diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c086cb2e..d360dde4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <div align="center">
 
 [<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hydralauncher/hydra/refs/heads/main/resources/icon.png" width="144"/>](https://help.hydralauncher.gg)
-
   <h1 align="center">Hydra Launcher</h1>
 
   <p align="center">
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@
 
 [![build](https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/hydralauncher/hydra/build.yml)](https://github.com/hydralauncher/hydra/actions)
 [![release](https://img.shields.io/github/package-json/v/hydralauncher/hydra)](https://github.com/hydralauncher/hydra/releases)
+[![chocolatey](https://img.shields.io/chocolatey/v/hydralauncher.svg)](https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/hydralauncher)
 
 ![Hydra Launcher Home Page](./docs/screenshot.png)
 
diff --git a/src/locales/en/translation.json b/src/locales/en/translation.json
index 97f9629a..07029def 100755
--- a/src/locales/en/translation.json
+++ b/src/locales/en/translation.json
@@ -559,6 +559,7 @@
     "show_download_speed_in_megabytes": "Show download speed in megabytes per second",
     "extract_files_by_default": "Extract files by default after download",
     "enable_steam_achievements": "Enable search for Steam achievements",
+    "enable_new_download_options_badges": "Show new download options badges",
     "achievement_custom_notification_position": "Achievement custom notification position",
     "top-left": "Top left",
     "top-center": "Top center",
diff --git a/src/main/main.ts b/src/main/main.ts
index 86bfb458..82ea7c47 100644
--- a/src/main/main.ts
+++ b/src/main/main.ts
@@ -57,8 +57,10 @@ export const loadState = async () => {
     const { syncDownloadSourcesFromApi } = await import("./services/user");
     void syncDownloadSourcesFromApi();
 
-    // Check for new download options on startup
-    DownloadSourcesChecker.checkForChanges();
+    // Check for new download options on startup (if enabled)
+    (async () => {
+      await DownloadSourcesChecker.checkForChanges();
+    })();
     WSClient.connect();
   });
 
diff --git a/src/main/services/download-sources-checker.ts b/src/main/services/download-sources-checker.ts
index 928e3d52..169c199e 100644
--- a/src/main/services/download-sources-checker.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/download-sources-checker.ts
@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@ import {
   updateDownloadSourcesCheckBaseline,
   updateDownloadSourcesSinceValue,
   downloadSourcesSublevel,
+  db,
+  levelKeys,
 } from "@main/level";
 import { logger } from "./logger";
 import { WindowManager } from "./window-manager";
-import type { Game } from "@types";
+import type { Game, UserPreferences } from "@types";
 
 interface DownloadSourcesChangeResponse {
   shop: string;
@@ -101,6 +103,20 @@ export class DownloadSourcesChecker {
     logger.info("DownloadSourcesChecker.checkForChanges() called");
 
     try {
+      const userPreferences = await db.get<string, UserPreferences | null>(
+        levelKeys.userPreferences,
+        {
+          valueEncoding: "json",
+        }
+      );
+
+      if (userPreferences?.enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges === false) {
+        logger.info(
+          "New download options badges are disabled, skipping download sources check"
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+
       // Get all installed games (excluding custom games)
       const installedGames = await gamesSublevel.values().all();
       const nonCustomGames = installedGames.filter(
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/sidebar-game-item.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/sidebar-game-item.tsx
index 23223fc5..3414688d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/sidebar-game-item.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/sidebar-game-item.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import cn from "classnames";
 import { useLocation } from "react-router-dom";
 import { useState } from "react";
 import { GameContextMenu } from "..";
+import { useAppSelector } from "@renderer/hooks";
 
 interface SidebarGameItemProps {
   game: LibraryGame;
@@ -18,6 +19,9 @@ export function SidebarGameItem({
   getGameTitle,
 }: Readonly<SidebarGameItemProps>) {
   const location = useLocation();
+  const userPreferences = useAppSelector(
+    (state) => state.userPreferences.value
+  );
   const [contextMenu, setContextMenu] = useState<{
     visible: boolean;
     position: { x: number; y: number };
@@ -81,11 +85,12 @@ export function SidebarGameItem({
             {getGameTitle(game)}
           </span>
 
