diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 7097c38..d4f1fed 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 /tools/*
 # ...except the ghost multiplayer relay server (a first-party tool).
 !/tools/ghost_relay_main.cpp
+!/tools/ghost_relay.service
+!/tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh
 
 # Local game dump and retail media. Users must provide their own copy.
 /game/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2994c4b..5cb97d3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ Native Rendering Showcase (click to go to YouTube):
 
 ## How Do I Play?
 
+> **Ghost multiplayer (beta):** this fork adds a from-scratch ghost-player
+> layer — relay your skater to other players via a small UDP server (no port
+> forwarding on clients), with full-character ghosts, nameplates and a lobby
+> browser. Press **M** in-game. See [docs/ghost-multiplayer.md](docs/ghost-multiplayer.md)
+> for player setup, server deployment (VPS or free tunnel) and troubleshooting.
+
 Notes:
 
 - The Windows version is the most tested, followed by Linux, and then macOS.
diff --git a/docs/ghost-multiplayer.md b/docs/ghost-multiplayer.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8fdc345
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/ghost-multiplayer.md
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+# Ghost multiplayer (beta)
+
+A from-scratch "ghost player" layer for the Skate 3 recomp native renderer:
+every player's skater skeleton is relayed through a small UDP server so other
+players see a real character model (driven by the remote skeleton) plus a
+nameplate. Nothing touches the game's own netcode, animation or physics.
+
+## How it works
+
+- **Topology:** every client connects **outbound** (UDP) to a relay. No port
+  forwarding on any client. The relay forwards each player's pose stream to
+  the other members of the same **room** (a 4-8 character code).
+- **Relay:** either the public `ghost_relay` server (below) or a player's
+  game in LAN host mode. When the configured relay is unreachable, the game
+  automatically starts an in-process relay on the LAN (UDP broadcast
+  discovery) so same-network play still works.
+- **Protocol:** versioned (`kGhostVersion`). A mismatched client/server is
+  refused with a clear message rather than silently misbehaving.
+- **Rendering:** ghosts are drawn with **this player's own character model**
+  driven by the remote skeleton (bone palettes, no mesh transfer). Cloth
+  garments drape in the remote root frame; nameplates label each ghost with
+  the owner's display name.
+- **Logs:** everything important is logged to the game's log file (next to
+  the executable in `logs/`). The relay logs refusals/caps to its own output.
+
+## Player usage
+
+1. Launch the game, press **M** to open the multiplayer menu.
+2. Tick **Enable ghost multiplayer**.
+3. Enter a **room code** (or leave empty to get an auto-assigned one, shown
+   in the menu — share it with friends). Players sharing a code see each
+   other.
+4. Use **Browse rooms (lobby)** to see who is on the configured relay and
+   click a room to join it.
+5. Set a **display name** for your nameplate (default: your OS user name).
+
+Settings (server, room, name, port, rate) persist across restarts.
+
+### Configuration cvars
+
+| cvar | default | meaning |
+|---|---|---|
+| `skate3_ghost_enable` | false | master switch (also the menu toggle) |
+| `skate3_ghost_server` | `""` | relay `host[:port]`; empty = the compiled-in default |
+| `skate3_ghost_port` | `40001` | UDP port (outbound + LAN discovery/host) |
+| `skate3_ghost_room` | `""` | room code; empty = server assigns one |
+| `skate3_ghost_name` | `""` | nameplate name; empty = OS user name |
+| `skate3_ghost_rate` | `15` | pose broadcast rate (Hz) |
+| `skate3_ghost_lan` | `true` | LAN auto-discovery + auto-host fallback |
+| `skate3_ghost_draw_local` | `false` | debug: show your own capture cube |
+| `skate3_ghost_debug` | `false` | verbose ghost logging |
+
+The compiled-in default relay address is `kGhostDefaultServer` in
+`src/native/skate3_native_ghost_proto.h` — set it to your relay before
+shipping a build.
+
+## Deploying the relay (public server)
+
+The relay is a single dependency-free binary (plain sockets, no rexglue).
+Run it on a public VPS (any size; the workload is a few UDP forwards, a
+small VPS is plenty) or on your own machine behind a free tunnel
+(playit.gg / ngrok / Tailscale Funnel).
