diff --git a/api/openapi.json b/api/openapi.json
index 0abb080b..ea96b079 100644
--- a/api/openapi.json
+++ b/api/openapi.json
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
       "name": "MIT OR Apache-2.0",
       "identifier": "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
     },
-    "version": "0.7.4"
+    "version": "0.8.0"
   },
   "paths": {
     "/api/v1/clients": {
@@ -2240,6 +2240,10 @@
         "type": "object",
         "description": "The user-facing display-management policy — what `display-settings.json` holds and what the mgmt\nAPI GETs/PUTs. When [`preset`](Self::preset) is not [`Preset::Custom`] the explicit fields are\nignored (the console writes one or the other); [`effective`](Self::effective) resolves both to a\nsingle [`EffectivePolicy`].",
         "properties": {
+          "game_session": {
+            "$ref": "#/components/schemas/GameSession",
+            "description": "How a game-launching session is served (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` §5.2).\nOrthogonal to `preset`/lifecycle — preserved across preset changes; `#[serde(default)]` = `Auto`\nso existing `display-settings.json` files are untouched."
+          },
           "identity": {
             "$ref": "#/components/schemas/Identity"
           },
@@ -2399,6 +2403,14 @@
           }
         }
       },
+      "GameSession": {
+        "type": "string",
+        "description": "How a session that **launches a game** (a library id on the Hello / apps.json / Decky pin) is\nserved (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` §5.2). Orthogonal to the preset/lifecycle axes\n— a top-level [`DisplayPolicy`] field, NOT part of [`EffectivePolicy`], so a preset never clobbers\nit. Linux-only in effect (a launching Windows session opens into the one desktop).",
+        "enum": [
+          "auto",
+          "dedicated"
+        ]
+      },
       "GpuState": {
         "type": "object",
         "description": "Full GPU-selection state for the console: inventory, the persisted preference, what the next\nsession will use, and what is in use right now.",
diff --git a/clients/probe/src/main.rs b/clients/probe/src/main.rs
index 998e9a4d..47be77fd 100644
--- a/clients/probe/src/main.rs
+++ b/clients/probe/src/main.rs
@@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ async fn session(args: Args) -> Result<()> {
                 break;
             }
             if started.elapsed() > std::time::Duration::from_secs(cap_secs)
-                || last_rx.elapsed() > std::time::Duration::from_secs(8)
+                || last_rx.elapsed() > std::time::Duration::from_secs(45)
             {
                 break;
             }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic.rs
index ff89707b..95523d26 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic.rs
@@ -129,6 +129,14 @@ pub const VIDEO_CAP_HOST_TIMING: u8 = 0x08;
 /// reconnect can resume. Shared so host + every client agree on the code.
 pub const QUIT_CLOSE_CODE: u32 = 0x51;
 
