Keep launcher alive through Skate startup; trim per-frame client work

Launcher
- "Close the launcher when Skate starts" now hides the launcher and exits
  when Skate.exe does, instead of exiting as the splash opens. Outside a
  Steam library, Skate's protection closed the game (TerminateProcess 0x32)
  when the launcher exited during startup; players confirmed turning the
  setting off avoided it.
- STATUS tile warns when Steam isn't open or signed in that PLAY starts
  offline as Unknown Player (hidden when Offline mode is chosen or while
  launching).
- Setting description updated to match.
Startup interventions (20260929)
- exit_return 0x87755f2 -> 0x87fe7fb: the last LEA RSP,[RSP]; JMP stub
  before the PUSHFQ / LOCK CMPXCHG routine, as 0x87367cf was in 20260908,
  and the return address player logs show. Only enforced once a frame site
  is armed; this build's protector has no equivalent rep stosb frame clear.
Client frame cost (profiled 2026-10-02)
- Transform interpolate is inline plain arithmetic (~1% of an MP frame).
- Script gameplay-setting and native-setting gets are served from small
  per-thread caches keyed on asset/key address, name prefix and a new
  profile::Store::changes() counter, instead of a store lookup each call.
- Hot-path reads in client tick, native settings and population controls
  use memory::peek instead of ReadProcessMemory.
- Script error logging probes each argument pointer once.

Engine/Game/Build/20260929/startup_interventions.h

@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ inline constexpr std::array<std::uint8_t, 2> frame_instruction{0xf3, 0xaa};
 // Handler and data expected in R9/R14 at the frame clear.
 inline constexpr std::uintptr_t frame_handler = 0x0880d710;
 inline constexpr std::uintptr_t frame_data = 0x086772fc;
-// Exit thunk (JMP [rip+...]) and the return address it is expected to be called from.
+// Exit thunk (JMP [rip+...]) and the return address it is expected to be called from:
+// the last LEA RSP,[RSP]; JMP stub before the PUSHFQ / LOCK CMPXCHG routine, as in 20260908.
 inline constexpr std::uintptr_t exit_thunk = 0x08a06ff3;
-inline constexpr std::uintptr_t exit_return = 0x087755f2;
+inline constexpr std::uintptr_t exit_return = 0x087fe7fb;
 inline constexpr std::array<std::uint8_t, 6> exit_instruction{
     0xff, 0x25, 0x7f, 0x43, 0x5e, 0xfd};
 }

Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.cpp

@@ -965,24 +965,6 @@ std::uint64_t map_hash(std::string_view value) noexcept {
     }
     return result;
 }
-Transform interpolate(const Transform &a, const Transform &b, float t) {
-    Transform out;
-    t = std::clamp(t, 0.0f, 1.0f);
-    for (unsigned i = 0; i < 3; ++i) {
-        out.position[i] = std::lerp(a.position[i], b.position[i], t);
-        out.scale[i] = std::lerp(a.scale[i], b.scale[i], t);
-    }
-    float dot{}, norm{};
-    for (unsigned i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
-        dot += a.rotation[i] * b.rotation[i];
-    for (unsigned i = 0; i < 4; ++i) {
-        out.rotation[i] = std::lerp(a.rotation[i], dot < 0 ? -b.rotation[i] : b.rotation[i], t);
-        norm += out.rotation[i] * out.rotation[i];
-    }
-    for (float &v : out.rotation)
-        v /= std::sqrt(norm);
-    return out;
-}
 std::array<float, 16> to_matrix(const Transform &t) {
     const auto q = interpolate(t, t, 0).rotation;
     const float x = q[0], y = q[1], z = q[2], w = q[3];

Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.h

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "Engine/Game/World/park_rotation.h"
 #include "Engine/Game/World/world_layers.h"
 #include <array>
+#include <cmath>
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <deque>
 #include <optional>
@@ -213,7 +214,29 @@ std::optional<Packet> decode(std::span<const std::uint8_t>) noexcept;
 bool newer_sequence(std::uint32_t candidate, std::uint32_t previous) noexcept;
 std::uint64_t map_hash(std::string_view) noexcept;
 bool valid_map_destination(std::string_view) noexcept;
-Transform interpolate(const Transform &, const Transform &, float);
+// Normalized lerp between two transforms. Runs for every joint of every remote player each
+// frame, so it is inline and plain arithmetic (std::lerp's edge-case branches and a divide
+// per component were ~1% of a multiplayer client frame, profiled 2026-10-02).
+inline Transform interpolate(const Transform &a, const Transform &b, float t) {
+    Transform out;
+    t = t < 0.0f ? 0.0f : t > 1.0f ? 1.0f : t;
+    for (unsigned i = 0; i < 3; ++i) {
+        out.position[i] = a.position[i] + (b.position[i] - a.position[i]) * t;
+        out.scale[i] = a.scale[i] + (b.scale[i] - a.scale[i]) * t;
+    }
+    const float dot = a.rotation[0] * b.rotation[0] + a.rotation[1] * b.rotation[1] +
+                      a.rotation[2] * b.rotation[2] + a.rotation[3] * b.rotation[3];
+    const float sign = dot < 0 ? -1.0f : 1.0f;
+    float norm{};
+    for (unsigned i = 0; i < 4; ++i) {
+        out.rotation[i] = a.rotation[i] + (sign * b.rotation[i] - a.rotation[i]) * t;
+        norm += out.rotation[i] * out.rotation[i];
+    }
+    const float inverse = 1.0f / std::sqrt(norm);
+    for (float &v : out.rotation)
+        v *= inverse;
+    return out;
+}
 void offset_pose(Pose &, const std::array<float, 3> &);
 std::array<float, 16> to_matrix(const Transform &);
 Transform from_matrix(const std::array<float, 16> &);

Extension/Profile/local_profile.cpp

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <Windows.h>
 #include <array>
+#include <atomic>
 #include <cmath>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <limits>
@@ -256,6 +257,9 @@ std::string with_cached_entitlements(std::string text) {
 std::string_view embedded_defaults() noexcept {
     return {reinterpret_cast<const char*>(embedded_profile_defaults), sizeof(embedded_profile_defaults)};
 }
+namespace {
+std::atomic<std::uint64_t> store_changes{1};
+}
 Store::Store(std::filesystem::path path, const std::filesystem::path& defaults) : path_(storage::database_path(std::move(path))),
     database_(std::make_unique<storage::SaveDatabase>(path_, database::profile_schema())) {
     const auto seed = decode(with_cached_entitlements(defaults.empty() || !std::filesystem::exists(defaults) ?
@@ -283,8 +287,10 @@ Store::Store(std::filesystem::path path, const std::filesystem::path& defaults)
     if (next.extensions.contains("location_travel") && next.extensions.at("location_travel").is_object())
         for (const auto* key : {"destinations", "access_points"}) next.extensions.at("location_travel").erase(key);
     if (!database_->exists() || next != value_) commit(std::move(next));
+    store_changes.fetch_add(1, std::memory_order_release);
 }
 Store::~Store() = default;
+std::uint64_t Store::changes() noexcept { return store_changes.load(std::memory_order_acquire); }
 Snapshot Store::snapshot() const { std::lock_guard lock(mutex_); return value_; }
 std::shared_ptr<const Snapshot> Store::shared_snapshot() const {
     std::lock_guard lock(mutex_);
@@ -452,6 +458,7 @@ void Store::commit(Snapshot next) {
     if (database_->exists()) database_->commit(std::move(tables));
     else database_->initialize(std::move(tables));
     value_ = std::move(next);
+    store_changes.fetch_add(1, std::memory_order_release);
 }
 
 }

Extension/Profile/local_profile.h

@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@ public:
     std::string export_json() const;
     void import_json(std::string_view);
     std::uint64_t revision() const;
+    // Bumped whenever any Store's saved values may have changed (each commit, each Store made);
+    // read without the lock, so caches on hot paths can tell whether a lookup is still current.
+    static std::uint64_t changes() noexcept;
     // Same immutable object until a successful commit changes this Store's
     // revision. Retained readers remain valid after writes or Store destruction.
     std::shared_ptr<const MissionState> mission_state() const;

