E-DAY PRIVATE MATCH LAB - PREVIEW

This contains mod source and installation helpers, not game files. You need
your own installed, licensed Xbox app / Game Pass PC E-Day version 1.2.2.0.
This preview includes shared lobby listings and an experimental WebRTC game
connection. It has passed local transport tests, but native game joining,
teams and spectators have NOT been verified between two PCs. This package is
for compatible private-copy testing, not a finished online multiplayer release.

SETUP
1. Extract the whole ZIP to a permanent folder on an NTFS/ReFS drive with
   roughly 125 GB free. Do not put it inside the original Xbox game folder.
2. Close E-Day and double-click Setup.cmd. It usually finds the Xbox install;
   otherwise enter the installed game folder that contains Content.
3. Wait for the game copy and verification. If interrupted, rerun Setup.cmd in
   the SAME folder to resume. Keep the original Xbox game installed/licensed.
   Setup connects the in-game browser to the AoW lobby service automatically.
   No group code, account sign-in, website visit or separate setup is required.
4. Open Launch Private Match Lab.cmd. Windows asks once to install a narrowly
   scoped network block for this copied game. Approve the genuine Windows
   prompt. UAC/anti-cheat/OS protections are not disabled. Native game startup
   can still take several minutes and an offline-features notice may appear.

IN-GAME CONTROLS
Open Private Matches from the main menu. The controller Menu button also opens
it directly. D-pad/left stick moves, A selects, and B goes back. Create Lobby
shows four COG, four Locust and two spectator slots: select the exact seat you
want, then cycle the map and game type. Start requires at least one combat
player on either team; a spectators-only lobby cannot start. Join Lobby's
Hosted Games list can refresh and select a shared room and seat. The joined
lobby shows reserved members; a reservation is not native game admission.
Joining may show connecting, waiting for the host, unavailable or failed. A
host with no combat player cannot start until a reserved combat player's
connection is confirmed. A room listing does not prove its game is joinable.

LOBBY SERVICE ACCESS
Open Private Matches and choose Join Lobby. Hosted Games loads live listings
from the project's ChatGPT Sites service directly in the game. No browser page or shared
code is needed. Hosts publish their room by choosing Create Lobby. Room names,
player names, occupied slots and match status are visible to everyone using
the AoW directory. Host and member controls still require their individual
session capabilities, which the helper manages automatically.
Configure Lobby Directory.cmd is only an optional repair shortcut that resets
the local service address. Normal setup and updates already do this for you.
Transport checks do not prove native game admission works between two PCs.

Setup downloads a pinned loader archive from its author, plus an isolated
Python runtime and libraries from python.org/PyPI. It installs no system
Python, changes no PATH or execution policy, and writes no original game files.
The copied bundled GDK runtime is retained in backups/original-copy; the copy
uses Windows' existing Gaming Runtime. Copies can still share account/saves.

UPDATES
Close E-Day. Extract a newer trusted preview ZIP separately, double-click its
Update.cmd, and enter the EXISTING private-match folder. Updates replace only
installer-owned mod/helper files, verify hashes, and keep replaced files under
backups/updates. The AoW service address is configured automatically without
retaining old shared group codes. Your game copy and private session
capabilities are not bundled or re-copied. Locally edited owned files cause a clear stop instead
of being overwritten. A failed file application restores the prior files.

Updates are manual ZIPs. A .sha256 file detects corruption; it is not a digital
signature. Only run packages obtained from your trusted project source. There
is no unsigned remote auto-update or automatic code execution from the website.

TO PLAY THE ORIGINAL
Close the copy and launch E-Day normally from the Xbox app. The original files
were only read. The optional copy-only firewall rule can be removed with
Remove Private Match Network Rule.cmd while the copy is closed; Windows will
request normal administrator approval for removal.

Do not share your game-copy, reports, runtime, invitations, private-state,
tokens or account files. Share only the built preview ZIP and its checksum.
