Yes I know about kodi but I have a few issues with that for one it has a pretty outdated ui but this is not a deal breaker for me but it also doesn’t allow the opening of other applications like Netflix or jellyfin etc, you have to install a compatible plugin.
Are there any gnu/Linux desktop environments that are optimised for a home theatre time situation to be used with a remote or game controller? At the moment I will probably just use gnome or kde but it doesn’t work well at all with remote or game controller.
Don’t have any recent experience to help you, but your question reminded me of Boxee and I had a little flash back to a simpler time.
That’s what it was called! I remembered the program a few weeks ago but couldn’t for the life of me recall the name.