+/// QUIC application error code the **host** closes the control connection with when a **dedicated game
+/// session's game process exits** (the nested gamescope died — the user quit the game), so a launcher
+/// client can distinguish "the game ended" from an error and return to its library cleanly rather than
+/// surfacing a failure (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` §5.3). Sibling of
+/// [`QUIT_CLOSE_CODE`]; a client that doesn't special-case it still ends the session (every client
+/// returns to its launcher on session end), so it is purely refinement. Shared so host + clients agree.
+pub const APP_EXITED_CLOSE_CODE: u32 = 0x52;
+
 /// [`Hello::video_codecs`] bit: the client can decode H.264 / AVC. The GPU-less **software**
 /// encode path (openh264) emits H.264, so a client that wants to stream from a software host MUST
 /// advertise this.
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs
index aa512598..0b258809 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs
@@ -246,14 +246,33 @@ fn open_gs_virtual_source(
         }
         #[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
         {
+            // A client is (re)connecting → cancel any pending TV-session restore (review #3).
+            crate::vdisplay::cancel_pending_tv_restore();
             let active = crate::vdisplay::detect_active_session();
+            // A4: fold any compositor-instance change (idle-time Game↔Desktop switch) into the epoch
+            // before acquiring, so a GameStream reconnect never reuses a dead-instance node.
+            crate::vdisplay::observe_session_instance(&active);
             crate::vdisplay::apply_session_env(&active);
-            let c = crate::vdisplay::compositor_for_kind(active.kind)
-                .map(Ok)
-                .unwrap_or_else(crate::vdisplay::detect)
-                .context("detect compositor")?;
-            crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(c);
-            c
+            // Dedicated game session (B0): a GameStream app whose launch RESOLVES to a command (library
+            // id / apps.json command), under `game_session=dedicated` with gamescope available, gets its
+            // own headless gamescope spawn at the client mode — same routing as the native plane. Gate on
+            // the resolved command so an unresolvable entry falls back to auto routing (review #9).
+            let has_launch = crate::library::resolve_session_launch(
+                app.and_then(|a| a.library_id.as_deref()),
+                app.and_then(|a| a.cmd.as_deref()),
+            )
+            .is_some();
+            if crate::vdisplay::wants_dedicated_game_session(has_launch) {
+                crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(crate::vdisplay::Compositor::Gamescope, true);
+                crate::vdisplay::Compositor::Gamescope
+            } else {
+                let c = crate::vdisplay::compositor_for_kind(active.kind)
+                    .map(Ok)
+                    .unwrap_or_else(crate::vdisplay::detect)
+                    .context("detect compositor")?;
+                crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(c, false);
+                c
+            }
         }
     };
     let mut vd = crate::vdisplay::open(compositor).context("open virtual display")?;
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/mgmt.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/mgmt.rs
index 59cca65f..81bc2394 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/mgmt.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/mgmt.rs
@@ -1043,6 +1043,7 @@ fn display_settings_state() -> DisplaySettingsState {
             "mode_conflict".into(),
             "identity".into(),
             "layout".into(),
+            "game_session".into(),
         ],
     }
 }
@@ -1248,7 +1249,10 @@ async fn set_display_layout(ApiJson(req): ApiJson<DisplayLayoutRequest>) -> Resp
     // Lock the current effective behavior into explicit fields + set the manual arrangement (pure
     // transform, unit-tested in `policy.rs`) — so arranging displays is orthogonal to the other policy
     // axes. (`effective` keep_alive is never `Forever` via the API — the settings PUT rejects it.)
-    let policy = store.get().effective().with_manual_layout(req.positions);
+    let policy = store
+        .get()
+        .effective()
+        .with_manual_layout(req.positions, store.game_session());
     if let Err(e) = store.set(policy) {
         return api_error(
             StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
index 1c5cdaae..393d3e6e 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
@@ -285,6 +285,9 @@ pub(crate) async fn serve(
     // restores the box's autologin gaming session on idle, not per-disconnect — see
     // `vdisplay::restore_managed_session`). Held for serve()'s lifetime; dropping it stops it.
     let _restore_worker = crate::vdisplay::start_restore_worker();
+    // A3: recover a TV takeover stranded by a crashed previous host instance (persisted to
+    // $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR) — schedule a restore after a reconnect grace. No-op on a clean start.
+    crate::vdisplay::restore_takeover_on_startup();
     // Host-lifetime cover-art warmer: fetches + caches GOG/Xbox cover art (no-auth api.gog.com /
     // displaycatalog) off the hot path so `all_games()` (the library list + launch resolve) never
     // blocks on the network. A no-op on a host whose stores all carry their own art.
@@ -826,8 +829,23 @@ async fn serve_session(
         let compositor = match source {
             Punktfunk1Source::Virtual => {
                 let pref = hello.compositor;
+                // Dedicated game session (B0): a launching client under `game_session=dedicated`
+                // (gamescope available) gets its own headless gamescope spawn at the client mode. Gate on
+                // whether the launch id actually RESOLVES to a command in the host's library — an unknown
+                // id must fall back to normal auto routing, not a blank "sleep infinity" gamescope
+                // (review #9). (dedicated is Linux-only; the resolver is the non-Windows launch_command.)
+                #[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
+                let has_resolvable_launch = hello
+                    .launch
+                    .as_deref()
+                    .and_then(crate::library::launch_command)
+                    .is_some();
+                #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+                let has_resolvable_launch = false;
+                let dedicated =
+                    crate::vdisplay::wants_dedicated_game_session(has_resolvable_launch);
                 Some(
-                    tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || resolve_compositor(pref))
+                    tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || resolve_compositor(pref, dedicated))
                         .await
                         .context("resolve compositor task")??,
                 )
@@ -2223,17 +2241,24 @@ fn pick_compositor(
 /// [`pick_compositor`]): enumerate what's available, auto-detect the default, pick, and log
 /// whether the explicit request was honored or fell back. Runs blocking probes — call off the
 /// async reactor (`spawn_blocking`).
-fn resolve_compositor(pref: CompositorPref) -> Result<crate::vdisplay::Compositor> {
+fn resolve_compositor(
+    pref: CompositorPref,
+    dedicated_launch: bool,
+) -> Result<crate::vdisplay::Compositor> {
     use crate::vdisplay::Compositor;
     // Windows has a single virtual-display backend (SudoVDA); vdisplay::open ignores the compositor
     // arg there, so short-circuit the Linux session-detection state machine with a placeholder.
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
     {
-        let _ = pref;
+        let _ = (pref, dedicated_launch);
         Ok(Compositor::Kwin)
     }
     #[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
     {
+        // A client is (re)connecting → cancel any pending TV-session restore so the box stays in the
+        // streamed session (covers the keep-alive REUSE reconnect, which skips create_managed_session's
+        // own cancel — review #3). No-op when nothing is pending.
+        crate::vdisplay::cancel_pending_tv_restore();
         // Explicit operator override (legacy / CI / forcing a backend for a test) wins and is assumed
         // to come with a hand-set env — don't retarget the process env in that case.
         let overridden = crate::config::config().compositor.is_some();
@@ -2244,6 +2269,10 @@ fn resolve_compositor(pref: CompositorPref) -> Result<crate::vdisplay::Composito
             // every backend (video capture + input) this connect opens against the active session —
             // this is the state machine that lets one host follow a Bazzite box across Gaming↔Desktop.
             let active = crate::vdisplay::detect_active_session();
+            // A4: if the compositor instance changed since the last connect (an idle-time Game↔Desktop
+            // switch), bump the epoch + invalidate the old backend's kept displays so this connect never
+            // reuses a node id from the dead instance.
+            crate::vdisplay::observe_session_instance(&active);
             crate::vdisplay::apply_session_env(&active);
             tracing::info!(
                 active = ?active.kind,
@@ -2252,6 +2281,18 @@ fn resolve_compositor(pref: CompositorPref) -> Result<crate::vdisplay::Composito
             );
             crate::vdisplay::compositor_for_kind(active.kind)
         };
+        // Dedicated game session (design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md B0): a launching session
+        // under `game_session=dedicated` (gamescope confirmed available) forces its OWN headless
+        // gamescope spawn at the client's mode, overriding the detected desktop/game-mode backend. The
+        // env was already retargeted above (for XDG_RUNTIME_DIR / the PipeWire daemon); we just pin the
+        // backend + input to the spawn sub-mode. Skipped under an explicit operator compositor pin.
+        if dedicated_launch && !overridden {
+            crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(Compositor::Gamescope, true);
+            tracing::info!(
+                "dedicated game session — routing to a headless gamescope spawn at the client mode"
+            );
+            return Ok(Compositor::Gamescope);
+        }
         let available = crate::vdisplay::available();
         let chosen = pick_compositor(pref, &available, detected).ok_or_else(|| {
         anyhow!("no usable compositor (no live graphical session for this uid; set PUNKTFUNK_COMPOSITOR or start a desktop/gaming session)")
@@ -2259,7 +2300,7 @@ fn resolve_compositor(pref: CompositorPref) -> Result<crate::vdisplay::Composito
         if !overridden {
             // Point input at the same backend and resolve the gamescope sub-mode (managed where the
             // session infra exists, attach to a foreign gamescope, else per-session bare spawn).
-            crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(chosen);
+            crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(chosen, false);
         }
         let avail_ids: Vec<&str> = available.iter().map(|c| c.id()).collect();
         match Compositor::from_pref(pref) {
@@ -2886,6 +2927,11 @@ fn session_watcher_loop(tx: std::sync::mpsc::Sender<SessionSwitch>, stop: Arc<At
             break;
         }
         let active = vdisplay::detect_active_session();
+        // A4: bump the session epoch + invalidate the old backend the moment the compositor instance
+        // changes (kind change OR same-kind restart) — even for a same-kind restart the watcher won't
+        // signal a full SessionSwitch for. Self-dedupes; the debounced SessionSwitch below still drives
+        // the in-place rebuild.
+        vdisplay::observe_session_instance(&active);
         let cur = active.kind;
         if cur == current {
             pending = None; // back to the current backend before debounce elapsed — no switch
@@ -3049,7 +3095,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
     let _idd_setup_guard = (plan.capture == crate::session_plan::CaptureBackend::IddPush)
         .then(|| crate::vdisplay::manager::vdm().begin_idd_setup(stop.clone()));
-    let (mut capturer, mut enc, mut frame, mut interval) =
+    let (mut capturer, mut enc, mut frame, mut interval, mut cur_node_id) =
         build_pipeline_with_retry(&mut vd, mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth, plan, &quit)?;
     // Setup done — release the IDD-push setup lock so the next reconnect can begin (and preempt us).
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
@@ -3196,8 +3242,11 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                 crate::vdisplay::apply_session_env(&crate::vdisplay::ActiveSession {
                     kind: sw.kind,
                     env: sw.env,
+                    compositor_pid: None,
                 });
-                crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(sw.compositor);
+                // A mid-stream Game↔Desktop switch is not a fresh dedicated launch — route input at the
+                // switched-to backend's normal sub-mode.
+                crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(sw.compositor, false);
                 // Switching INTO a desktop mid-stream: the xdg portal / systemd-user env may still
                 // point at the old session, so input would silently not land until a reconnect.
                 // Settle it (env push + KWin portal restart) before the injector reopens against it.
@@ -3223,13 +3272,14 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                         Ok((new_vd, pipe))
                     })();
                 match rebuilt {
-                    Ok((new_vd, (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval))) => {
+                    Ok((new_vd, (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval, new_node_id))) => {
                         // Replace the pipeline first (drops the old capturer → old PipeWire stream +
                         // virtual output), then the factory (drops e.g. the old KWin connection).
                         capturer = new_cap;
                         enc = new_enc;
                         frame = new_frame;
                         interval = new_interval;
+                        cur_node_id = new_node_id;
                         vd = new_vd;
                         compositor = sw.compositor;
                         next = std::time::Instant::now();
@@ -3264,7 +3314,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
             // healthy session — keep streaming the current mode and log instead.
             match build_pipeline(&mut vd, new_mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth, plan, &quit) {
                 Ok(next_pipe) => {
-                    (capturer, enc, frame, interval) = next_pipe;
+                    (capturer, enc, frame, interval, cur_node_id) = next_pipe;
                     cur_mode = new_mode;
                     next = std::time::Instant::now();
                 }
@@ -3331,6 +3381,27 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
             // bounded retry is exhausted; the consecutive cap stops a flapping source from looping the
             // client through endless cold IDRs.
             Err(e) => {
+                // B2: a DEDICATED gamescope game session whose gamescope node is gone = the game
+                // exited (gamescope is a single-app compositor — it dies with its app). End the session
+                // CLEANLY — close with `APP_EXITED_CLOSE_CODE` so a launcher client returns to its
+                // library instead of surfacing a failure — rather than the capture-loss rebuild + 40 s
+                // timeout. Gated to the dedicated bare-spawn launch (`launch_is_nested`), so a normal
+                // Bazzite/desktop capture loss still rebuilds in place.
+                #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+                if launch.is_some()
+                    && crate::vdisplay::launch_is_nested(compositor)
+                    && crate::vdisplay::dedicated_game_exited(cur_node_id)
+                {
+                    tracing::info!(
+                        "dedicated game session: the game exited — ending the session cleanly"
+                    );
+                    quit.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst); // skip keep-alive linger — the game is gone
+                    conn.close(
+                        punktfunk_core::quic::APP_EXITED_CLOSE_CODE.into(),
+                        b"game exited",
+                    );
+                    break;
+                }
                 capture_rebuilds += 1;
                 if capture_rebuilds > MAX_CAPTURE_REBUILDS {
                     return Err(e).context("capture lost — rebuild attempts exhausted");
@@ -3348,14 +3419,18 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                 // appears — no reconnect.
                 const REBUILD_BUDGET: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(40);
                 let rebuild_deadline = std::time::Instant::now() + REBUILD_BUDGET;
-                let (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval) = loop {
+                let (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval, new_node_id) = loop {
                     // Follow the active session unless an explicit PUNKTFUNK_COMPOSITOR pin forbids
                     // retargeting (then we stick to the pinned backend and just rebuild it).
                     if crate::config::config().compositor.is_none() {
                         let active = crate::vdisplay::detect_active_session();
+                        // A4: fold any compositor-instance change into the epoch/invalidation before we
+                        // rebuild, so the rebuild's acquire won't reuse a dead-instance node.
+                        crate::vdisplay::observe_session_instance(&active);
                         if let Some(c) = crate::vdisplay::compositor_for_kind(active.kind) {
                             crate::vdisplay::apply_session_env(&active);
-                            crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(c);
+                            // Capture-loss rebuild follows the live box session, not a fresh dedicated launch.
+                            crate::vdisplay::apply_input_env(c, false);
                             if c != compositor {
                                 if matches!(
                                     c,
@@ -3402,6 +3477,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                 enc = new_enc;
                 frame = new_frame;
                 interval = new_interval;
+                cur_node_id = new_node_id;
                 enc.request_keyframe(); // belt-and-suspenders; a fresh encoder opens on an IDR anyway
                 next = std::time::Instant::now();
                 tracing::info!(
@@ -3592,6 +3668,10 @@ type Pipeline = (
     Box<dyn crate::encode::Encoder>,
     crate::capture::CapturedFrame,
     std::time::Duration,
+    // The virtual output's PipeWire node id — used by the B2 dedicated game-exit probe to check THIS
+    // session's own node (scoped), not any gamescope node. `0` for backends without a PipeWire node
+    // (Windows IDD-push), which never take the dedicated-gamescope B2 path anyway.
+    u32,
 );
 
