MPV 0.42 Media Player Adds DVD-Audio Support
The latest stable release of the open-source Linux media player brings new Wayland, HDR, and disc playback features ten months after version 0.41.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Classical
MPV 0.42 is the latest stable version of the open-source media player for Linux-based operating systems, released ten months after MPV 0.41. It adds DVD-Audio playback, DVD-Video and Blu-ray menu navigation, and direct playback of disc ISO images.
Why it matters
The update expands what open-source Linux users can play directly without proprietary software, covering physical disc formats and high-dynamic-range display output. Its availability through distribution repositories will determine how quickly these changes reach everyday users.
The release follows MPV 0.41 by ten months, a gap the source gives as the only quantitative measure of the update cadence. No download counts, user adoption figures, or performance benchmarks were reported for the new version.
The players
MPV
MPV is an open-source media player for Linux-based operating systems, known for its scriptability and wide codec support.
The details
MPV 0.42 introduces Wayland session management and color management through the Wayland protocol instead of the Vulkan API, along with improved HDR colorspace signalling on DRM for Linux. The release also adds an AMD Frame Rate Conversion filter, DSD-over-PCM passthrough via --audio-spdif=dsd, and SRV3 (YouTube) subtitle support through the subrandr library.
Timeline
• MPV 0.42 released on November 5, 2026, ten months after MPV 0.41.
• Distribution packages are expected to become installable from stable repositories in the coming days.
Industry Dynamics
The move to handle color management through the Wayland protocol reflects the broader shift of Linux desktop graphics away from older X11 assumptions toward Wayland. Because MPV is widely used for video playback, its adoption of these protocols signals how media software is following the compositor transition.
Linux users can install MPV 0.42 from their distribution's stable repositories once packages arrive, giving direct playback of DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, and Blu-ray ISO images. The update also adds DSD-over-PCM passthrough for audiophile playback setups.
The takeaway
Users who rely on physical discs or HDR displays on Linux can now test MPV 0.42's new playback options once their distribution packages the update. Checking the stable repositories in the coming days is the practical next step.
What happens next
Distribution repositories are expected to begin offering MPV 0.42 in the coming days.
Further reading
For more on audio and music playback formats, see Classical.
More information
Read the full MPV 0.42 release report for the complete list of changes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 9to5Linux.