+
+### Build
+
+```sh
+# from the repo root
+cmake --preset linux-relwithdebinfo -DSKATE3_GAME_DATA_ROOT="$PWD/game"
+cmake --build --preset linux-relwithdebinfo --target ghost_relay --parallel
+# -> out/build/linux-relwithdebinfo/ghost_relay
+```
+
+Or compile in place (no CMake/rexglue needed, just a C++23 compiler):
+
+```sh
+g++ -std=c++23 -O2 -DSKATE3_RELAY_STANDALONE \
+    -Isrc/native \
+    tools/ghost_relay_main.cpp src/native/skate3_native_ghost_relay.cpp \
+    -o ghost_relay
+```
+
+### Install on the VPS
+
+`tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh` builds, installs and registers the service:
+
+```sh
+# copy the repo (or just tools/ + the relay sources) to the VPS, then:
+./tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh          # uses UDP 40001 by default
+GHOST_RELAY_PORT=40002 ./tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh
+```
+
+Manual:
+
+```sh
+install -m 0755 ghost_relay /usr/local/bin/ghost_relay
+install -m 0644 tools/ghost_relay.service /etc/systemd/system/ghost-relay.service
+systemctl daemon-reload && systemctl enable --now ghost-relay
+ufw allow 40001/udp          # open the port; nothing else is needed
+```
+
+The `ghost_relay.service` unit is:
+
+```ini
+[Unit]
+Description=Skate 3 recomp ghost multiplayer relay
+After=network-online.target
+Wants=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/ghost_relay --port 40001 --max-clients 64
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=2
+NoNewPrivileges=true
+PrivateTmp=true
+ProtectSystem=full
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
+```
+
+### Free-tunnel option (no VPS)
+
+The relay only needs a public UDP endpoint. Run it on any machine and expose
+it with a free tunnel that supports UDP (playit.gg is the most
+straightforward for games): it gives you a public `host:port` that forwards
+to your local relay. Point clients at it with `skate3_ghost_server` (or set
+it as the compiled-in default). No client-side port forwarding either way.
+
+### Verify
+
+```sh
+systemctl status ghost-relay
+journalctl -u ghost-relay -f          # join/leave lines (--verbose)
+ss -ulnp | grep 40001                 # listening on UDP
+```
+
+From a second machine:
+
+```sh
+printf '\x53\x47\x48\x54\x08\x00\x00' | nc -u <relay-ip> 40001  # LIST probe
+# expect a kTypeRooms reply (starts 'S G H T' + type 9 + payload)
+```
+
+## Logging & troubleshooting
+
+- **Game logs:** `<exe dir>/logs/` (SDK file logging; also where crash
+  dumps land). Set `skate3_ghost_debug 1` (F12 menu) for verbose ghost
+  lines.
+- **Relay logs:** `journalctl -u ghost-relay` (add `--verbose` to
+  `ExecStart` for per-join/leave lines).
+- **"Refused by relay (protocol version mismatch)":** the game build and the
+  relay must agree on `kGhostVersion` (both from the same build). Rebuild
+  both.
+- **"Cannot resolve the relay"**: the default address is a placeholder until
+  you set `skate3_ghost_server`; the game then falls back to LAN auto-host.
+- **Ghosts show as cubes**: the sender had no skeleton capture ready (menus,
+  loading) — the cube is the graceful fallback.
+
+## Security notes
+
+- The relay is an anonymous UDP relay: any client that knows the address can
+  join a room. It is intended for friends / a community, not untrusted
+  internet strangers. Keep `--max-clients` sane and do not expose it beyond
+  your intended audience.
+- Room codes are not passwords. Do not put personal information in the room
+  code or display name.