 /// Build the pipeline, retrying *transient* failures with bounded exponential backoff.
@@ -3709,6 +3789,14 @@ fn build_pipeline(
     // `quit` flag rides into the lease so a deliberate-quit teardown skips the keep-alive linger.
     let vout = crate::vdisplay::registry::acquire(vd, mode, quit.clone())
         .context("create virtual output")?;
+    // A2: if this was a REUSED kept display and its first frame fails, tear the (dead) pool entry down
+    // so the retry loop's next acquire creates fresh instead of re-wedging on the same corpse. Read the
+    // gen BEFORE `capture_virtual_output` consumes `vout`. (Linux-only — the pool is Linux.)
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    let reused_gen = vout.reused_gen;
+    // The virtual output's PipeWire node id — kept for the B2 dedicated game-exit probe (scoped to
+    // this session's own node). Read before `capture_virtual_output` consumes `vout`.
+    let node_id = vout.node_id;
     // The backend reports the refresh it actually achieved in `preferred_mode.2` (KWin may cap a
     // virtual output at 60 Hz if the custom-mode install was rejected). Pace the encoder + frame
     // clock to that, not the requested rate, so we don't emit phantom duplicate frames over a
@@ -3733,7 +3821,17 @@ fn build_pipeline(
         crate::capture::capture_virtual_output(vout, plan.output_format(), plan.capture)
             .context("capture virtual output")?;
     capturer.set_active(true);
-    let frame = capturer.next_frame().context("first frame")?;
+    let frame = match capturer.next_frame().context("first frame") {
+        Ok(f) => f,
+        Err(e) => {
+            // A reused kept display was dead — invalidate it so the next attempt creates fresh (A2).
+            #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+            if let Some(g) = reused_gen {
+                crate::vdisplay::registry::mark_failed(g);
+            }
+            return Err(e);
+        }
+    };
     // `bit_depth` is the handshake-negotiated value (8, or 10 = HEVC Main10 when the client
     // advertised VIDEO_CAP_10BIT and the host opted in). Threaded down from the Welcome.
     let enc = crate::encode::open_video(
@@ -3760,7 +3858,7 @@ fn build_pipeline(
         );
     }
     let interval = std::time::Duration::from_secs_f64(1.0 / effective_hz.max(1) as f64);
-    Ok((capturer, enc, frame, interval))
+    Ok((capturer, enc, frame, interval, node_id))
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
index 728095be..08813686 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,29 @@ pub use punktfunk_core::Mode;
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 use std::os::fd::OwnedFd;
 
+/// Who owns a [`VirtualOutput`]'s lifecycle — the honest declaration that lets the registry
+/// (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` Part A1) pool **only what it owns** instead of
+/// keeping outputs whose real lifecycle lives elsewhere (the gamescope managed/attach paths, which
+/// are governed by the gamescope module's own session machinery). Extends the CLAUDE.md invariant
+/// "the registry owns display lifecycle" with its converse: what the registry does not own, it must
+/// not pretend to keep.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum DisplayOwnership {
+    /// The registry owns the lifecycle: it may pool, linger, pin, and tear this display down (KWin,
+    /// Mutter, wlroots, gamescope **bare spawn**, and the Windows manager-delegated monitor). The
+    /// default — a backend that says nothing is registry-owned.
+    #[default]
+    Owned,
+    /// Someone else's display, merely mirrored: no keep-alive, no topology, no reuse (gamescope
+    /// **attach** to a foreign session). Codifies the design-doc §7 "attach = unmanaged pass-through"
+    /// row.
+    External,
+    /// A box-level session the gamescope module manages (the managed `gamescope-session-plus` /
+    /// SteamOS takeover). Passed through by the registry (its restore lifecycle is the gamescope
+    /// module's until Part A3 hands the registry a real keepalive + restore duty).
+    SessionManaged,
+}
+
 /// A created virtual output: a PipeWire source to capture, plus an owned keepalive whose drop
 /// tears the output down (releases the compositor-side resource).
 ///
@@ -44,6 +67,41 @@ pub struct VirtualOutput {
     pub win_capture: Option<crate::capture::dxgi::WinCaptureTarget>,
     /// Keeps the output — and whatever connection/thread backs it — alive; dropped on teardown.
     pub keepalive: Box<dyn Send>,
+    /// Who owns this display's lifecycle (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A1). The
+    /// registry pools/keep-alives only [`DisplayOwnership::Owned`] outputs; `External`/`SessionManaged`
+    /// pass through (the capturer holds the keepalive, teardown on drop). Defaults to `Owned`.
+    pub ownership: DisplayOwnership,
+    /// `Some(gen)` when [`registry::acquire`](crate::vdisplay::registry::acquire) handed this back as a
+    /// **reused** kept display (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A2), so the pipeline builder
+    /// can [`registry::mark_failed(gen)`](crate::vdisplay::registry::mark_failed) if the first frame
+    /// fails on it — tearing the corpse down so the retry loop's next acquire creates fresh instead of
+    /// re-wedging on the same dead node. `None` on a fresh create / non-poolable output. Linux-only (the
+    /// keep-alive pool is Linux).
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    pub reused_gen: Option<u64>,
+}
+
+impl VirtualOutput {
+    /// A registry-[owned](DisplayOwnership::Owned) output — the common case (KWin/Mutter/wlroots,
+    /// gamescope bare-spawn, Windows). Fills `ownership: Owned`; the caller sets the platform fields.
+    pub fn owned(
+        node_id: u32,
+        preferred_mode: Option<(u32, u32, u32)>,
+        keepalive: Box<dyn Send>,
+    ) -> VirtualOutput {
+        VirtualOutput {
+            node_id,
+            #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+            remote_fd: None,
+            preferred_mode,
+            #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+            win_capture: None,
+            keepalive,
+            ownership: DisplayOwnership::Owned,
+            #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+            reused_gen: None,
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// Pluggable virtual-output creation, per compositor.
@@ -101,6 +159,110 @@ pub trait VirtualDisplay: Send {
     /// runtime by output name (first-slot-wins + a group-aware disable filter), and single-display
     /// backends never have a sibling.
     fn set_first_in_group(&mut self, _first: bool) {}
+    /// Will a [`create`](Self::create) for the CURRENT request produce a registry-poolable
+    /// ([`DisplayOwnership::Owned`], keep-alive-able) display? The registry consults this **before**
+    /// its keep-alive reuse lookup, so it never hands a kept display of one flavor to a request of
+    /// another — specifically a gamescope managed/attach acquire must not reuse a kept **bare-spawn**
+    /// (they share the backend name `"gamescope"`). Default `true`; only gamescope overrides it,
+    /// returning `false` when the env selects attach/managed (consistent with the `ownership` its
+    /// `create` will report). See `design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A1.
+    fn poolable_now(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+    /// The resolved launch command carried on this backend instance (set via
+    /// [`set_launch_command`](Self::set_launch_command)). The registry reads it to key keep-alive reuse
+    /// on `(backend, mode, launch)` (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A2) — a kept display
+    /// running game A must never be handed to a session that asked to launch game B. Default `None`
+    /// (backends that never nest a command); only gamescope reports its `cmd`.
+    fn launch_command(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        None
+    }
+    /// Is the kept display's `node_id` still live, checked **before** the registry REUSES it on a
+    /// reconnect (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A2)? A `false` tells the registry to tear
+    /// the dead entry down and create fresh instead of handing back a corpse (which would then fail
+    /// capture and burn a retry). Default `true` (honest optimism — the [`mark_failed`] path is the
+    /// backstop for a display that dies between this check and first frame). Only gamescope overrides
+    /// it (its nested session dies when the game exits, independently of any compositor); KWin/Mutter
+    /// nodes die only with their compositor, which the session-epoch invalidation (A4) already reaps.
+    ///
+    /// [`mark_failed`]: crate::vdisplay::registry::mark_failed
+    fn kept_display_alive(&mut self, _node_id: u32) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
+}
+
+/// The **session epoch** — bumped whenever session detection observes a different compositor
+/// *instance*: an [`ActiveKind`] change, **or** a new compositor PID for the same kind (the
+/// Desktop→Game→Desktop bounce that brings up a fresh KWin/gamescope with an unrelated node-id space).
+/// Pooled displays stamp the epoch at creation; the registry only reuses an entry whose epoch still
+/// matches, and its linger timer reaps entries from dead epochs — so a switch can never hand back a
+/// node id that now means nothing (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A4).
+static SESSION_EPOCH: std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64 = std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64::new(1);
+
+/// The current [session epoch](SESSION_EPOCH). Read by the registry at acquire (to stamp new entries
+/// and gate reuse) and by its linger timer (to reap dead-epoch zombies).
+pub fn session_epoch() -> u64 {
+    SESSION_EPOCH.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed)
+}
+
+/// Bump the [session epoch](SESSION_EPOCH) — call when session detection sees a new compositor
+/// instance (kind change, or same-kind new PID). Returns the new value.
+pub fn bump_session_epoch() -> u64 {
+    SESSION_EPOCH.fetch_add(1, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed) + 1
+}
+
+/// The last-observed compositor instance `(kind, pid)`, so [`observe_session_instance`] can tell a
+/// genuine instance change from a stable re-detect.
+static LAST_INSTANCE: std::sync::Mutex<Option<(ActiveKind, Option<u32>)>> =
+    std::sync::Mutex::new(None);
+
+/// Observe the freshly-[detected](detect_active_session) live session and, if the compositor
+/// *instance* changed since the last observation — a different [`ActiveKind`], **or** the same kind
+/// with a new PID (a compositor restart / Desktop→Game→Desktop bounce) — bump the [session
+/// epoch](SESSION_EPOCH) and [invalidate](registry::invalidate_backend) the previous backend's kept
+/// displays, so a reconnect can never reuse a node id from the dead instance (A4). Idempotent per
+/// instance; the first observation just records the baseline. Cheap on the steady state (one mutex
+/// read); the registry lock is taken only on an actual change. Call from every site that detects the
+/// session (the per-connect resolve, the mid-stream watcher, the capture-loss re-detect).
+pub fn observe_session_instance(active: &ActiveSession) {
+    let cur = (active.kind, active.compositor_pid);
+    let mut last = LAST_INSTANCE.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+    if let Some(prev) = *last {
+        // Only a **desktop** compositor (KWin / Mutter / wlroots) instance change bumps the epoch +
+        // invalidates its kept displays — its PipeWire node dies with the compositor. A **gamescope**
+        // session (`ActiveKind::Gaming`) is NOT the epoch's subject: the box's game-mode / managed
+        // gamescope isn't pooled, and dedicated **spawns** are independent nested sessions whose nodes
+        // outlive any active-session change. So a game-mode gamescope restart, a Gaming↔Gaming winning-PID
+        // flap (e.g. B1 stopping the autologin before a dedicated spawn), or a coexisting-gamescope set
+        // change must NOT bump/invalidate — that would tear down a live/kept dedicated session (review
+        // findings #6/#7/#10). Gate the whole action on a desktop kind being involved.
+        if prev != cur && (is_desktop_kind(prev.0) || is_desktop_kind(cur.0)) {
+            // Invalidate only the OLD backend, and only if it was a desktop compositor (never gamescope).
+            if is_desktop_kind(prev.0) {
+                if let Some(old) = compositor_for_kind(prev.0) {
+                    registry::invalidate_backend(old.id());
+                }
+            }
+            let epoch = bump_session_epoch();
+            tracing::info!(
+                from = ?prev.0,
+                to = ?cur.0,
+                epoch,
+                "desktop compositor instance changed — session epoch bumped"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+    *last = Some(cur);
+}
+
+/// Is `kind` a **desktop** compositor (KWin / Mutter / wlroots) — one whose kept PipeWire outputs die
+/// with the compositor instance, so the session epoch tracks it? `Gaming` (gamescope) and `None` are
+/// not (gamescope spawns are independent nested sessions — see [`observe_session_instance`]).
+fn is_desktop_kind(kind: ActiveKind) -> bool {
+    matches!(
+        kind,
+        ActiveKind::DesktopKde | ActiveKind::DesktopGnome | ActiveKind::DesktopWlroots
+    )
 }
 
