection. If you've hoarded a bunch of games over the years, this app is going to be your best friend. Think of it as your own personal Steam, hosted on your own server.

If you haven’t heard of GameVault yet, you can check it out here and get started within 5 minutes—seriously, it’s a game changer.

For those who already know GameVault, or its old name He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, we are excited to tell you we just launched a major update. I’m talking a massive overhaul—so much so, that we could’ve rebuilt the whole thing from scratch. Here’s the big news: We’re no longer relying on RAWG or Google Images for game metadata. Instead, we’ve officially partnered with IGDB/Twitch for a more reliable and extended metadata experience!

But it doesn’t stop there. We’ve also rolled out a new plugin system and a metadata framework that allows you to connect to multiple metadata providers at once. It’s never been this cool to run your own Steam-like platform right from your good ol' 19" incher below your desk!

What’s new in this update?

• IGDB/Twitch Integration: Say goodbye to unreliable metadata scrapers. Now you can enjoy game info sourced directly from IGDB.
• Customizable Metadata: Edit and fine-tune game metadata with ease. Your changes are saved separately, so the original data stays intact.
• Plugin System: Build your own plugins for metadata or connect to as many sources as you want—unlimited flexibility!
• Parental Controls: Manage age-appropriate access for the family and children.
• Built-in Media Player: Watch game trailers and gameplay videos directly in GameVault.
• UI Overhaul: A fresh, streamlined look for the app, community, game and admin interface.
• Halloween Theme: For GameVault+ users, we’ve added a spooky Halloween skin just in time for the season!

Things to keep in mind when updating:

• GameVault Client v1.12 is now required for servers running v13 or above.
• Older clients won’t work on servers that have been updated to v13.

For a smooth update and a guide on how to use all these new features, check out the detailed migration instructions in the server changelogs. As always, if you hit any snags, feel free to reach out to us on Discord.

If you run into any issues or need help with the migration, feel free to join and open a ticket in our Discord community—we’re always happy to help!

If you want to support our pet-project and keep most upcoming features of GameVault free for everyone, consider subscribing to GameVault+ or making a one-time donation. Every little bit fuels our passion to keep building and improving!

Thanks for everything! We're more than 800 Members on our discord now and I can’t wait to hear what you think of the latest version.

Hey folks,

Thank you, everyone, for the feedback and the huge desire for a User Interface overhaul for GameVault on our Discord Poll.

In case you're wondering what GameVault is, it's like having your own video gaming platform for games on your server – think Plex, but for video games. If you are a self-hosting gamer, you most likely want to check this out.

With the brand new version 1.8, we've taken your feedback to heart and worked hard to give GameVault a fresh coat of paint!

I attached a before/after pic of how it used to look (left) versus now (right) so you can see the difference.

The UI underwent a complete makeover, and aside from looking pretty awesome, it is much better in terms of usability as well.

Just so you know: The first UI was kind of basic and only meant for us two developers, as we didn't initially plan to release this project to the public.

Now that the traction is so huge and thousands of people are using this software, it would plainly feel wrong not to give it a facelift. So, every button and detail has been thoughtfully placed to make things way more user-friendly.

If you weren't a fan of the old UI, now's the time to swing by and check out the changes.

If you also want to steer the future development of GameVault, make sure to join our Discord Server.

You can check out GameVault here.

Hey fellow self-hosters!

It's u/Alfagun74 from GameVault, the self-hosted platform for organizing and sharing your servers DRM-free games collection. We've come a long way since our initial release, and I'm thrilled to share what's been happening with GameVault since then.

From "Crackpipe" to GameVault

If you've been with us since the start, you might remember our initial quirky name, "Crackpipe." Well, we had a good laugh, but as we grew, we decided to go for something more fitting – GameVault! It's your personal gaming treasure trove, and the name says it all.

What's GameVault?

For the uninitiated, GameVault is like having your own Steam for game files lying on your server. It's a self-hosted, source-available gaming platform. Bring your DRM-free game files, and GameVault organizes them, enriches them with metadata, and gives you a user-friendly interface to manage and play your games. It's all about enjoying your favorite titles with friends.

What's happened since initial release?

Since our initial release four months ago, we've been hard at work, reaching version 9 on the backend and 1.7 on the frontend.

Here's a reel of the exciting big features we've added:

1. Auto Extraction and Installation of Videogames
2. Uninstalling Games through GameVault
3. Uploading Images directly to your GameVault
4. Support for a metric ton of archive formats
5. Crash Reports
6. Database Backups & Restorations
7. Bandwidth Control
8. Random Game Finder

What's on the Horizon?

We've been listening to your feedback, and here's what was asked for the most:

1. UI Redesign for the Library and Installations Tab
2. Support for ROMS and Emulators
3. Support for extra files like Soundtracks etc.

Right now we're knee-deep in redesigning the Library, the heart of our application. Big changes are on the way, waving goodbye to the installations tab and bringing in a sleeker UI for Library, Game View, and Game Settings. More on and a sneak-peek is coming to our blog soon.

Join the GameVault Community!

If you haven't already, come join our vibrant community on Discord. You can influence the direction of GameVault and participate in exclusive polls over there.

Spread the Word and Stay Tuned!

Help us promote GameVault among fellow self-hosters. Your efforts could inspire a bored developer to join and contribute to our project!

Let's make gaming personal again with GameVault!

Hi guys,

we're excited to reconnect with you all here on Lemmy after our project "Crackpipe" generated quite a buzz recently. With its brand new name, we proudly present "GameVault"!

In case you missed our, let's say - "controversial" debut on reddit and lemmy, let us give you a quick rundown of what GameVault is all about:

GameVault is a fantastic gaming platform that you can host yourself, allowing you and your friends to enjoy "alternatively obtained" games on your own terms. It simplifies the whole gaming experience by organizing, downloading, installing, playing, and tracking your favorite games right on your file server. GameVault automatically detects game files, builds a metadata database, and offers a user-friendly client for seamless downloading and gameplay. Imagine having your own personalized Steam for games stored on your file server!

Linux users, please note that we don't currently have a native client available. However, our documentation includes a community-driven approach to running the client on Linux, which you can find under "Advanced Usage."

Are you ready to add another Link to your Dashboards?

Feel free to pay a visit to our website and join our Discord and Lemmy Community to become part of an awesome community!

Hey folks,

our team has worked tirelessly for a year to bring you Crackpipe, the open-source, decentralized, and liberal alternative to conventional cloud-based game platforms like Steam and Origin. We're thrilled to announce that Crackpipe is now available for everyone, and we're delighted to share it with the community as an open-source project.

With Crackpipe, you and your friends can enjoy playing and tracking games on a shared file server, free from the restrictions of traditional platforms. Embracing "alternatively obtained" games, including DRM-free titles, Crackpipe offers a flexible and open approach to gaming - think Jellyfin, but for Videogames.

Take full control of your gaming experience with Crackpipe's self-hosted approach. Explore your server's game collection, securely download, launch, and play games, and monitor your playtimes and progress - all even when the server is offline. Compare stats and play states with other users on the server for added fun.

Our server features include automatic indexing of games, metadata enrichment with RAWG API, multi-user authentication, configurable logging, health monitoring, full-text search, filters, sorting, pagination, and a fully documented API. Crackpipe's high configurability ensures it fits your specific needs.

Join us on this journey to embrace a more open, flexible, and enjoyable gaming experience for all. Try Crackpipe today and share your contributions, feedback, bug reports, and feature requests.

Link: https://crackpipe.de

You can also check out our launch at producthunt: https://www.producthunt.com/posts/crackpipe

UPDATE: here