System Deep Dive
Engineered for the sofa. Honest in every state.
Duotronic is designed to bring a console experience to PC hardware. Here is how each part works, what it shows on screen, and the thinking behind it.
Interface
Home & library
A 10-foot interface built for the D-pad: one press moves focus in a clear direction.
- Jump back in: The large card at the top shows the game you played last, ready to start with one press.
- Generated title cards: Each game gets its own card and colour, which carry through to its detail and launch screens.
- Downloads panel: Queued updates, shaders being prepared and time remaining, without leaving Home.
- Still when idle: When nothing is happening, animation stops and Home stops redrawing.
Library
Title detail
Select a game to open its detail screen: the essentials at a glance, with no clutter and no adverts.
- Play: One button to start the game.
- Runtime version: Shows which runtime version this game is set to use.
- Shader cache status: Shows whether shaders are Ready or still Building.
- Play statistics: Playtime, the date you last played, and the space the game uses on the drive.
Games are shown simply as games, with no store badges, web banners or store brands on the screen.
Starting a Game
Honest launch states
Starting an NT game follows a clear sequence. If a step takes time, the system says why in plain words.
- Clear stages: Each stage, from checking files to preparing shaders, shows real progress and time remaining.
- Shaders first: Designed so that shaders are prepared once, before first play, rather than during the game.
- Straight into the game: Designed to open the game full screen, with no desktop behind it.
In-Game Overlay
The Guide
Press the guide button to bring up a light overlay on top of your game.
- Volume & audio: Sliders for overall volume and a choice of audio output.
- Performance modes: Quick toggles for display refresh rate and performance profiles.
- One-touch resume: Select Resume to dismiss the overlay and return to gameplay.
The overlay has space for live performance figures. For now they read “isn't available today”; live figures are in development.
Authentication
Phone-first sign-in
Typing a password with a gamepad is slow and fiddly. Duotronic lets you sign in with your phone instead.
- Scan to sign in: Point your phone camera at the QR code on screen.
- Can't scan? Choose “Can't scan?” for a short 8-character code and a web link to open in your phone's browser.
You never type your password on the TV.
Out of the Box
First boot walkthrough
After installation, setup takes you through six steps in order: Language → Controller → Display → Network → Time zone → Link your accounts.
- 1. Language: Select your preferred language for the interface.
- 2. Controller: Connect controllers, keyboards, or mice.
- 3. Display: Set brightness and paper white using the calibration card.
- 4. Network: Connect to wired Ethernet or select your local Wi-Fi network.
- 5. Time zone: Confirm your local time.
- 6. Link your accounts: Link your store accounts using phone sign-in.
Every choice made here can be changed later in Settings.
Configuration
Settings in plain words
Settings use plain words. Every row shows its current value and says what pressing it will do.
- Screen area: Adjust the edges of the picture to fit your TV.
- Paper white: Set how bright ordinary (SDR) games and menus look when HDR is on.
- Safe reset: A factory reset asks you to enter a confirmation code first.
Display & HDR, Audio, Controllers, Network, Storage and Accessibility sit in one uncluttered list.
Drive Management
Storage & shader cache
Storage is split into Games, Shader cache and System, so you can see where the space has gone.
- Space at a glance: A bar shows how much space games, the system and shader caches use.
- Clear the shader cache: Free up space by clearing prepared shaders. Games prepare them again the next time they start, and clearing them is designed to leave your saves alone.
- When the drive is full: If an update needs more room than is free, Duotronic explains it calmly and offers to clear shaders or remove games you choose.
Power
Power moments
Power options are one press away from the sofa, with Sleep as the default.
- Sleep first: Sleep is the first choice, designed to bring you back to where you were.
- Turn off: A full shutdown is one press away when you have finished playing.
- Update then off: When an update is waiting, one choice installs it and then turns the console off.
Inclusive Design
Built-in accessibility
Accessibility is built into the interface from the start, designed around a 7:1 contrast standard.
- Clear focus ring: A light ring edged in dark on both sides, designed to stand out on any background without relying on colour, including for colour-blind players.
- Text size: Default, Large and Largest, with controls keeping their shape at every size.
- Reduced motion: Swaps movement and zooms for short fades.
Spoken output is in development.
Background Transfers
Downloads queue
See what is downloading, what is next, and pause or resume it.
- Progress at a glance: How much has downloaded and how long is left.
- Your order: Pause, resume or move a game up the queue with a controller.
- In the background: Designed so that updates and new games download while you do something else.
Updates
System updates
Check for system updates from Settings and see plainly where each one stands.
- Clear status: Whether you are up to date, and real progress while an update installs.
- Graphics included: System updates include the graphics layer, the Warp Graphics API.
- If an update does not finish: Designed so that the console steps back to the version you had.
Sofa Navigation
Search with on-screen keyboard
Find games in your library with an on-screen keyboard.
- Made for a controller: A key layout for moving with the D-pad or left stick.
- Results as you type: The list narrows with each letter.
- Keyboards too: A connected keyboard works alongside the controller.
Calm Alerts
Notifications that stay out of the way
Notifications are designed to stay out of the way while you play.
- One place: Finished downloads and system messages collect in a single notification centre.
- Quiet alerts: Messages are designed not to cover the game or interrupt your controls.
- Quick to clear: Read recent messages and clear them with one press.
Unified Library
One library for every store
Designed so that you sign in to each store once, during setup, and find your games in one place without switching between store apps.
- Sign in once: Link your store accounts during setup, using phone sign-in.
- One library: Games from linked accounts sit side by side.
- Clean start: Games start without extra launcher screens.
The library screens are built. Connections to real stores are not yet, so the games shown are samples.
Input & Gamepads
Controllers
See the controllers you have connected in Settings.
- Status: Each connected controller is listed with its status.
- Same controls everywhere: Every screen works the same way, and B is always Back.
Display Enhancement
Resolution boost preview
An experimental display option, early in development.
- What it is: A display scaling option for games.
- Where it stands: There is no screen to show yet.
Results will differ from game to game and are not yet known. We make no claims about performance or image quality.