📢 Release Notes - v2.1.0

Version 2.1.0 brings browser-native YouTube request playback, centralized dependency management, a completely separate Streamlabs Desktop control system, and several important improvements to giveaways, trivia, and stream controls.

✨ New Features

Browser-Native YouTube Music Playback

YouTube song requests now play through the browser-hosted Media Requests player instead of relying on MPV for normal playback.

Open Media Requests in your preferred browser and keep it connected while streaming. The player stays synchronized with SheevChat and supports:

  • Play, pause, skip, seek, and volume controls
  • Live now-playing information
  • Queue updates and playback status
  • Browser-player connection indicators
  • Automatic recovery when the player reconnects

Direct YouTube links and video IDs can be queued without requiring yt-dlp. Searches and playlists are also resolved without using yt-dlp for normal music playback.

Clip downloads remain separate and can still use yt-dlp and FFmpeg when needed.

Preferred Browser Controls

Choose which browser SheevChat uses when opening Media Requests.

You can use your system default browser or select a custom browser application from Settings. Media Requests and General settings both provide quick ways to open or configure the browser player.

Third-Party Dependencies Manager

Optional playback and voice tools are now managed from one place under Settings → General → Third-party Dependencies.

Manage and review the status of:

  • yt-dlp
  • FFmpeg
  • MPV
  • Piper
  • Kokoro

Media Requests now stays focused on queue and playback controls, while Audio settings stays focused on choosing and testing voices.

Streamlabs Desktop Integration

Streamlabs Desktop now has its own dedicated connection and control system, completely separate from OBS Studio.

Connect to Streamlabs Desktop from Settings and use new actions in Custom Commands, Automations, Timers, and SheevPad.

Available controls include:

  • Switch scenes
  • Show or hide sources
  • Mute or unmute audio sources
  • Update browser source URLs
  • Start, stop, or toggle streaming
  • Start, stop, or toggle recording
  • Control and save the replay buffer
  • Send advanced raw requests

Streamlabs actions use live scene and source lists to make setup easier and confirm completion for important output controls.

Precise Streamlabs Source Visibility

Source visibility actions can now target either:

  • A linked source shared across scenes
  • One exact source item inside a selected scene

Duplicate source names include clear scene or canvas context, making it easier to choose the correct instance without exposing confusing internal IDs.

Play First / Play Next

Media Requests now includes a queue-header play button.

When nothing is playing, use Play First to start the first queued request. During playback, the control changes to Play Next.

🔧 Improvements

Cleaner Media Requests

The Media Requests window now includes clearer SheevChat and browser-player connection indicators, simpler playback tooling, and more reliable queue-setting updates.

Dependency installation controls have moved to General settings so the player interface stays focused on requests and playback.

Safer OBS & Streamlabs Controls

OBS Studio and Streamlabs Desktop source actions now verify that the selected scene item still exists before changing it.

Stale or placeholder catalog options are no longer shown, reducing the chance of an action targeting the wrong source after scenes have changed.

Clearer Giveaway Eligibility

Giveaway eligibility now follows the selected audience more precisely:

  • Everyone allows all eligible viewers
  • Followers requires verified Twitch follow status
  • Members / Subscribers requires an actual membership or subscription

VIP and moderator roles no longer automatically qualify someone for follower-only or subscriber-only giveaways.

Trivia Formatting Polish

Trivia prompts now use consistent emoji presentation and clearer answer separators, making questions easier to read in chat.

🐛 Bug Fixes

  • Fixed Default Command platform toggles sometimes causing the command drawer to stop working.
  • Fixed the Ko-Fi header icon disappearing after donation-status updates.
  • Fixed disconnected and error status dots becoming oversized across desktop, mobile, and moderator interfaces.
  • Fixed OBS and Streamlabs source actions retaining outdated scene or source entries.

🔄 To receive the update, simply launch SheevChat or right-click the system tray icon and choose _Check for Updates_.