 /// Compositors punktfunk knows how to drive (plan §6).
@@ -241,6 +403,10 @@ pub struct SessionEnv {
 pub struct ActiveSession {
     pub kind: ActiveKind,
     pub env: SessionEnv,
+    /// PID of the winning compositor process (`None` when nothing live). The session watcher compares
+    /// it across polls so a **same-kind** compositor restart (Desktop→Game→Desktop) bumps the session
+    /// epoch — a fresh instance's node-id space is unrelated to the old one's (A4).
+    pub compositor_pid: Option<u32>,
 }
 
 impl ActiveSession {
@@ -253,6 +419,7 @@ impl ActiveSession {
                 dbus_session_bus_address: default_bus(&default_runtime_dir()),
                 ..Default::default()
             },
+            compositor_pid: None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -304,6 +471,9 @@ pub fn detect_active_session() -> ActiveSession {
     // `pkill -x` discipline (exact, ≤15 chars so untruncated).
     let mut kind = ActiveKind::None;
     let mut best = 0u8;
+    // The winning compositor's PID — kept so a same-kind compositor RESTART (a new PID) bumps the
+    // session epoch (A4), not just a kind change.
+    let mut winning_pid: Option<u32> = None;
     if let Ok(entries) = std::fs::read_dir("/proc") {
         for e in entries.flatten() {
             let name = e.file_name();
@@ -328,9 +498,22 @@ pub fn detect_active_session() -> ActiveSession {
                 "sway" | "Hyprland" | "hyprland" | "river" => (ActiveKind::DesktopWlroots, 4),
                 _ => continue,
             };
+            let pid = name.parse::<u32>().ok();
             if prio > best {
                 best = prio;
                 kind = k;
+                winning_pid = pid;
+            } else if prio == best {
+                // Deterministic tie-break among same-top-priority processes: keep the LOWEST pid, so a
+                // duplicate same-kind compositor (two `kwin_wayland`) can't make `winning_pid` flap with
+                // `/proc` enumeration order — which `observe_session_instance` would misread as a
+                // compositor restart and tear a live display down (re-review low-severity note).
+                if let (Some(p), Some(w)) = (pid, winning_pid) {
+                    if p < w {
+                        kind = k;
+                        winning_pid = Some(p);
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -358,6 +541,7 @@ pub fn detect_active_session() -> ActiveSession {
             dbus_session_bus_address: dbus,
             xdg_current_desktop,
         },
+        compositor_pid: winning_pid,
     }
 }
 
@@ -518,6 +702,7 @@ pub enum GamescopeMode {
 /// default is a per-session bare spawn — the path that nests the client's launch command.
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 fn pick_gamescope_mode(
+    dedicated_launch: bool,
     force_managed: bool,
     attach_env: bool,
     node_env: bool,
@@ -529,6 +714,11 @@ fn pick_gamescope_mode(
         GamescopeMode::Managed
     } else if attach_env || node_env {
         GamescopeMode::Attach
+    } else if dedicated_launch {
+        // A dedicated game session always spawns its own headless gamescope at the client's mode,
+        // nesting just the game — outranking managed-infra / foreign-attach, but not the explicit
+        // operator MANAGED/ATTACH/NODE overrides above (debug/CI). (design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md §5.3)
+        GamescopeMode::Spawn
     } else if session_env || managed_infra {
         GamescopeMode::Managed
     } else if foreign_gamescope {
@@ -548,7 +738,7 @@ fn pick_gamescope_mode(
 /// nesting the session's launch command — the plain-distro default). `PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_MANAGED`
 /// forces managed over all of it.
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
-pub fn apply_input_env(chosen: Compositor) {
+pub fn apply_input_env(chosen: Compositor, dedicated_launch: bool) {
     let _env_guard = ENV_LOCK.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
     let backend = match chosen {
         Compositor::Gamescope => "gamescope",
@@ -562,6 +752,7 @@ pub fn apply_input_env(chosen: Compositor) {
     std::env::set_var("PUNKTFUNK_INPUT_BACKEND", backend);
     if chosen == Compositor::Gamescope {
         let mode = pick_gamescope_mode(
+            dedicated_launch,
             std::env::var_os("PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_MANAGED").is_some(),
             std::env::var_os("PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_ATTACH").is_some(),
             std::env::var_os("PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_NODE").is_some(),
@@ -593,7 +784,34 @@ pub fn apply_input_env(chosen: Compositor) {
     }
 }
 #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
-pub fn apply_input_env(_chosen: Compositor) {}
+pub fn apply_input_env(_chosen: Compositor, _dedicated_launch: bool) {}
+
+/// Should a game-launching session get a **dedicated** headless gamescope (`game_session=dedicated`
+/// policy, `design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` B0)? True only when the session carries a
+/// launch, the policy selects `dedicated`, AND gamescope is actually available (else it degrades to
+/// `auto` honestly). Computed at the handshake and threaded into [`apply_input_env`] /
+/// [`resolve_compositor`] as a value (no new env knob — the `ENV_LOCK` discipline).
+pub fn wants_dedicated_game_session(has_launch: bool) -> bool {
+    use policy::GameSession;
+    if !has_launch || policy::prefs().game_session() != GameSession::Dedicated {
+        return false;
+    }
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    {
+        if gamescope::is_available() {
+            true
+        } else {
+            tracing::info!(
+                "game_session=dedicated but gamescope is unavailable — falling back to auto routing"
+            );
+            false
+        }
+    }
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+    {
+        false // Windows: a launching session opens into the one desktop (no gamescope)
+    }
+}
 