Extension/Progression/script_error_log.cpp

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ void script_error(std::uintptr_t, std::uintptr_t*, std::uintptr_t* arguments) {
     PreserveError preserve;
     // Authored graphs raise the same error every frame, from the same constant text: a text
     // pointer already looked at is not read again (each character was a system call).
-    static std::mutex mutex; static std::set<std::string> seen; static std::set<std::uintptr_t> looked_at;
+    static std::mutex mutex; static std::set<std::string> seen; static std::set<std::uintptr_t> looked_at, arguments_seen;
     std::lock_guard lock(mutex);
     try {
         // The message position is not known from the binding alone; take the
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ void script_error(std::uintptr_t, std::uintptr_t*, std::uintptr_t* arguments) {
         for (std::size_t index = 0; arguments && index < 4 && message.empty(); ++index) {
             std::uintptr_t argument{}, inner{};
             if (!memory::peek(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(arguments) + index * 8, argument) || argument < 0x10000) break;
+            // The same arguments come back every frame: each is probed once (read, not peeked:
+            // it is often not a pointer, and a failed peek costs an exception).
+            if (arguments_seen.contains(argument)) continue;
+            if (arguments_seen.size() < 4096) arguments_seen.insert(argument);
             if (read(argument, inner) && inner >= 0x10000) message = printable(inner);
             if (message.empty()) message = printable(argument);
         }

Extension/Settings/local_gameplay_settings.cpp

@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 #include "Extension/Progression/local_entitlement_trigger_runtime.h"
 #include "local_gameplay_settings.h"
 #include "local_user_settings.h"
+#include <optional>
+#include <string_view>
+#include <array>
 
 namespace dingosdk::profile_runtime {
 // Applied gameplay values live in an ECS cache even when the user-value
@@ -48,6 +51,42 @@ bool gameplay_setting_key(const void* reference, std::string& key) {
     return asset && identifier(reinterpret_cast<const void*>(asset + 0x60), key);
 }
 
+// Every script settings get the game makes (several a frame from its expressions) asks this. One
+// store lookup per setting asset and profile change, cached on the asking thread in a small
+// direct-mapped table: a hit is three peeks and compares, with no heap string, store lock or map
+// walk (~0.5% of a multiplayer client frame before, profiled 2026-10-02). A hit needs the same
+// asset, name address and first 8 name bytes, so a reused address cannot answer for another setting.
+const dingosdk::Json* saved_gameplay_json(const void* reference) {
+    auto& s = local_runtime();
+    if (!s.active.load(std::memory_order_acquire)) return nullptr;
+    std::uintptr_t asset{}, name{};
+    if (!memory::peek(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(reference), asset)) return nullptr;
+    asset &= ~std::uintptr_t{4};
+    if (!asset || !memory::peek(asset + 0x60, name) || !name) return nullptr;
+    std::uint64_t prefix{};
+    (void)memory::peek(name, prefix); // a short name at the end of a page stays 0: a miss refills
+    struct Entry { std::uintptr_t asset{}, name{}; std::uint64_t prefix{}, changes{}; std::optional<dingosdk::Json> value; };
+    thread_local std::array<Entry, 256> cache;
+    const auto changes = profile::Store::changes();
+    auto& entry = cache[((asset >> 4) ^ (asset >> 12)) & 255];
+    if (entry.asset != asset || entry.name != name || entry.prefix != prefix || entry.changes != changes) {
+        char text[256];
+        const auto length = memory::peek_cstring(name, text, sizeof(text));
+        if (length <= 0) return nullptr;
+        for (std::ptrdiff_t i = 0; i < length; ++i) {
+            const auto c = static_cast<unsigned char>(text[i]);
+            if (c < 32 || c == 127) return nullptr;
+        }
+        entry.changes = 0;
+        entry.value = s.store->user_value(std::string_view(text, static_cast<std::size_t>(length)));
+        entry.asset = asset;
+        entry.name = name;
+        entry.prefix = prefix;
+        entry.changes = changes;
+    }
+    return entry.value ? &*entry.value : nullptr;
+}
+
 void save_gameplay_setting(const void* reference, const dingosdk::Json& value) {
     auto& s = local_runtime();
     if (!s.active.load(std::memory_order_acquire)) return;

Extension/Settings/local_gameplay_settings.h

@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@ bool gameplay_user_edit();
 
 bool gameplay_setting_key(const void* reference, std::string& key);
 
+// The saved value for a script setting reference, or null: cached per setting asset and profile
+// change on the asking thread (valid until this thread's next call). May throw.
+const dingosdk::Json* saved_gameplay_json(const void* reference);
+
 template<class T> std::optional<T> saved_gameplay_setting(const void* reference) {
-    auto& s = local_runtime();
-    if (!s.active.load(std::memory_order_acquire)) return {};
     PreserveError preserve;
     try {
-        std::string key;
-        if (!gameplay_setting_key(reference, key)) return {};
-        const auto value = s.store->user_value(key);
+        const auto* value = saved_gameplay_json(reference);
         if (!value) return {};
         if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, bool>) { if (value->is_boolean()) return value->get<bool>(); }
         if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, float>) {

