Search & Index Support for Foreign Languages (e.g., Japanese)

Overview

Currently in Big Box, the Search and Alphabetical Index functions are limited to English (A–Z) characters. For users with game libraries primarily in non-Latin scripts—such as Japanese, Korean, or Chinese—this creates a major limitation:

• Searches can only be performed using an English keyboard layout

• The Index bar only shows A–Z, even when no games in the library begin with those letters

Request

Enable multilingual and non-Latin script support in both the Search bar and the Alphabetical Index in Big Box.

Proposed Features

1️⃣ Search Bar Input Support

• Allow users to type in their native language, such as Japanese kana/kanji, using their system’s IME (input method editor).

• Big Box should recognize and return results based on these inputs.

2️⃣ Localized Alphabetical Index

• Dynamically generate the Index based on the actual first characters in the user’s game titles.

• For example, if all game titles are in Japanese, the Index should show あ, い, う… (hiragana) or A–Z + あ–ん depending on the mix of languages in the library.

• If the library contains both English and Japanese titles, show an expanded index that includes both character sets.

3️⃣ Optional Language Setting Per Platform or Globally

• Users could define a default script/language for indexing and search per platform, or globally across the library.

• LaunchBox could also attempt auto-detection based on the first characters of each game title.

Benefits

✅ Makes Big Box accessible to non-English-speaking users

✅ Supports more accurate and intuitive searching and browsing

✅ Allows users with libraries in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc. to navigate their games naturally

✅ Brings Big Box in line with modern multi-language UI expectations