Host default
Follow the mode saved in Polaris. Nova leaves the launch override blank so a normal launch does not rewrite the host’s durable setting.
Play Setup
Play Setup is the launch plan for one game. Nova reads the current Polaris mode catalog and client settings, asks the host to resolve the plan, and shows the result before Launch becomes authoritative.
Where the game runs
Section titled “Where the game runs”Private or Gamescope
Use a supported session-owned runtime for this game. A grey option names the missing host capability instead of accepting a launch that cannot work.
Host Virtual Display
Ask Polaris for a separate display when the detected backend is ready. The host validates the exact topology again before launch and resume.
Mirror Desktop
Deliberately stream the physical desktop. This is different from leaving the mode unspecified and different from a private runtime.
Headless Dongle is a host-wide physical display arrangement. Nova keeps the card visible so the current host policy is understandable, but it does not pose the mode as a per-game override. Selecting the card opens the matching Polaris settings surface.
Resolution and frame rate are independent
Section titled “Resolution and frame rate are independent”Choosing a resolution changes width and height. Choosing a frame rate changes cadence. Leaving Frame Rate on Auto keeps the FPS resolved by the current host plan rather than borrowing a number embedded in a resolution label.
Saved pins are checked against the current Android display and host capability envelope. Nova retires a pin it can no longer represent instead of applying it invisibly.
Launch presets
Section titled “Launch presets”| Preset | Intent |
|---|---|
| Auto | Let deterministic host and client policy resolve the complete plan. |
| Quality | Prefer visual quality inside current capability and bitrate limits. |
| High FPS | Lock cadence while preserving independently selected dimensions. |
| Stability | Prefer a conservative plan for a stream that needs more headroom. |
Polaris returns source, reason, lock, and normalization provenance for each resolved launch field. AI may explain that result when configured, but it cannot define the preset, topology, action, or setting.
The game-detail action hierarchy
Section titled “The game-detail action hierarchy”Launch stays primary. Play Setup and Reset Game Profile retain stronger text treatment. Pin to Home Screen and Artwork Studio are compact, state-aware tools so curation remains available without competing with getting back into the game.
For host-side behavior, read Choose where games run. For post-launch diagnosis, read Fix a bad stream with Doctor.