Extension/Settings/local_native_settings.cpp

@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 #include "Engine/Game/Build/20260929/local_native_settings.h"
 #include "Engine/Game/Build/20260929/named_settings.h"
 #include "local_user_settings.h"
+#include <optional>
+#include <string_view>
+#include <array>
 
 namespace dingosdk::profile_runtime {
 namespace native_types = addr::named_settings;
@@ -30,32 +33,65 @@ unsigned native_settings_location(std::uintptr_t group) {
     return 0;
 }
 
+// Runs on every settings get the game's scripts make: peeked, not read (one ReadProcessMemory
+// call per read, ~0.15% of a multiplayer client frame, profiled 2026-10-02).
 std::optional<dingosdk::Json> native_setting_json(const NativeSettingValue* input) {
     NativeSettingValue value{};
-    if (!read(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(input), value) || !value.data) return {};
+    if (!memory::peek(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(input), value) || !value.data) return {};
     const auto type = value.type - local_runtime().base;
     switch (type) {
     case native_types::native_bool: {
         std::uint8_t byte{};
-        if (read(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(value.data), byte) && byte <= 1) return byte != 0;
+        if (memory::peek(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(value.data), byte) && byte <= 1) return byte != 0;
         return {};
     }
     case native_types::native_uint32: return native_scalar<std::uint32_t>(value.data);
     case native_types::native_int32: return native_scalar<std::int32_t>(value.data);
     case native_types::native_float32: return native_scalar<float>(value.data);
     case native_types::native_cstring: {
-        std::uintptr_t text{}; std::string result;
-        if (!read(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(value.data), text)) return {};
-        for (std::size_t i = 0; i <= 4096; ++i) {
-            char c{}; if (!read(text + i, c)) return {};
-            if (!c) return result;
-            result += c;
-        }
+        std::uintptr_t text{};
+        if (!memory::peek(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(value.data), text)) return {};
+        char buffer[4097];
+        const auto length = memory::peek_cstring(text, buffer, sizeof(buffer));
+        if (length < 0) return {};
+        return std::string(buffer, static_cast<std::size_t>(length));
     }
     }
     return {};
 }
 
+namespace {
+// The saved option for a native setting key, or null: one store lookup per key and profile change,
+// cached on the asking thread in a small direct-mapped table (valid until this thread's next call).
+// A hit needs the same key address, location and first 8 key bytes; the key text is read only on
+// a miss. May throw.
+const dingosdk::Json* saved_native_option(unsigned location, const char* key) {
+    const auto address = reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(key);
+    std::uint64_t prefix{};
+    (void)memory::peek(address, prefix); // a short key at the end of a page stays 0: a miss refills
+    struct Entry { std::uintptr_t key{}; unsigned location{}; std::uint64_t prefix{}, changes{}; std::optional<dingosdk::Json> value; };
+    thread_local std::array<Entry, 256> cache;
+    const auto changes = profile::Store::changes();
+    auto& entry = cache[((address >> 3) ^ (address >> 11) ^ location) & 255];
+    if (entry.key != address || entry.location != location || entry.prefix != prefix || entry.changes != changes) {
+        char text[256];
+        const auto length = memory::peek_cstring(address, text, sizeof(text));
+        if (length <= 0) return nullptr;
+        for (std::ptrdiff_t i = 0; i < length; ++i) {
+            const auto c = static_cast<unsigned char>(text[i]);
+            if (c < 32 || c == 127) return nullptr;
+        }
+        entry.changes = 0;
+        entry.value = local_runtime().store->native_profile_option(location, std::string_view(text, static_cast<std::size_t>(length)));
+        entry.key = address;
+        entry.location = location;
+        entry.prefix = prefix;
+        entry.changes = changes;
+    }
+    return entry.value ? &*entry.value : nullptr;
+}
+}
+
 bool restore_native_setting(std::uintptr_t group, const char* key, std::uintptr_t type,
     const dingosdk::Json& saved) {
     const auto base = local_runtime().base;
@@ -82,15 +118,18 @@ const NativeSettingValue* native_setting_get(std::uintptr_t group, const char* k
     auto* result = native_settings().get(group, key);
     PreserveError preserve;
     try {
-        const auto location = native_settings_location(group); std::string id;
-        if (!location || !identifier(&key, id)) return result;
-        const auto saved = local_runtime().store->native_profile_option(location, id);
+        const auto location = native_settings_location(group);
+        const auto* saved = location ? saved_native_option(location, key) : nullptr;
         if (!saved) return result;
         const auto current = native_setting_json(result);
+        if (!current || *current == *saved) return result;
+        // Copied before the restore: a get it causes on this thread reuses the cache.
+        const auto wanted = *saved;
+        std::string name;
+        (void)identifier(&key, name);
         NativeSettingValue native{};
-        if (current && *current != *saved && read(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(result), native) &&
-            restore_native_setting(group, key, native.type, *saved))
-            dingosdk::logging::event(dingosdk::logging::Channel::settings, dingosdk::Json{{"event","local_native_setting_restored"},{"location",location},{"key",id}}.dump().c_str());
+        if (memory::peek(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(result), native) && restore_native_setting(group, key, native.type, wanted))
+            dingosdk::logging::event(dingosdk::logging::Channel::settings, dingosdk::Json{{"event","local_native_setting_restored"},{"location",location},{"key",name}}.dump().c_str());
     } catch (...) { dingosdk::logging::event(dingosdk::logging::Channel::settings, "{\"event\":\"local_native_setting_restore_failed\"}"); }
     return result;
 }