 /// Will `vd.create` on this backend NEST the session's launch command itself (gamescope's bare
 /// spawn runs it inside the new gamescope)? When true the session must NOT also spawn the command
@@ -616,6 +834,27 @@ pub fn launch_into_gamescope_session(cmd: &str) -> Result<std::process::Child> {
     gamescope::launch_into_session(cmd)
 }
 
+/// B2: has a **dedicated** gamescope game session's game exited (its `node_id` doesn't reappear within a
+/// short window after capture loss)? The dedicated-spawn session ends cleanly on `true` instead of the
+/// capture-loss rebuild. Scoped to the session's OWN node so a coexisting gamescope doesn't mask the
+/// exit (review #4/#8). Always `false` off Linux.
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+pub fn dedicated_game_exited(node_id: u32) -> bool {
+    gamescope::game_session_exited(node_id)
+}
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+pub fn dedicated_game_exited(_node_id: u32) -> bool {
+    false
+}
+
+/// Cancel any pending TV-session restore because a client (re)connected (review #3). No-op off Linux.
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+pub fn cancel_pending_tv_restore() {
+    gamescope::cancel_pending_restore();
+}
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+pub fn cancel_pending_tv_restore() {}
+
 /// Detect the compositor to drive: explicit `PUNKTFUNK_COMPOSITOR` override (legacy / CI / forcing
 /// a backend for a test), else the **live session** ([`detect_active_session`] — so a Bazzite box
 /// follows Gaming↔Desktop switches), else a last-resort `XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP` read.
@@ -750,6 +989,16 @@ pub fn start_restore_worker() -> std::sync::Arc<()> {
     std::sync::Arc::new(())
 }
 
+/// Recover a stranded TV takeover from a crashed previous host instance
+/// (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A3). Call once at `serve` startup, alongside
+/// [`start_restore_worker`]. No-op when no takeover was persisted (a clean start).
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+pub fn restore_takeover_on_startup() {
+    gamescope::restore_takeover_on_startup();
+}
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+pub fn restore_takeover_on_startup() {}
+
 // The user-configurable management policy (keep-alive / topology / conflict / identity / layout),
 // layered above the per-compositor backends — platform-neutral (the mgmt API + both host paths read
 // it), so no cfg gate. See `design/display-management.md`.
@@ -878,21 +1127,33 @@ mod tests {
     fn gamescope_mode_ladder() {
         use GamescopeMode::*;
         let pick = pick_gamescope_mode;
-        // (force_managed, attach_env, node_env, session_env, managed_infra, foreign_gamescope)
+        // (dedicated_launch, force_managed, attach_env, node_env, session_env, managed_infra, foreign_gamescope)
         // Plain distro, nothing running: bare spawn — the path that nests the launch command.
-        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, false, false, false), Spawn);
+        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, false, false, false, false), Spawn);
         // Bazzite/SteamOS (session infra present): managed, as validated live.
-        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, false, true, false), Managed);
-        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, false, true, true), Managed);
+        assert_eq!(
+            pick(false, false, false, false, false, true, false),
+            Managed
+        );
+        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, false, false, true, true), Managed);
         // Foreign gamescope on an infra-less box: attach and mirror it.
-        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, false, false, true), Attach);
+        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, false, false, false, true), Attach);
         // Operator-set PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_SESSION keeps managed even without detected infra.
-        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, true, false, false), Managed);
+        assert_eq!(
+            pick(false, false, false, false, true, false, false),
+            Managed
+        );
         // Explicit attach/node wins over infra…
-        assert_eq!(pick(false, true, false, false, true, false), Attach);
-        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, true, true, true, false), Attach);
+        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, true, false, false, true, false), Attach);
+        assert_eq!(pick(false, false, false, true, true, true, false), Attach);
         // …and force-managed wins over everything.
-        assert_eq!(pick(true, true, true, false, false, false), Managed);
+        assert_eq!(pick(false, true, true, true, false, false, false), Managed);
+        // A dedicated launch forces Spawn, outranking managed-infra + foreign-attach…
+        assert_eq!(pick(true, false, false, false, false, true, true), Spawn);
+        // …but the explicit operator overrides still win over dedicated.
+        assert_eq!(pick(true, true, false, false, false, true, false), Managed);
+        assert_eq!(pick(true, false, true, false, false, false, false), Attach);
+        assert_eq!(pick(true, false, false, true, false, false, false), Attach);
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
index 98804521..952effbb 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 //! Input uses gamescope's own libei/EIS socket (`LIBEI_SOCKET`), relayed to the libei backend (see
 //! `inject/libei.rs`) — wired and live-validated.
 
-use super::{Mode, VirtualDisplay, VirtualOutput};
+use super::{DisplayOwnership, Mode, VirtualDisplay, VirtualOutput};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
 use std::process::{Child, Command, Stdio};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
@@ -62,6 +62,18 @@ static PENDING_RESTORE: std::sync::Mutex<Option<Instant>> = std::sync::Mutex::ne
 /// instead of triggering a stop/relaunch.
 const RESTORE_DEBOUNCE: Duration = Duration::from_secs(5);
 
+/// Per-spawn instance counter (A5): each bare-spawn gets a unique id addressing its own log so two
+/// coexisting gamescopes (a kept lingering spawn + a fresh one) never parse each other's node id.
+static SPAWN_SEQ: std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64 = std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64::new(1);
+
+/// This spawn instance's log path, under `$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR` (per-user, tmpfs; falls back to `/tmp`
+/// only if unset). Replaces the shared `/tmp/punktfunk-gamescope.log` so concurrent spawns don't
+/// clobber each other's `stream available on node ID:` line.
+fn spawn_log_path(inst: u64) -> std::path::PathBuf {
+    let base = std::env::var("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR").unwrap_or_else(|_| "/tmp".to_string());
+    std::path::Path::new(&base).join(format!("punktfunk-gamescope-{inst}.log"))
+}
+
 /// systemd --user transient unit name for the host-managed gamescope-session-plus session.
 const SESSION_UNIT: &str = "punktfunk-gamescope";
 /// The gamescope-session-plus launcher script (Bazzite / SteamOS-like hosts).
@@ -82,6 +94,80 @@ const STEAMOS_SESSION_TARGET: &str = "gamescope-session.target";
 /// restart the physical session.
 static STEAMOS_TOOK_OVER: std::sync::Mutex<bool> = std::sync::Mutex::new(false);
 
+/// Persisted takeover state (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A3): the takeover mechanics
+/// ([`STOPPED_AUTOLOGIN`] / [`STEAMOS_TOOK_OVER`]) are process memory, so a host **crash** mid-stream
+/// would strand the box out of gaming mode with no restore. Mirroring the statics to a file lets
+/// [`restore_takeover_on_startup`] put the TV back after a restart.
+#[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Default)]
+struct TakeoverState {
+    /// Autologin `gamescope-session-plus@*.service` units we stopped (to restart on restore).
+    stopped_autologin: Vec<String>,
+    /// Whether we took over SteamOS's `gamescope-session.target` (restore = remove drop-in + restart).
+    steamos: bool,
+}
+
+/// Path of the persisted [`TakeoverState`], under `$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR` (per-user, 0700, tmpfs — cleared
+/// on reboot, which is correct: a reboot restarts the autologin itself).
+fn takeover_state_path() -> std::path::PathBuf {
+    let base = std::env::var("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR").unwrap_or_else(|_| "/tmp".to_string());
+    std::path::Path::new(&base).join("punktfunk-session-takeover.json")
+}
+
+/// Persist the current takeover mechanics so a host crash doesn't strand the box out of gaming mode.
+/// Best-effort (a write failure just loses crash-restore, not correctness).
+fn persist_takeover() {
+    let state = TakeoverState {
+        stopped_autologin: STOPPED_AUTOLOGIN
+            .lock()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+            .clone(),
+        steamos: *STEAMOS_TOOK_OVER.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()),
+    };
+    if state.stopped_autologin.is_empty() && !state.steamos {
+        clear_takeover();
+        return;
+    }
+    if let Ok(bytes) = serde_json::to_vec(&state) {
+        let _ = std::fs::write(takeover_state_path(), bytes);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Remove the persisted takeover file (after a completed restore, or when there's nothing to restore).
+fn clear_takeover() {
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_file(takeover_state_path());
+}
+
+/// On host startup, restore the TV's gaming session if a previous host instance took it over and
+/// crashed before restoring (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A3). Loads the persisted
+/// [`TakeoverState`] into the statics and schedules a restore after a short reconnect grace (so a
+/// client reconnecting right after the restart keeps the streamed session instead of bouncing the
+/// box back to gaming mode). No-op when no takeover file exists (a clean start). Call once from
+/// `serve` alongside [`start_restore_worker`].
+pub fn restore_takeover_on_startup() {
+    let Ok(bytes) = std::fs::read(takeover_state_path()) else {
+        return; // no takeover file — clean start
+    };
+    let Ok(state) = serde_json::from_slice::<TakeoverState>(&bytes) else {
+        clear_takeover();
+        return;
+    };
+    if state.stopped_autologin.is_empty() && !state.steamos {
+        clear_takeover();
+        return;
+    }
+    tracing::warn!(
+        units = ?state.stopped_autologin,
+        steamos = state.steamos,
+        "gamescope: found a stranded takeover from a previous host instance — scheduling TV restore"
+    );
+    *STOPPED_AUTOLOGIN.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = state.stopped_autologin;
+    *STEAMOS_TOOK_OVER.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = state.steamos;
+    // A generous grace so a client reconnecting right after the restart cancels it (create_managed_session
+    // clears PENDING_RESTORE) and keeps the streamed session rather than bouncing to gaming mode.
+    *PENDING_RESTORE.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) =
+        Some(Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(15));
+}
+
 impl GamescopeDisplay {
     pub fn new() -> Result<Self> {
         Ok(GamescopeDisplay::default())
@@ -97,6 +183,32 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for GamescopeDisplay {
         self.cmd = cmd;
     }
 
