From cf6000c0f682e3172d362d6beb954882721522bf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dipshet <264011288+Dipshet@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2026 18:29:44 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Tag the WASAPI render stream GameEffects so media apps stop
 muting the game

Windows auto-mutes AudioCategory_GameMedia render streams whenever a Store media app (Screenbox, Windows' modern Media Player) plays music. Our single WASAPI stream carries the entire premixed game output, so the whole game fell silent. GameEffects is the category Windows games run as by default..
---
 .../src/native/audio/wasapi/wasapi_audio_driver.cpp        | 7 ++++++-
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/thirdparty/rexglue-sdk/src/native/audio/wasapi/wasapi_audio_driver.cpp b/thirdparty/rexglue-sdk/src/native/audio/wasapi/wasapi_audio_driver.cpp
index 85ee46e9..17b2557d 100644
--- a/thirdparty/rexglue-sdk/src/native/audio/wasapi/wasapi_audio_driver.cpp
+++ b/thirdparty/rexglue-sdk/src/native/audio/wasapi/wasapi_audio_driver.cpp
@@ -295,7 +295,12 @@ void WasapiAudioDriver::RenderThreadMain() {
     if (SUCCEEDED(hr) && audio_client2) {
       AudioClientProperties properties = {};
       properties.cbSize = sizeof(properties);
-      properties.eCategory = AudioCategory_GameMedia;
+      // GameEffects, not GameMedia: this single stream carries the entire
+      // premixed game output (SFX, dialogue, AND music — nuSound2 mixes
+      // guest-side). GameMedia is for a dedicated background-music substream
+      // and Windows auto-mutes it while a media app (Screenbox, modern Media
+      // Player) has an active music session.
+      properties.eCategory = AudioCategory_GameEffects;
       properties.Options = AUDCLNT_STREAMOPTIONS_NONE;
       audio_client2->SetClientProperties(&properties);
     }