i overthought it

app/src/main/java/com/geode/launcher/MainActivity.kt

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
 import androidx.compose.ui.res.painterResource
 import androidx.compose.ui.res.stringResource
+import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextAlign
 import androidx.compose.ui.tooling.preview.Preview
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
@@ -189,6 +190,16 @@ fun MainScreen(
                                 beginLaunch = true
                             },
                         )
+
+                        if (gdVersion < Constants.SUPPORTED_VERSION_CODE) {
+                            ElevatedCard(modifier = Modifier.padding(8.dp)) {
+                                Text(
+                                    stringResource(R.string.launcher_game_update_required),
+                                    textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
+                                    modifier = Modifier.padding(8.dp).sizeIn(maxWidth = 512.dp)
+                                )
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
                 }
                 gdInstalled -> {

app/src/main/java/com/geode/launcher/preferences/SettingsActivity.kt

@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ import com.geode.launcher.ui.theme.GeodeLauncherTheme
 import com.geode.launcher.ui.theme.LocalTheme
 import com.geode.launcher.ui.theme.Theme
 import com.geode.launcher.ui.theme.Typography
+import com.geode.launcher.utils.Constants
+import com.geode.launcher.utils.GamePackageUtils
 import com.geode.launcher.utils.LaunchUtils
 import com.geode.launcher.utils.PreferenceUtils
 import java.net.ConnectException
@@ -177,12 +179,19 @@ fun UpdateIndicator(
                     snackbarHostState.showSnackbar(
                         context.getString(R.string.preference_check_for_updates_success)
                     )
+                } else {
+                    val gdInstalled = GamePackageUtils.isGameInstalled(context.packageManager)
+                    if (gdInstalled && GamePackageUtils.getGameVersionCode(context.packageManager) < Constants.SUPPORTED_VERSION_CODE) {
+                        snackbarHostState.showSnackbar(
+                            context.getString(R.string.launcher_game_update_required_short)
+                        )
                     } else {
                         snackbarHostState.showSnackbar(
                             context.getString(R.string.preference_check_for_updates_none_found)
                         )
                     }
                 }
+            }
             else -> {}
         }
     }

app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml

@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@
     <string name="launcher_unsupported_version_description">
         The current version of Geometry Dash is not compatible with the version supported by the launcher. A launcher update is required to fix this.\nLaunch will continue, but crashes may occur!
     </string>
+
+    <string name="launcher_game_update_required_short">A Geometry Dash update is required.</string>
+    <string name="launcher_game_update_required">The currently installed version of Geometry Dash is out-of-date. Please update to continue receiving Geode updates.</string>
+
     <string name="launcher_update_available">A new launcher update is available!</string>
     <string name="launcher_update_dismiss">Dismiss</string>
     <string name="safe_mode_enable_title">Enable safe mode?</string>