Plugin API Command to Navigate Directly to a Platform in Big Box

📋 Summary

Add a Big Box plugin API command that allows plugins and themes to jump directly into the game library view for a specific platform from any screen.

❗ Problem

Theme and plugin creators currently have limited control over Big Box navigation.

At the moment, jumping to a specific platform usually requires navigating through the standard flow:

• Go to Platforms

• Select the desired platform

• Enter that platform’s game list

This limits advanced theme concepts, such as custom home pages, dashboard layouts, or system view replacements that need to send users directly into a platform.

💡 Proposal

Add a backend plugin API command for Big Box navigation, allowing plugins to:

• Enter a specific platform directly

• Jump from any Big Box screen into that platform’s game library view

• Trigger the same behavior as manually selecting a platform from the platform view

Example use case:

• A custom Big Box home page includes a “Windows Games” tile

• Selecting that tile calls the API command

• Big Box jumps directly into the Windows platform game list

🧩 Use Cases

• Theme creators build custom home pages with direct platform shortcuts

• Plugins create dashboard style navigation experiences

• Users can jump into favorite platforms without navigating through multiple screens

• Big Box themes can push beyond the standard platform/category structure

📦 Benefits

• Expands what theme and plugin creators can build

• Enables more modern and flexible Big Box navigation flows

• Reduces navigation friction for users

• Supports experimental and custom UI experiences without requiring core UI changes

⚠️ Considerations

• Should preserve normal Big Box navigation state where possible

• Needs clear behavior if the target platform does not exist

• Could potentially be expanded later to support playlists, categories, or filters

✅ Outcome

A plugin API command for direct platform navigation would give theme and plugin creators more control over Big Box, enabling richer custom home pages and more flexible navigation experiences.