+    fn poolable_now(&self) -> bool {
+        // Only a bare SPAWN is registry-poolable (its `create` reports `Owned`); managed
+        // (`PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_SESSION`) and attach (`PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_NODE`) report
+        // `SessionManaged`/`External`, so the registry must not reuse a kept spawn for them (same
+        // backend name). Mirrors [`crate::vdisplay::launch_is_nested`]; read under the env lock the
+        // sub-mode ladder writes these keys under.
+        crate::vdisplay::with_env_lock(|| {
+            std::env::var_os("PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_SESSION").is_none()
+                && std::env::var_os("PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_NODE").is_none()
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn launch_command(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        // The registry keys keep-alive reuse on (backend, mode, launch): a kept bare-spawn running
+        // game A must never be reused for a session launching game B (A2).
+        self.cmd.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn kept_display_alive(&mut self, node_id: u32) -> bool {
+        // The nested gamescope dies when its game exits (independently of any compositor), leaving a
+        // dead pooled node. Before the registry reuses that node on a reconnect, confirm it still
+        // exists on the daemon; a `false` makes the registry recreate instead of handing back a corpse
+        // (which would then burn a ~10 s first-frame retry before `mark_failed` recovered it).
+        gamescope_node_present(node_id)
+    }
+
     fn create(&mut self, mode: Mode) -> Result<VirtualOutput> {
         // Host-managed gamescope-session-plus at the CLIENT's mode (the Bazzite path): launch the
         // full Steam-Deck-UI session headless at the client's resolution + refresh — so games SEE
@@ -121,26 +233,51 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for GamescopeDisplay {
             };
             point_injector_at_eis();
             tracing::info!(node_id, "gamescope: attaching to existing PipeWire node");
+            // ATTACH = mirror a foreign gamescope we don't own → External (no keep-alive/reuse).
             return Ok(VirtualOutput {
                 node_id,
                 remote_fd: None,
                 preferred_mode: Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
                 keepalive: Box::new(()),
+                ownership: DisplayOwnership::External,
+                reused_gen: None,
             });
         }
         check_gamescope_version(); // diagnostic only — warns on known-deadlock-prone versions
-        let proc = GamescopeProc(spawn(
+                                   // B1: a dedicated STEAM launch needs Steam's single instance free. If the box autologged into
+                                   // game mode (Bazzite) its Steam holds the instance, and a nested second Steam would see the
+                                   // first and exit (crashing the spawn) — so free the autologin session first. Its restore is the
+                                   // A3 takeover machinery (recorded in STOPPED_AUTOLOGIN + persisted; restarted on session end via
+                                   // schedule_restore_tv_session). Non-Steam launches don't conflict, so they skip this.
+        if self.cmd.as_deref().is_some_and(is_steam_launch) {
+            stop_autologin_sessions();
+        }
+        // A5: a per-spawn instance id addresses this spawn's log + node discovery, so two coexisting
+        // bare-spawns (a kept lingering one + a fresh one) never parse each other's node id from a
+        // shared log. The nested-command's LIBEI relay stays on the global path (per-instance input
+        // isolation is `design/gamescope-multiuser.md` scope, not addressed here).
+        let inst = SPAWN_SEQ.fetch_add(1, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
+        let log = spawn_log_path(inst);
+        let child = spawn(
             mode.width,
             mode.height,
             mode.refresh_hz.max(1),
             self.cmd.as_deref(),
-        )?);
+            &log,
+        )?;
+        let child_pid = child.id();
+        let proc = GamescopeProc {
+            child,
+            log: log.clone(),
+        };
         // gamescope creates its PipeWire node a moment after start; poll for it (the proc is held
-        // alive meanwhile, and killed if we give up).
-        let node_id = wait_for_node(Duration::from_secs(15)).ok_or_else(|| {
+        // alive meanwhile, and killed if we give up). Discovery reads THIS spawn's log, and the
+        // fallback is scoped to this spawn's process tree.
+        let node_id = wait_for_node(Duration::from_secs(15), &log, child_pid).ok_or_else(|| {
             anyhow!(
                 "gamescope PipeWire node did not appear within 15s — gamescope may have failed to \
-                 start or headless capture is unsupported on this GPU/driver (see /tmp/punktfunk-gamescope.log)"
+                 start or headless capture is unsupported on this GPU/driver (see {})",
+                log.display()
             )
         })?;
         tracing::info!(
@@ -150,12 +287,12 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for GamescopeDisplay {
             hz = mode.refresh_hz,
             "gamescope virtual output ready"
         );
-        Ok(VirtualOutput {
+        // Bare SPAWN: we own the nested gamescope process → registry-poolable (keep-alive-able).
+        Ok(VirtualOutput::owned(
             node_id,
-            remote_fd: None,
-            preferred_mode: Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
-            keepalive: Box::new(proc),
-        })
+            Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
+            Box::new(proc),
+        ))
     }
 }
 
@@ -192,12 +329,7 @@ fn create_managed_session(client: &str, mode: Mode) -> Result<VirtualOutput> {
                 hz = mode.refresh_hz,
                 "gamescope session: reusing the running session (same mode — no Steam restart)"
             );
-            return Ok(VirtualOutput {
-                node_id,
-                remote_fd: None,
-                preferred_mode: Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
-                keepalive: Box::new(()),
-            });
+            return Ok(managed_output(node_id, mode));
         }
         tracing::warn!("gamescope session: tracked session has no live node — relaunching");
         *guard = None;
@@ -218,12 +350,23 @@ fn create_managed_session(client: &str, mode: Mode) -> Result<VirtualOutput> {
         hz = mode.refresh_hz,
         "gamescope session: launched gamescope-session-plus at the client's mode"
     );
-    Ok(VirtualOutput {
+    Ok(managed_output(node_id, mode))
+}
+
+/// The [`VirtualOutput`] for a managed / SteamOS-takeover session: a box-level session whose restore
+/// lifecycle is (at Part A1) the gamescope module's own machinery (`schedule_restore_tv_session`), so
+/// it is [`DisplayOwnership::SessionManaged`] — the registry passes it through (no pooling), and the
+/// capturer's unit keepalive tears nothing down on drop. (Part A3 replaces the unit keepalive with a
+/// real `ManagedSessionHandle` and flips this to `Owned`.)
+fn managed_output(node_id: u32, mode: Mode) -> VirtualOutput {
+    VirtualOutput {
         node_id,
         remote_fd: None,
         preferred_mode: Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
         keepalive: Box::new(()),
-    })
+        ownership: DisplayOwnership::SessionManaged,
+        reused_gen: None,
+    }
 }
 
