Devlog

The biggest GemShell update yet. New runtime, native Steamworks, GemCore API, and a complete rebuild from the ground up – shaped by your feedback.

REBUILT FROM SCRATCH IN RUST

The old version used Neutralino.js under the hood – and it had performance issues. We threw it out and built a completely new runtime in Rust. The result: blazing fast startup, high FPS, smaller binary size, and rock-solid cross-platform support. All while shipping with Steamworks and GemCore APIs built right in.

We considered Bun, but Rust was the clear winner for our performance requirements.

STEAMWORKS API INTEGRATION

Full Steamworks API support is finally here. Enter your Steam App ID, enable Steamworks in the settings, and you're ready to ship to Steam. Achievements, Cloud Saves, Leaderboards, Multiplayer – it's all there. No plugins, no third-party wrappers. Just native Steam integration.

GEMCORE API

We built GemCore – a native API layer that gives your HTML5 game access to OS features out of the box. File System, Window Control, Native Dialogs, Clipboard, OS Information – everything you need to make your web game feel like a real desktop app.

RECENT GAMES

The Selection Page now shows your Recent Games. Once you build a game, it appears there with all your saved settings. One click to rebuild. One click to launch. No more re-configuring the same project over and over.

ASSET ENCRYPTION

Your assets are now encrypted. We built encryption into the build process to make life harder for asset rippers. Your code and assets stay protected.

STREAMLINED SETTINGS

We removed several performance settings from Game Settings – they're now enabled by default. What's left: Asset Compression, Minify Code, and Remove Console Logs. Clean and simple. More features coming soon.

CONFIG FILES FOR POWER USERS

Every build now generates a config file that mirrors all your app settings. Devs who prefer working with files can edit the config directly for faster setup.

NEW WEBSITE & DOCUMENTATION

We redesigned this itch.io page and launched a brand new website at gemshell.dev. All documentation, API references, and guides are now in one place. Clean, searchable, and always up to date.

GEMSHELL ARCHITECTURE

GemShell now consists of two parts:

GEMCORE The Rust-built binary and runtime. Handles native APIs, Steamworks, window management, and everything under the hood.

GEMSHELL The GUI app. Configure your game, manage builds, and export – all without touching code.

BUILT BY THE COMMUNITY

Many of these features exist because you asked for them. Steamworks integration, asset encryption, recent games – all driven by user requests. Keep the feedback coming. It shapes what we build next.

ENGINE PARTNERSHIPS

We're in contact with multiple game engines and frameworks. The goal: build native GemShell workflows together. Direct export integrations, optimized pipelines, seamless publishing. More announcements coming soon.

WHAT'S NEXT

We're currently in Beta 0.5.+ – bugs may happen, but we're close to stable 1.0.0. On the roadmap: iOS and Android export support. Stay tuned.

TRY BETA 0.5.1 NOW

Download Lite free or grab Pro for the full experience.

Questions? Join our Discord: discord.gg/b24q5B8ZAY