OBS Studio 32.2 RC1 Drops with New Add Source Dialog and Heavy Platform Shifts
The free streaming tool enters its final testing phase ahead of the stable 32.2 release, bringing HDR filters, Apple Silicon enforcement, and some plugin compatibility warnings.
OBS Studio 32.2.0-rc1 just landed on the project's release channels, officially kicking off the final testing stretch before the stable build goes live. The update swaps out the traditional source dropdown for a fresh dialog window, adds an SDR-to-HDR composition filter, and forces macOS users on Apple Silicon to switch to the native ARM64 version. It's a meaningful step forward, though the platform changes come with a clear caveat for plugin developers.
Released July 10, this RC marks the last stop on the beta treadmill following three beta cycles. The project team spent the last few weeks ironing out UI hiccups, fixing NVIDIA audio SDK loading, and polishing the multitrack video exporter. Now, the focus shifts to catching any last-minute edge cases before the stable 32.2.0 tag goes live.
What's Actually New
The headline change is straightforward. Instead of hunting through a vertical menu, you will now get a dedicated search-and-browse window when adding scenes, filters, or media. It's a small shift. It drastically cuts down on cursor travel time. The team also finally added .webp support to the Image Slide Show source. That has been long overdue.
If you are pushing HDR streams, the new SDR-to-HDR composition filter will give you a native way to handle tone mapping without reaching for external tools. Dynamic bitrate control finally lands in the multitrack video output. Smoother streams when your CPU or network dips. On top of that, the FPS selector got a UI overhaul, missing file filters can now be reconnected without manual path hunting, and macOS users can finally hit the Delete key to remove sources like everyone else.
Platform Shifts and Plugin Warnings
The biggest technical shift happens on Apple hardware. If you are running an Intel build on an M-series Mac, OBS will now force an update to the Apple Silicon version. It's the right move for performance, but it breaks third-party plugins that have not been compiled for ARM64. Intel plugins simply will not load. If you are relying on niche capture or streaming plugins, you will need to verify compatibility before switching.
Windows gets a heavier lift under the hood. The DLL loading behavior has been rewritten alongside new process mitigation policies. That translates to better stability and tighter security defaults. It is also the primary trigger for compatibility friction with plugins like Advanced Scene Switcher. Linux users get a targeted PipeWire fix that finally clears up the NVIDIA GPU failure on certain desktop environments.
It's a solid candidate overall. The add source dialog is intuitive, the HDR filter removes a painful workflow step, and the platform hardening is long overdue. However, at the same time, the sudden DLL and plugin architecture shifts mean you might want to run this in a VM or alongside your stable 32.1.2 install if you are heavily invested in the plugin ecosystem. Plugin developers should update their builds right away.
The team has already patched the NVIDIA Broadcast audio effects bug that surfaced in Beta 1. That issue is resolved. There are isolated reports about GStreamer plugins breaking, but those look like edge cases. The project is actively soliciting feedback on Discord and the forums before committing to the stable release. Given the current trajectory, 32.2.0 should not be far behind.
You can grab the RC right now through the settings update channel. Pull it from the Steam beta branch, or download the raw assets from GitHub. Windows users get x64, ARM64, and debug symbols. macOS includes both Apple Silicon and Intel builds. Linux packages are up for Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04.
Test the RC if you are curious about the new HDR pipeline. Keep in mind that plugins might need manual updates, especially on Windows and macOS. Head here to the OBS forums or the GitHub release page if you run into crashes. The stable 32.2.0 release will follow once the community signs off on the RC.