Extension/Settings/local_native_settings.h

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ unsigned native_settings_location(std::uintptr_t group);
 
 template<class T> std::optional<dingosdk::Json> native_scalar(const void* data) {
     T value{};
-    if (!read(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(data), value)) return {};
+    if (!memory::peek(reinterpret_cast<std::uintptr_t>(data), value)) return {};
     if constexpr (std::is_floating_point_v<T>) if (!std::isfinite(value)) return {};
     if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, std::uint64_t>) if (value > INT64_MAX) return {};
     return dingosdk::Json(value);

Extension/World/local_population_controls.cpp

@@ -21,13 +21,14 @@ bool population_config_identity(std::uintptr_t config) {
     // The validated manager supplies a TrafficSystemConfig, but the asset name
     // varies by map (BAM uses Gameplay/AI/BAM_TrafficSystemConfig). The exact
     // native class identifies the field layout; the default asset name does not.
-    return read(config + 8, type) && type == local_runtime().base + addr::population::traffic_system_config_type &&
+    return memory::peek(config + 8, type) && type == local_runtime().base + addr::population::traffic_system_config_type &&
         identifier(reinterpret_cast<void*>(config + 0x18), name);
 }
 
+// Every population tick, on the validated live config: peeked.
 bool population_value(std::uintptr_t config, unsigned i, float& out) {
-    if (i == 0 || i == 3) return read(config + population_offsets[i], out) && std::isfinite(out) && out >= 0 && out <= 100;
-    std::uint32_t v{}; if (!read(config + population_offsets[i], v) || v > 1000) return false; out = static_cast<float>(v); return true;
+    if (i == 0 || i == 3) return memory::peek(config + population_offsets[i], out) && std::isfinite(out) && out >= 0 && out <= 100;
+    std::uint32_t v{}; if (!memory::peek(config + population_offsets[i], v) || v > 1000) return false; out = static_cast<float>(v); return true;
 }
 
 bool population_write(std::uintptr_t config, unsigned i, float value) {

Extension/World/local_population_controls.h

@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ template<unsigned Kind> void population_tick(std::uintptr_t manager) {
             const auto found = p.nodes.find(manager);
             if (found != p.nodes.end() && population_identity(manager, found->second.realm)) {
                 auto& node = found->second; std::uintptr_t config{}; std::uint8_t running{};
-                if (read(manager + 0x108, config) && read(manager + 0x152, running) && running == 1) {
+                if (memory::peek(manager + 0x108, config) && memory::peek(manager + 0x152, running) && running == 1) {
                     config &= ~std::uintptr_t{4};
                     if (config != node.config) { population_release_config(manager); node.config = config; }
                     if (population_config_identity(config)) {
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ template<unsigned Kind> void population_tick(std::uintptr_t manager) {
                         p.observed_at[Kind] = GetTickCount64(); r.model.population_ready[Kind] = ok;
                         std::uintptr_t begin{}, end{};
                         const unsigned offset = Kind == 0 ? 0xa8 : 0xe8;
-                        if (read(manager + offset, begin) && read(manager + offset + 8, end) && end >= begin && end - begin <= 8000)
+                        if (memory::peek(manager + offset, begin) && memory::peek(manager + offset + 8, end) && end >= begin && end - begin <= 8000)
                             r.model.population[Kind] = static_cast<unsigned>((end - begin) / 8);
                     }
                 }