 /// SteamOS detection: its session launcher is present and Bazzite's session-plus is NOT (so the
@@ -483,12 +626,7 @@ fn create_managed_session_steamos(mode: Mode) -> Result<VirtualOutput> {
                 hz = mode.refresh_hz,
                 "gamescope (SteamOS): reusing the headless session (same mode — no Steam restart)"
             );
-            return Ok(VirtualOutput {
-                node_id,
-                remote_fd: None,
-                preferred_mode: Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
-                keepalive: Box::new(()),
-            });
+            return Ok(managed_output(node_id, mode));
         }
         *guard = None; // tracked session lost its node — fall through to a clean restart
     }
@@ -497,9 +635,11 @@ fn create_managed_session_steamos(mode: Mode) -> Result<VirtualOutput> {
     systemctl_user(&["daemon-reload"]);
     systemctl_user(&["restart", STEAMOS_SESSION_TARGET]);
     *STEAMOS_TOOK_OVER.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = true;
-    // gamescope's node appears within a few seconds of the restart; Steam's first FRAME is slower
-    // (Big Picture cold start) and is awaited by the caller's first-frame retry loop.
-    let node_id = wait_for_node(Duration::from_secs(30)).ok_or_else(|| {
+    persist_takeover(); // A3: survive a host crash mid-stream
+                        // gamescope's node appears within a few seconds of the restart; Steam's first FRAME is slower
+                        // (Big Picture cold start) and is awaited by the caller's first-frame retry loop. The managed
+                        // session logs to journald (not a per-spawn file), so poll `find_gamescope_node` directly.
+    let node_id = poll_managed_node(Duration::from_secs(30)).ok_or_else(|| {
         anyhow!(
             "SteamOS headless gamescope node did not appear within 30s after restarting \
              {STEAMOS_SESSION_TARGET} — check `journalctl --user -u gamescope-session.service`"
@@ -518,12 +658,7 @@ fn create_managed_session_steamos(mode: Mode) -> Result<VirtualOutput> {
         hz = mode.refresh_hz,
         "gamescope (SteamOS): took over gamescope-session.target headless at the client's mode"
     );
-    Ok(VirtualOutput {
-        node_id,
-        remote_fd: None,
-        preferred_mode: Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
-        keepalive: Box::new(()),
-    })
+    Ok(managed_output(node_id, mode))
 }
 
 /// ATTACH at the CLIENT's resolution: ensure the box's own game-mode session is running at `mode`'s
@@ -670,11 +805,31 @@ fn running_autologin_gamescope_unit() -> Option<String> {
         .map(|u| u.to_string())
 }
 
+/// Tear a gamescope `systemd --user` unit down with **SIGKILL** rather than the default SIGTERM stop
+/// (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A3 / `session-aware-host-followups.md` #1): the
+/// hypothesis — validated as the fix on the F44 repro box `.181` — is that gamescope's SIGTERM
+/// teardown handler (the one that SIGSEGVs, exit 139) LEAKS the NVIDIA GPU context, after which every
+/// subsequent gamescope fails `vkCreateDevice` with `VK_ERROR_INITIALIZATION_FAILED` (-3) until a
+/// reboot. SIGKILL skips that handler so the driver reclaims the context cleanly via normal process
+/// exit. Follow with `stop` + `reset-failed` to clear the unit's state so a relaunch is clean.
+fn kill_unit(unit: &str) {
+    let _ = Command::new("systemctl")
+        .args(["--user", "kill", "--signal=SIGKILL", unit])
+        .status();
+    let _ = Command::new("systemctl")
+        .args(["--user", "stop", unit])
+        .status();
+    let _ = Command::new("systemctl")
+        .args(["--user", "reset-failed", unit])
+        .status();
+}
+
 /// Stop every running autologin gaming-mode session (`gamescope-session-plus@*.service`) so its
 /// single-instance Steam is free for our own host-managed session. Records the units so
 /// [`schedule_restore_tv_session`] can restart them on disconnect. Our own session is the transient
 /// `punktfunk-gamescope` unit (not a `@`-instance), so it's never matched here. No-op when nothing
-/// is autologged in (e.g. a box that boots headless).
+/// is autologged in (e.g. a box that boots headless). Uses the **SIGKILL** teardown ([`kill_unit`])
+/// to avoid the F44 GPU-context leak that the autologin's SIGTERM stop triggers.
 fn stop_autologin_sessions() {
     let Ok(out) = Command::new("systemctl")
         .args([
@@ -694,12 +849,10 @@ fn stop_autologin_sessions() {
     for line in String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout).lines() {
         if let Some(unit) = line.split_whitespace().next() {
             if unit.starts_with("gamescope-session-plus@") && unit.ends_with(".service") {
-                let _ = Command::new("systemctl")
-                    .args(["--user", "stop", unit])
-                    .status();
+                kill_unit(unit); // SIGKILL teardown — avoid the F44 GPU-context leak
                 tracing::info!(
                     unit,
-                    "freed Steam: stopped the autologin gaming session for this stream"
+                    "freed Steam: SIGKILL-stopped the autologin gaming session for this stream"
                 );
                 stopped.push(unit.to_string());
             }
@@ -707,15 +860,57 @@ fn stop_autologin_sessions() {
     }
     if !stopped.is_empty() {
         *STOPPED_AUTOLOGIN.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = stopped;
+        persist_takeover(); // A3: survive a host crash mid-stream
     }
 }
 
-/// Client disconnected: **schedule** a debounced restore of the TV's autologin gaming session(s) we
-/// stopped on connect — the actual restore fires [`RESTORE_DEBOUNCE`] later (via [`start_restore_worker`])
-/// unless a client reconnects first, which cancels it and reuses the warm managed session. Debouncing
-/// means at most one gamescope stop/relaunch per quiet period instead of one per disconnect — the
-/// per-connect churn is what leaked GPU context on F44. No-op when nothing was stolen (non-Bazzite /
-/// headless box). Idempotent / safe to call on every session end.
+/// Cancel any pending TV-session restore — a client has (re)connected, so the box must stay in the
+/// streamed session, not bounce back to gaming mode. This covers the **keep-alive reuse** reconnect
+/// path (a kept dedicated / managed gamescope), which never calls `create_managed_session` (where the
+/// managed path already clears `PENDING_RESTORE`) — so without this, a dedicated Steam reconnect within
+/// the linger window would restart the autologin *underneath* the live session (review finding #3).
+/// Called from the connect path (native `resolve_compositor`, GameStream `open_gs_virtual_source`).
+/// No-op when nothing is pending; the stopped-unit list stays armed for a later real disconnect.
+pub fn cancel_pending_restore() {
+    let mut g = PENDING_RESTORE.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+    if g.is_some() {
+        *g = None;
+        tracing::info!(
+            "gamescope: client (re)connected — cancelled the pending TV-session restore"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+/// The delay before restoring the TV's autologin session after the last client disconnects — the
+/// display-management **keep-alive policy**, replacing the hardcoded [`RESTORE_DEBOUNCE`]
+/// (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A3). The managed gamescope session is a single
+/// box-level singleton (not a registry pool entry — A1), so its keep-alive lives here rather than in
+/// the registry, but reads the same policy the pooled backends do:
+///   * `off` → restore immediately (0 s);
+///   * `duration(s)` → restore after `s`;
+///   * `forever` → **`None`**: never auto-restore — the managed session is HELD until host stop or a
+///     manual return to gaming mode (the `gaming-rig` "the TV model" story, now truthful on gamescope);
+///   * unconfigured → the historical 5 s [`RESTORE_DEBOUNCE`] (bit-for-bit today's behavior).
+fn restore_delay() -> Option<Duration> {
+    use crate::vdisplay::policy::{self, Linger};
+    match policy::prefs()
+        .configured_effective()
+        .map(|e| e.keep_alive.linger())
+    {
+        Some(Linger::Immediate) => Some(Duration::from_secs(0)),
+        Some(Linger::For(d)) => Some(d),
+        Some(Linger::Forever) => None,
+        None => Some(RESTORE_DEBOUNCE),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Client disconnected: **schedule** a policy-timed restore of the TV's autologin gaming session(s) we
+/// stopped on connect ([`restore_delay`], via [`start_restore_worker`]) — unless a client reconnects
+/// first, which cancels it and reuses the warm managed session. Debouncing means at most one gamescope
+/// stop/relaunch per quiet period instead of one per disconnect — the per-connect churn is what leaked
+/// GPU context on F44. Under `keep_alive=forever` ([`restore_delay`] `None`) NO restore is scheduled:
+/// the managed session is pinned (gaming-rig). No-op when nothing was stolen (non-Bazzite / headless
+/// box). Idempotent / safe to call on every session end.
 pub fn schedule_restore_tv_session() {
     let nothing_to_restore = STOPPED_AUTOLOGIN
         .lock()
@@ -725,12 +920,24 @@ pub fn schedule_restore_tv_session() {
     if nothing_to_restore {
         return; // nothing was taken over → nothing to restore (also the non-managed path)
     }
-    *PENDING_RESTORE.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) =
-        Some(Instant::now() + RESTORE_DEBOUNCE);
-    tracing::info!(
-        secs = RESTORE_DEBOUNCE.as_secs(),
-        "gamescope: scheduled debounced TV-session restore (cancelled if a client reconnects)"
-    );
+    match restore_delay() {
+        None => {
+            // keep_alive=forever → pin the managed session; leave PENDING_RESTORE unset.
+            *PENDING_RESTORE.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = None;
+            tracing::info!(
+                "gamescope: keep-alive=forever — managed session held (no TV-restore scheduled; \
+                 return to gaming mode or restart the host to free it)"
+            );
+        }
+        Some(delay) => {
+            *PENDING_RESTORE.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) =
+                Some(Instant::now() + delay);
+            tracing::info!(
+                secs = delay.as_secs(),
+                "gamescope: scheduled TV-session restore (keep-alive policy; cancelled on reconnect)"
+            );
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// Tear down our host-managed session (freeing Steam) and restart the autologin gaming session(s)
@@ -745,6 +952,7 @@ fn do_restore_tv_session() {
         let mut took = STEAMOS_TOOK_OVER.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
         if *took {
             *took = false;
+            clear_takeover(); // A3: takeover undone — drop the persisted crash-restore marker
             *MANAGED_SESSION.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = None;
             remove_steamos_dropin();
             systemctl_user(&["daemon-reload"]);
@@ -770,6 +978,7 @@ fn do_restore_tv_session() {
     if units.is_empty() {
         return; // nothing was stolen → nothing to restore (also the non-Bazzite path)
     }
+    clear_takeover(); // A3: takeover consumed — drop the persisted crash-restore marker
     stop_session(SESSION_UNIT); // our gamescope/Steam session, so Steam is free for the autologin
     *MANAGED_SESSION.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = None;
     // Only bring the gaming autologin BACK if the box is still meant to be in gaming mode. If the
@@ -923,12 +1132,10 @@ fn launch_session(client: &str, unit_name: &str, mode: Mode) -> Result<u32> {
     }
 }
 
