diff --git a/port/linux/src/xinput_sdl.c b/port/linux/src/xinput_sdl.c
index af25b68f..d2dc4050 100644
--- a/port/linux/src/xinput_sdl.c
+++ b/port/linux/src/xinput_sdl.c
@@ -813,6 +813,15 @@ In the menus the buttons are the Xbox's by position: A accepts, B goes back. */
 int halo_vr_controllers(struct halo_xr_hand hands[HALO_XR_HAND_COUNT], int *menus);
 int halo_vr_wheel_held(void);
 
+/* a click that stands for the pad's A (ui_widget.c: the screen where
+controllers join by pressing it), held a moment */
+static Uint64 vr_pad_a_until;
+
+void halo_vr_pulse_pad_a(void)
+{
+	vr_pad_a_until = SDL_GetTicks() + 120;
+}
+
 static SHORT vr_stick(float value)
 {
 	if (value > 1.0f)
@@ -859,7 +868,8 @@ static void vr_gamepad_state(XINPUT_GAMEPAD *pad)
 		if (abs(value) > abs(pad->sThumbRX)) pad->sThumbRX = value;
 		value = vr_stick(right->thumbstick[1]);
 		if (abs(value) > abs(pad->sThumbRY)) pad->sThumbRY = value;
-		merge_button(pad, XINPUT_GAMEPAD_A, (right->buttons & HALO_XR_BUTTON_A) != 0);
+		merge_button(pad, XINPUT_GAMEPAD_A, (right->buttons & HALO_XR_BUTTON_A) != 0 ||
+			SDL_GetTicks() < vr_pad_a_until);
 		merge_button(pad, XINPUT_GAMEPAD_B, (right->buttons & HALO_XR_BUTTON_B) != 0);
 		merge_button(pad, XINPUT_GAMEPAD_X, (left->buttons & HALO_XR_BUTTON_A) != 0);
 		merge_button(pad, XINPUT_GAMEPAD_Y, (left->buttons & HALO_XR_BUTTON_B) != 0);
diff --git a/source/interface/hud.c b/source/interface/hud.c
index 50bd928a..7f386096 100644
--- a/source/interface/hud.c
+++ b/source/interface/hud.c
@@ -961,6 +961,11 @@ static void hud_draw_players(
 	long player_index = local_player_get_player_index(render.local_player_index);
 	long team_index = player_get(player_index)->team_index;
 
+#ifdef HALO_ANDROID
+	/* (VR: over the heads, with the names: hud_draw_player_name) */
+	if (halo_vr_names_apart())
+		return;
+#endif
 	if (player_index != NONE)
 	{
 		/* the native builds' sessions hold more than 16 players */
@@ -1135,6 +1140,7 @@ static void hud_draw_player_name(
 	long player_index,
 	boolean ally,
 	boolean indicator,
+	boolean name_shown,
 	real enemy_range,
 	boolean vr_apart)
 {
@@ -1176,7 +1182,7 @@ static void hud_draw_player_name(
 
 		point[0] = head_position.x;
 		point[1] = head_position.y;
-		point[2] = head_position.z + (indicator ? 0.15f : 0.0f);
+		point[2] = head_position.z + (indicator ? 0.06f : 0.0f);
 		slot = halo_vr_add_name(point);
 		if (slot < 0)
 			return;
@@ -1185,7 +1191,31 @@ static void hud_draw_player_name(
 		y = (short)(slot_bounds[3] - 4);
 		/* (an ally's whole at any distance it is drawn at) */
 		view_position.z = -1.0f;
+		if (indicator)
+		{
+			/* (a teammate's triangle at the slot's foot, the name over it:
+			the game's, drawn on the HUD, would hang before the eyes) */
+			struct bitmap_data *bitmap = bitmap_group_get_bitmap_from_sequence(
+				interface_get_tag_index(_interface_bitmap_multiplayer_hud), 0, 0);
+
+			if (bitmap && _texture_cache_bitmap_get_hardware_format(bitmap, FALSE, TRUE))
+			{
+				point2d tip;
+				real_rectangle2d whole;
+
+				tip.x = x;
+				tip.y = (short)(slot_bounds[3] - 2);
+				whole.x0 = 0.0f;
+				whole.x1 = 1.0f;
+				whole.y0 = 0.0f;
+				whole.y1 = 1.0f;
+				interface_draw_bitmap(bitmap, &tip, &whole, 0.6f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+				y = (short)(tip.y - bitmap->registration_point.y * 0.6f);
+			}
+		}
 		indicator = FALSE;
+		if (!name_shown)
+			return;
 	}
 	else
 #endif
@@ -1271,7 +1301,8 @@ static void hud_draw_player_names_now(
 	long team_index;
 	real enemy_range;
 