Launcher/gui.cpp

@@ -275,11 +275,14 @@ int run(const launcher_app::Session& session, const std::vector<std::wstring>& a
         auto& ui = *ui_storage;
         ModsPanel mods_panel;
         bool running = true;
-        // The game this launcher started: hide when its splash opens, then exit
-        // (Close the launcher when Skate starts) or wait and return when it closes.
+        // The game this launcher started: hide when its splash opens, then wait for it
+        // to close and return, or exit (Close the launcher when Skate starts).
+        // Staying alive until then matters: outside a Steam library, Skate's protection
+        // closed the game (TerminateProcess 0x32) when the launcher exited during startup.
         HANDLE game{};
         DWORD game_id{};
         bool hidden{};
+        bool exit_with_game{};
         while (running) {
             MSG message;
             while (PeekMessageW(&message, nullptr, 0, 0, PM_REMOVE)) {
@@ -302,15 +305,17 @@ int run(const launcher_app::Session& session, const std::vector<std::wstring>& a
                     hidden = true;
                 }
                 // Exit only after injection succeeded, so a failed launch can still report.
-                if (hidden && launcher.launched() && launcher.settings().close_on_launch) break;
+                if (hidden && launcher.launched() && launcher.settings().close_on_launch) exit_with_game = true;
                 if (hidden && !launcher.busy() && launcher.snapshot().phase == Phase::failed) {
                     ShowWindow(window, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
                     SetForegroundWindow(window);
                     hidden = false;
+                    exit_with_game = false;
                 }
                 if (WaitForSingleObject(game, 0) == WAIT_OBJECT_0) {
                     CloseHandle(game);
                     game = nullptr;
+                    if (exit_with_game) break;
                     launcher.game_exited(hidden);
                     if (hidden) {
                         ShowWindow(window, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

Launcher/gui_home.cpp

@@ -239,7 +239,9 @@ bool mods_tile(ImDrawList* draw, const Fonts& fonts, ImVec2 position, ImVec2 siz
 }
 
 // The STATUS tile, laid out like the HUB's BOUNTIES tile: a header and icon rows.
-void status_tile(ImDrawList* draw, const Fonts& fonts, const State& state, ImVec2 position, float width, float time) {
+// `steam_offline`: Steam isn't running or signed in, so PLAY starts offline.
+void status_tile(ImDrawList* draw, const Fonts& fonts, const State& state, ImVec2 position, float width, float time,
+                 bool steam_offline) {
     struct Row { Icon icon; std::string text; std::string detail; };
     std::vector<Row> rows;
     Icon now = Icon::busy;
@@ -252,6 +254,11 @@ void status_tile(ImDrawList* draw, const Fonts& fonts, const State& state, ImVec
     default: break;
     }
     rows.push_back({now, state.status, state.detail});
+    // While launching, the status detail already says the game is starting offline.
+    if (steam_offline && state.phase != Phase::launching)
+        rows.push_back({Icon::warning, "Steam isn't open or signed in",
+            "PLAY starts skate. in offline mode as Unknown Player; multiplayer is hidden. "
+            "Open Steam and sign in to play online."});
     if (state.config) {
         const auto build = state.config->game.build_id.empty() ? state.config->game.manifest_id : state.config->game.build_id;
         const bool game_ok = state.phase != Phase::game_missing && state.phase != Phase::game_outdated &&
@@ -330,7 +337,8 @@ void frame(Launcher& launcher, const Fonts& fonts, HWND window, Ui& ui, ModsPane
     if (update::binary_updates_enabled() && state.config && !state.config->launcher.version.empty())
         version = "Launcher " + state.config->launcher.version;
     if (time - ui.steam_checked > 5) {
-        ui.steam_name = launcher_app::steam_persona_name();
+        ui.steam_signed_in = launcher_app::steam_signed_in();
+        ui.steam_name = ui.steam_signed_in ? launcher_app::steam_persona_name() : std::string();
         ui.steam_checked = time;
     }
     const bool greet = !launcher.settings().offline && !ui.steam_name.empty();
@@ -406,7 +414,8 @@ void frame(Launcher& launcher, const Fonts& fonts, HWND window, Ui& ui, ModsPane
         (ImGui::IsKeyPressed(ImGuiKey_Enter, false) || ImGui::IsKeyPressed(ImGuiKey_KeypadEnter, false))) act();
     ImGui::EndDisabled();
 