+
+## Repository layout
+
+- `src/native/skate3_native_ghost_proto.h` — wire protocol
+- `src/native/skate3_native_ghost_net.h` — POSIX/Winsock UDP shim
+- `src/native/skate3_native_ghost_relay.{h,cpp}` — relay core (in-game host
+  mode + standalone binary)
+- `src/native/skate3_native_ghost.{h,cpp}` — in-game client/capture
+- `src/skate3_native_ghost_dialog.{h,cpp}` — multiplayer menu + nameplates
+- `tools/ghost_relay_main.cpp`, `tools/ghost_relay.service`,
+  `tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh` — the standalone server
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/ghost_relay.service b/tools/ghost_relay.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00bed9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ghost_relay.service
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Skate 3 recomp ghost multiplayer relay
+After=network-online.target
+Wants=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/ghost_relay --port 40001 --max-clients 64
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=2
+# Standard service hardening (the relay needs only a UDP socket).
+NoNewPrivileges=true
+PrivateTmp=true
+ProtectSystem=full
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh b/tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5588b1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Build, install and register the ghost_relay server as a systemd service.
+#
+# Run on the VPS from the repo root (or after copying tools/ and
+# src/native/skate3_native_ghost_* to the server). The relay is
+# dependency-free: it needs only a C++23 compiler (g++/clang), no CMake or
+# rexglue.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh
+#   GHOST_RELAY_PORT=40002 ./tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh
+#   GHOST_RELAY_VERBOSE=1 ./tools/ghost_relay_deploy.sh
+#
+# Afterwards: systemctl status ghost-relay, journalctl -u ghost-relay -f.
+# Open the UDP port (the script tries `ufw allow <port>/udp`).
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+PORT="${GHOST_RELAY_PORT:-40001}"
+VERBOSE_FLAG=""
+if [[ "${GHOST_RELAY_VERBOSE:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
+  VERBOSE_FLAG="--verbose"
+fi
+SERVICE_NAME="ghost-relay"
+BIN_PATH="/usr/local/bin/ghost_relay"
+SERVICE_PATH="/etc/systemd/system/${SERVICE_NAME}.service"
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}/.." && pwd)"
+
+echo "==> Building ghost_relay"
+g++ -std=c++23 -O2 -DSKATE3_RELAY_STANDALONE \
+    -I"${REPO_ROOT}/src/native" \
+    "${REPO_ROOT}/tools/ghost_relay_main.cpp" \
+    "${REPO_ROOT}/src/native/skate3_native_ghost_relay.cpp" \
+    -o /tmp/ghost_relay
+/tmp/ghost_relay --help >/dev/null 2>&1 || {
+  echo "ERROR: build produced a binary that does not run (missing C++23?)" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
+echo "==> Installing to ${BIN_PATH}"
+sudo install -m 0755 /tmp/ghost_relay "${BIN_PATH}"
+rm -f /tmp/ghost_relay
+
+echo "==> Writing ${SERVICE_PATH}"
+sudo tee "${SERVICE_PATH}" >/dev/null <<EOF
+[Unit]
+Description=Skate 3 recomp ghost multiplayer relay
+After=network-online.target
+Wants=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+ExecStart=${BIN_PATH} --port ${PORT} --max-clients 64 ${VERBOSE_FLAG}
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=2
+NoNewPrivileges=true
+PrivateTmp=true
+ProtectSystem=full
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
+EOF
+
+echo "==> Enabling + starting ${SERVICE_NAME}"
+sudo systemctl daemon-reload
+sudo systemctl enable "${SERVICE_NAME}" >/dev/null
+sudo systemctl restart "${SERVICE_NAME}"
+
+echo "==> Opening UDP ${PORT}"
+sudo ufw allow "${PORT}/udp" >/dev/null 2>&1 || \
+  echo "    (ufw not available or not permitted; open UDP ${PORT} yourself)"
+
+echo "==> Status"
+sleep 1
+sudo systemctl status "${SERVICE_NAME}" --no-pager || true
+
+IP="$(hostname -I 2>/dev/null | awk '{print $1}')"
+if [[ -z "${IP}" ]]; then IP="<this-server-ip>"; fi
+echo
+echo "Done. Clients connect to ${IP}:${PORT}"
+echo "Logs: journalctl -u ${SERVICE_NAME} -f"
+echo "Set the compiled-in default in src/native/skate3_native_ghost_proto.h"
+echo "  (kGhostDefaultServer / kGhostDefaultServerPort), or tell players to"
+echo "  set skate3_ghost_server=${IP}:${PORT} in the M menu."
\ No newline at end of file