2026-08-16-introducing-libvirtualhid-and-virtual-hid-driver/

[giscus[bot]]

2026-08-16-introducing-libvirtualhid-and-virtual-hid-driver/

A simpler, more capable input system for Sunshine

https://app.lizardbyte.dev/2026-08-16-introducing-libvirtualhid-and-virtual-hid-driver/

[DullPilot]

I really hate this. I have zero problem supporting the devs or paying for the actual costs of signing/maintaining the driver, but paid feature licenses + online license checks are absolutely not the direction I want to see Sunshine going.

Why not just open donations specifically to keep the driver signed? I'd gladly throw money at that. Hell, publish the cost and put up a funding goal.

I want to give you guys money. I don't want to buy a license.

[markus-seidl]

I would buy it, if there wasn't this actively phoning home and stuff. That's from 0 to pretty nasty DRM in 0s.

[baltimoresports]

This seems like a pretty unnecessary and divisive change. I would expect a pretty strong reaction from the user base.

[JackSunder]

Not on my watch !

Seriously, have to +1 previous folks. This new online license thing just sucks. Will donate gladly to keep your software free, but if you go this way I'd rather pay for some nvidia now subscription.

[BORGdr0ne]

This is so annoying, why does this reminder need to be everywhere I click and demand action and my attention. It feels like a scam with all the urgency, red boxes and demand for a license. ViGEmBus works fine, discontinued or not. Please get a hold of yourselves. If I was to pay you, this is not the way. Like the others have said, we'd gladly donate what we have but not this. Not like this.

[TragicLifeHu]

I don't like the notification; it just looks like a terrible upsell scam. And I been tested the actual installation, Windows still pop up for driver trust issue. Creating such low reputation driver entries just like no certificate at all and demanding a lot of money (Both the users and developers).

Unless you want to enter the core trust of Windows ecosystem by spreading the signature across machines, I see no need for that. Geeks will accept installing unsigned drivers, and most newbies won't know what is a "Sunshine". They may then end up using some packed up commercial version, and pay for that, but not Sunshine itself.

Mixing geek stuffs and newbie helpers would be a wrong approach. Yes, I think all the price here is for that "Windows Platform Driver Sign Certificate". If it's donation to the project directly, I would sincerely accept and the developers take almost full value; but such approach is just paying for giant company for an entry pass, I don't like the idea.

[ReenigneArcher]

In beta you can now set the driver you want to use. If you don't want ever buy a license for libvirtualhid/Virtual HID Driver, then you can set it to ViGEmBus. This will remove any "nag" notifications and "warnings".

The license check is once per day, and required to prevent refund abuse and abuse by cloud gaming companies.

I'd rather pay for some nvidia now subscription.

Go ahead if that's what you want do and to pay $99.99 to $199.99 per year instead of $15 per year or $50 one time. Though you're not even required to buy this subscription to use Sunshine anyway, it's an OPTIONAL upgrade. It's also very cheap. $15 per year is just $1.25 per month.