Overview

The Archive Cache Manager plugin previously allowed LaunchBox to cache ROMs from a NAS (Network Attached Storage) to a local drive for smoother gameplay and better performance. Unfortunately, this plugin no longer works with recent LaunchBox updates, and the original developer is no longer maintaining it.

This request is for LaunchBox to natively support a similar caching system, allowing users who store games on a NAS to benefit from local caching, reduced load times, and greater flexibility.

Proposed Functionality

• Option to retain extracted ROMs after play (instead of deleting them from the temp folder).

• Allow extracted ROMs to be stored in folders organized by platform, e.g.:

• LaunchBox\ThirdParty\7-Zip\Temp\Nintendo Entertainment System

• This helps with per-folder settings in emulators like RetroArch.

• Ideally, also allow copying non-zipped ROMs (e.g. .rvz, .iso) from the NAS to local storage before launching, though support for zip files alone would already be valuable.

• Provide settings to manage and clear the cache manually or automatically.

Why This Matters

✅ Makes LaunchBox more NAS-friendly without relying on third-party plugins.

✅ Improves performance and reliability when launching games over the network.

✅ Maintains compatibility with emulator configurations that depend on ROM paths.

✅ Reduces wear on NAS drives and avoids repeated network transfers.

This functionality would be a huge help for users with large, NAS-hosted collections, and many are currently avoiding updates just to keep the old plugin working. Native support would ensure long-term stability and official integration.