diff --git a/src/iplugingame.h b/src/iplugingame.h
index 5cabe519..675ed294 100644
--- a/src/iplugingame.h
+++ b/src/iplugingame.h
@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ class IPluginGame : public QObject, public IPlugin
    */
   virtual QDir dataDirectory() const = 0;
 
+  /**
+   * this function may be called before init()
+   *
+   * @return directories where we may find data files outside the main location
+   */
+  virtual QMap<QString, QDir> secondaryDataDirectories() const = 0;
+
   /**
    * @brief set the path to the managed game
    * @param path to the game