-          {(game.newDownloadOptionsCount ?? 0) > 0 && (
-            <span className="sidebar__game-badge">
-              +{game.newDownloadOptionsCount}
-            </span>
-          )}
+          {userPreferences?.enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges !== false &&
+            (game.newDownloadOptionsCount ?? 0) > 0 && (
+              <span className="sidebar__game-badge">
+                +{game.newDownloadOptionsCount}
+              </span>
+            )}
         </button>
       </li>
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/pages/game-details/modals/repacks-modal.tsx b/src/renderer/src/pages/game-details/modals/repacks-modal.tsx
index 08efb014..683ce53a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/pages/game-details/modals/repacks-modal.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/pages/game-details/modals/repacks-modal.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,12 @@ import { DownloadSettingsModal } from "./download-settings-modal";
 import { gameDetailsContext } from "@renderer/context";
 import { Downloader } from "@shared";
 import { orderBy } from "lodash-es";
-import { useDate, useFeature, useAppDispatch } from "@renderer/hooks";
+import {
+  useDate,
+  useFeature,
+  useAppDispatch,
+  useAppSelector,
+} from "@renderer/hooks";
 import { clearNewDownloadOptions } from "@renderer/features";
 import { levelDBService } from "@renderer/services/leveldb.service";
 import { getGameKey } from "@renderer/helpers";
@@ -70,6 +75,9 @@ export function RepacksModal({
   const { formatDate } = useDate();
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   const dispatch = useAppDispatch();
+  const userPreferences = useAppSelector(
+    (state) => state.userPreferences.value
+  );
 
   const getHashFromMagnet = (magnet: string) => {
     if (!magnet || typeof magnet !== "string") {
@@ -129,10 +137,12 @@ export function RepacksModal({
       }
     };
 
-    if (visible) {
+    if (visible && userPreferences?.enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges !== false) {
       fetchLastCheckTimestamp();
+    } else {
+      setIsLoadingTimestamp(false);
     }
-  }, [visible, repacks]);
+  }, [visible, repacks, userPreferences?.enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (
@@ -363,11 +373,13 @@ export function RepacksModal({
                 >
                   <p className="repacks-modal__repack-title">
                     {repack.title}
-                    {isNewRepack(repack) && (
-                      <span className="repacks-modal__new-badge">
-                        {t("new_download_option")}
-                      </span>
-                    )}
+                    {userPreferences?.enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges !==
+                      false &&
+                      isNewRepack(repack) && (
+                        <span className="repacks-modal__new-badge">
+                          {t("new_download_option")}
+                        </span>
+                      )}
                   </p>
 
                   {isLastDownloadedOption && (
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/pages/settings/settings-behavior.tsx b/src/renderer/src/pages/settings/settings-behavior.tsx
index c5698ef7..0efbcb64 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/pages/settings/settings-behavior.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/pages/settings/settings-behavior.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export function SettingsBehavior() {
     enableSteamAchievements: false,
     autoplayGameTrailers: true,
     hideToTrayOnGameStart: false,
+    enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges: true,
   });
 
   const { t } = useTranslation("settings");
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ export function SettingsBehavior() {
           userPreferences.enableSteamAchievements ?? false,
         autoplayGameTrailers: userPreferences.autoplayGameTrailers ?? true,
         hideToTrayOnGameStart: userPreferences.hideToTrayOnGameStart ?? false,
+        enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges:
+          userPreferences.enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges ?? true,
       });
     }
   }, [userPreferences]);
@@ -209,6 +212,17 @@ export function SettingsBehavior() {
           <QuestionIcon size={12} />
         </small>
       </div>
+
+      <CheckboxField
+        label={t("enable_new_download_options_badges")}
+        checked={form.enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges}
+        onChange={() =>
+          handleChange({
+            enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges:
+              !form.enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges,
+          })
+        }
+      />
     </>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/types/level.types.ts b/src/types/level.types.ts
index c7abaacb..97b6eb71 100644
--- a/src/types/level.types.ts
+++ b/src/types/level.types.ts
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ export interface UserPreferences {
   enableSteamAchievements?: boolean;
   autoplayGameTrailers?: boolean;
   hideToTrayOnGameStart?: boolean;
+  enableNewDownloadOptionsBadges?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface ScreenState {