Unknown platform is not the same as all platforms
A platform filter makes a promise: the remaining results are relevant to the platform a reader selected. A missing platform field cannot justify that promise. Treating an empty field as “works everywhere” turns incomplete research into a compatibility claim. This note proposes a filtering rule for a game directory; it does not report a deployed feature or completed compatibility tests.
“PC” describes a broad category. It does not establish Windows, macOS and Linux support individually. Likewise, a Minecraft project can depend on an edition or loader that the word “Minecraft” alone does not identify. Preserve the author's actual wording before mapping it into filter options.
Keep the source label and the normalized filter value separately. If the author names Windows explicitly, an editor can record that evidence. If the author supplies only a vague platform label, do not fill three operating-system fields just to make the filter look complete. Leave the unresolved detail visible.
The following table is an editorial proposal, not a compatibility matrix for specific projects.
| Recorded evidence | Reader selects Windows | What the result can say |
|---|---|---|
| Author explicitly lists Windows | Include | Author lists a Windows release |
| Author explicitly lists only Linux | Exclude from this selection | Linux listing; Windows not established |
| Source says PC, without an OS | Keep in a separate unresolved group | PC; operating system unspecified |
| No platform evidence found | Keep in a separate unresolved group | Platform unknown |
An “All platforms” control should clear the reader's filter. It should not convert unknown entries into universal releases. A separate unknown category lets someone decide whether to investigate further without silently mixing those entries with supported-platform evidence.
If no entries match, explain the selection and offer a way to clear it. Do not suggest that no such crossover exists; a small directory may simply lack a sourced entry. If unresolved entries are available, label them as a research lead rather than a workaround known to function.
Merging Games collects crossovers with original creator sources, setup information and distinct release labels. The proposed rule protects that source relationship: a filter narrows discovery, while the author's current release documentation supplies the installation requirements. An author platform listing is still separate from independent play verification by the directory.