-	if (setting == _player_names_none || player_index == NONE)
+	/* (VR: the triangles over teammates go with the names, shown or not) */
+	if ((setting == _player_names_none && !vr_apart) || player_index == NONE)
 		return;
 	team_index = player_get(player_index)->team_index;
 	indicators = game_engine_display_team_indicators();
@@ -1281,12 +1312,14 @@ static void hud_draw_player_names_now(
 	{
 		/* (allies as the game's triangles tell them: the same team) */
 		boolean ally = player->team_index == team_index;
+		boolean shown = !(setting == _player_names_none || (ally && setting == _player_names_enemies) ||
+			(!ally && setting == _player_names_allies));
 
 		if (iterator.datum_index == player_index || player->unit_index == NONE)
 			continue;
-		if ((ally && setting == _player_names_enemies) || (!ally && setting == _player_names_allies))
+		if (!shown && !(vr_apart && ally && indicators))
 			continue;
-		hud_draw_player_name(iterator.datum_index, ally, ally && indicators, enemy_range, vr_apart);
+		hud_draw_player_name(iterator.datum_index, ally, ally && indicators, shown, enemy_range, vr_apart);
 	}
 
 	return;
diff --git a/source/interface/ui_widget.c b/source/interface/ui_widget.c
index 7b56c7a3..a0c55f6f 100644
--- a/source/interface/ui_widget.c
+++ b/source/interface/ui_widget.c
@@ -5888,6 +5888,7 @@ reached). */
 
 void platform_log(char const *format, ...);
 int p2p_join_code(char *text, int size);
+void halo_vr_pulse_pad_a(void);
 int p2p_join_with_code(char const *typed);
 int p2p_join_code_status(void);
 void p2p_join_code_clear_status(void);
@@ -6195,6 +6196,13 @@ static boolean ui_join_code_take_pointer(
 	press.type = _event_type_button;
 	press.data.button.index = _gamepad_analog_button_a;
 	press.data.button.value = 1;
+	/* (the screen where controllers join by their A: a click is the
+	pad's A, there, not a menu's) */
+	if (pointer->left_clicks && y < 400 && ui_join_code_screen_active("4way_start2join_screen"))
+	{
+		halo_vr_pulse_pad_a();
+		return TRUE;
+	}
 	if (ui_join_code_globals.panel_open)
 	{
 		if (x >= 48 && x < 592 && y >= 128 && y < 128 + ONLINE_PANEL_ROWS * 22)
@@ -6379,13 +6387,16 @@ static void ui_join_code_render(
 	if (ui_join_code_screen_active("server_list_screen"))
 	{
 		char const *status = NULL;
+		real_argb_color hint_color = { 1.0f, 0.85f, 0.85f, 0.85f };
 
 		if (ui_join_code_globals.panel_open)
 		{
 			ui_join_code_render_panel();
 			return;
 		}
-		ui_join_code_draw_line(372, "%x-button Online games: public ones, or join by a code", TRUE, FALSE);
+		/* (in the key bar's free left, and under it: clear of the map's
+		picture) */
+		ui_join_code_draw_text(8, 200, 420, "%x-button Online / code", TRUE, 0, &hint_color);
 		switch (p2p_join_code_status())
 		{
 		case _join_code_looking: status = "Looking for the game of that code..."; break;
@@ -6408,7 +6419,7 @@ static void ui_join_code_render(
 			}
 		}
 		if (status)
-			ui_join_code_draw_line(392, status, FALSE, FALSE);
+			ui_join_code_draw_line(452, status, FALSE, FALSE);
 	}
 	else if (ui_join_code_screen_active("connected_pregame_screen") && global_network_game_server_get())
 	{