-    status_tile(draw, fonts, state, ImVec2(S(60), S(200)), S(360), time);
+    status_tile(draw, fonts, state, ImVec2(S(60), S(200)), S(360), time,
+                !ui.steam_signed_in && !launcher.settings().offline);
 
     if (modal) draw->AddRectFilled(ImVec2(0, 0), size, rgba(4, 6, 9, 0.72f));
     g_drag_allowed = !modal && !ImGui::IsAnyItemHovered();

Launcher/gui_internal.h

@@ -233,8 +233,10 @@ struct Ui {
     // The MODS tile's "2 of 3 enabled", re-read every few seconds.
     std::string mods_detail;
     double mods_checked{-100};
-    // Steam display name for the name plate, re-read every few seconds.
+    // Steam display name for the name plate, and whether Steam is running and
+    // signed in (PLAY starts offline otherwise), re-read every few seconds.
     std::string steam_name;
+    bool steam_signed_in{true};
     double steam_checked{-100};
 };
 

Launcher/gui_settings.cpp

@@ -184,7 +184,8 @@ void settings_window(Launcher& launcher, const Fonts& fonts, ImVec2 size, Ui& ui
     default:
         section_caption(fonts, "LAUNCHER");
         setting_check("Close the launcher when Skate starts",
-                      "Otherwise the launcher hides while you play and comes back when the game closes.",
+                      "The launcher hides while you play and exits when the game closes. "
+                      "Turn off to have it come back instead.",
                       settings.close_on_launch);
         setting_check("Install ReSkate updates",
                       "Turn off to keep the ReSkate.dll and launcher you have, such as a test build someone gave you. "

Runtime/client_tick.cpp

@@ -192,8 +192,9 @@ void update_model(std::uintptr_t client, TickState& frame) {
     auto& r = runtime();
     std::uintptr_t vtable{};
     DWORD state{}, game_type{};
-    if (!read(client, vtable) || vtable != r.base + engine::client_vtable || client > highest - 0x2a0 ||
-        !read(client + 0xc4, state) || state > 26 || !read(client + 0xc0, game_type) || game_type > 3) return;
+    // Every client tick: peeked, not read (three ReadProcessMemory calls a tick, profiled 2026-10-02).
+    if (!memory::peek(client, vtable) || vtable != r.base + engine::client_vtable || client > highest - 0x2a0 ||
+        !memory::peek(client + 0xc4, state) || state > 26 || !memory::peek(client + 0xc0, game_type) || game_type > 3) return;
     DWORD no_thread{};
     r.engine_thread.compare_exchange_strong(no_thread, GetCurrentThreadId());
     if (r.engine_thread.load() != GetCurrentThreadId()) return;
@@ -927,7 +928,7 @@ void tick(std::uintptr_t client, std::uintptr_t update) {
                 ? *tick_state.context : native_context(r.base, client, game_type);
         };
         const bool multiplayer_ready=!r.observer_failed && !loading &&
-            read(client+0xc4,state) && (state==13 || state==21) && read(client+0xc0,game_type) &&
+            memory::peek(client+0xc4,state) && (state==13 || state==21) && memory::peek(client+0xc0,game_type) &&
             context_ready();
         {
             DINGO_PROFILE_ZONE("tick/multiplayer");
@@ -939,7 +940,7 @@ void tick(std::uintptr_t client, std::uintptr_t update) {
         // session placed the remote skaters for this frame (and also out of play, to give up).
         std::uintptr_t camera_context{};
         const bool camera_phase = tick_state.camera_issue ? *tick_state.camera_issue == nullptr :
-            read(client + 8, camera_context) && !dingosdk::camera_probe_unavailable_reason(camera_context);
+            memory::peek(client + 8, camera_context) && !dingosdk::camera_probe_unavailable_reason(camera_context);
         {
             DINGO_PROFILE_ZONE("tick/native party");
             dingosdk::multiplayer::tick_native_party_actions(r.base, client,