MPV as an Internal Player on Stremio Android (mpv.conf Support) #919
Description
Description
I’m requesting support for MPV as a built-in / internal playback engine in Stremio for Android, not as an external player.
The goal is to integrate MPV directly into Stremio’s Android app so that playback remains fully internal (same UI, same streaming pipeline, same session tracking), while allowing advanced users to benefit from MPV’s powerful playback and subtitle capabilities.
Clarification (Important)
This request is NOT about launching an external MPV app.
Instead:
MPV should run embedded inside Stremio
Playback UI and controls remain Stremio’s
MPV replaces or acts as an alternative internal engine (like ExoPlayer)
Requested Features
- MPV as an optional internal player engine
- Support for mpv.conf, input.conf (optional)
- Safe defaults so casual users don’t need to configure anything
- Ability to enable/disable MPV from settings
Settings > Playback > Player Engine
- Default (ExoPlayer)
- MPV (Advanced – Internal)
Why MPV (Internal)
MPV provides:
- Superior SSA/ASS subtitle handling
- Advanced subtitle positioning and scaling
- Better control over anime subtitle formats
- High-quality scaling, debanding, and tone mapping
- Mature, open-source rendering pipeline
This would greatly improve the anime viewing experience, especially for users who prefer unstyled or custom-styled subtitles.
Use Cases
- Anime viewers using SSA/ASS subtitles
- Users needing advanced subtitle positioning
- Power users who already rely on MPV on desktop
- Users who want advanced playback without leaving Stremio
Expected Behavior
- MPV runs fully inside Stremio
- Uses Stremio’s streaming and session handling
- Applies mpv.conf safely
- Falls back to default player if MPV is unavailable or fails
Why This Is Valuable
- Keeps advanced users inside the Stremio ecosystem
- Reduces reliance on external players
- Provides parity with desktop-level playback control
- Makes Stremio more competitive for anime and advanced media use