-/// Stop the host-managed session's transient unit (best-effort) and clear the EIS relay so a dead
-/// session's socket name can't be reconnected.
+/// Stop the host-managed session's transient unit ([`kill_unit`] — SIGKILL teardown to avoid the F44
+/// GPU-context leak) and clear the EIS relay so a dead session's socket name can't be reconnected.
 fn stop_session(unit_name: &str) {
-    let _ = Command::new("systemctl")
-        .args(["--user", "stop", unit_name])
-        .status();
+    kill_unit(unit_name);
     let _ = std::fs::remove_file(ei_socket_file());
 }
 
@@ -949,13 +1156,36 @@ pub fn ei_socket_file() -> std::path::PathBuf {
     }
 }
 
+/// Shape a resolved launch command for a bare-spawn gamescope session. A Steam URI launch
+/// (`steam steam://rungameid/<id>`, produced by `library::command_for`) gets `-silent` inserted so
+/// the game is the gamescope focus with no Steam client window to navigate
+/// (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` §5.3). Operator-typed custom commands and non-Steam
+/// launches are returned unchanged. Idempotent (never double-inserts `-silent`). Pure + unit-tested.
+/// Does this resolved launch command start Steam (`steam … steam://…`)? Such a launch needs Steam's
+/// single instance free before a dedicated spawn (B1). Pure + unit-tested.
+fn is_steam_launch(cmd: &str) -> bool {
+    let mut it = cmd.split_whitespace();
+    it.next() == Some("steam") && cmd.contains("steam://")
+}
+
+fn shape_dedicated_command(app: &str) -> String {
+    let mut it = app.split_whitespace();
+    if it.next() == Some("steam") {
+        let rest: Vec<&str> = it.collect();
+        if !rest.contains(&"-silent") && rest.iter().any(|t| t.starts_with("steam://")) {
+            return format!("steam -silent {}", rest.join(" "));
+        }
+    }
+    app.to_string()
+}
+
 /// Spawn `gamescope --backend headless -W w -H h -r hz -- <app>`. The app comes from
 /// `PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_APP` (default a no-op that just keeps gamescope alive — set it to a real
 /// game/GL app for actual content, e.g. `steam -gamepadui` for the SteamOS-like session).
-/// stdout/stderr go to `/tmp/punktfunk-gamescope.log`. The app is launched through a tiny shell
-/// wrapper that relays gamescope's `LIBEI_SOCKET` (set for its children) to [`ei_socket_file`]
+/// stdout/stderr go to `log` (this spawn's per-instance log, A5). The app is launched through a tiny
+/// shell wrapper that relays gamescope's `LIBEI_SOCKET` (set for its children) to [`ei_socket_file`]
 /// so the input injector can connect to gamescope's EIS server from outside.
-fn spawn(w: u32, h: u32, hz: u32, cmd: Option<&str>) -> Result<Child> {
+fn spawn(w: u32, h: u32, hz: u32, cmd: Option<&str>, log: &std::path::Path) -> Result<Child> {
     // A non-empty per-session command (set via `set_launch_command`) wins; else the
     // `PUNKTFUNK_GAMESCOPE_APP` env var (the documented manual fallback); else a no-op that keeps
     // gamescope alive. Each level is taken only if non-empty, so a blank per-session cmd transparently
@@ -970,6 +1200,9 @@ fn spawn(w: u32, h: u32, hz: u32, cmd: Option<&str>) -> Result<Child> {
         })
         .filter(|s| !s.trim().is_empty())
         .unwrap_or_else(|| "sleep infinity".to_string());
+    // Dedicated-launch command shaping (Part B): a Steam URI runs with `-silent` so the game is the
+    // gamescope focus with no Steam client window to navigate.
+    let app = shape_dedicated_command(&app);
     let relay = ei_socket_file();
     let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&relay); // stale socket path from a previous session
     let mut cmd = Command::new("gamescope");
@@ -990,14 +1223,14 @@ fn spawn(w: u32, h: u32, hz: u32, cmd: Option<&str>) -> Result<Child> {
         .args(app.split_whitespace())
         // Prefer the NVIDIA GL vendor for the nested session (harmless on a pure-NVIDIA box).
         .env("__GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME", "nvidia");
-    if let Ok(log) = std::fs::File::create("/tmp/punktfunk-gamescope.log") {
-        if let Ok(log2) = log.try_clone() {
-            cmd.stdout(Stdio::from(log)).stderr(Stdio::from(log2));
+    if let Ok(logf) = std::fs::File::create(log) {
+        if let Ok(log2) = logf.try_clone() {
+            cmd.stdout(Stdio::from(logf)).stderr(Stdio::from(log2));
         }
     } else {
         cmd.stdout(Stdio::null()).stderr(Stdio::null());
     }
-    tracing::info!(w, h, hz, %app, "spawning gamescope (headless)");
+    tracing::info!(w, h, hz, %app, log = %log.display(), "spawning gamescope (headless)");
     cmd.spawn()
         .context("spawn gamescope (is it installed? `apt install gamescope`)")
 }
@@ -1006,22 +1239,59 @@ fn spawn(w: u32, h: u32, hz: u32, cmd: Option<&str>) -> Result<Child> {
 /// line `stream available on node ID: N` (its node carries `node.name=gamescope` on TWO objects
 /// — the adapter and the inner stream — and only the advertised id is the correct capture
 /// target). Falls back to `pw-dump` discovery if the log line doesn't show.
-fn wait_for_node(timeout: Duration) -> Option<u32> {
+/// B2 (game-exit detection): confirm a **dedicated** gamescope session's game has exited. gamescope is
+/// a single-app compositor — it exits when its nested app exits — so once capture is lost, THIS
+/// session's `node_id` not reappearing within a short confirmation window means the game quit (vs. a
+/// transient PipeWire hiccup). Scoped to the session's own `node_id` (via [`gamescope_node_present`]),
+/// so a **coexisting** gamescope (a second dedicated session, or the box's game-mode gamescope beside a
+/// non-Steam dedicated launch) doesn't mask the exit (review findings #4/#8). Returns `true` when the
+/// node stays absent across the window.
+pub fn game_session_exited(node_id: u32) -> bool {
+    let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_millis(1500);
+    loop {
+        if gamescope_node_present(node_id) {
+            return false; // OUR node is (still) present → not an exit (transient loss)
+        }
+        if Instant::now() >= deadline {
+            return true; // our node stayed gone across the window → the game exited
+        }
+        std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(250));
+    }
+}
+
+/// Poll [`find_gamescope_node`] (unscoped) up to `timeout` — for the managed / SteamOS session, which
+/// logs to journald (no per-spawn file) and is single-session (no scoping needed).
+fn poll_managed_node(timeout: Duration) -> Option<u32> {
     let deadline = Instant::now() + timeout;
     loop {
-        if let Some(id) = node_from_log() {
+        if let Some(id) = find_gamescope_node() {
             return Some(id);
         }
         if Instant::now() >= deadline {
-            return find_gamescope_node(); // last-resort fallback
+            return None;
         }
         std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(300));
     }
 }
 
-/// Parse `stream available on node ID: N` from the spawned gamescope's log (ANSI-colored).
-fn node_from_log() -> Option<u32> {
-    let log = std::fs::read_to_string("/tmp/punktfunk-gamescope.log").ok()?;
+fn wait_for_node(timeout: Duration, log: &std::path::Path, child_pid: u32) -> Option<u32> {
+    let deadline = Instant::now() + timeout;
+    loop {
+        if let Some(id) = node_from_log(log) {
+            return Some(id);
+        }
+        if Instant::now() >= deadline {
+            // Last-resort fallback scoped to THIS spawn's process tree (A5), so a coexisting gamescope's
+            // node isn't picked by mistake.
+            return find_gamescope_node_scoped(Some(child_pid));
+        }
+        std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(300));
+    }
+}
+
+/// Parse `stream available on node ID: N` from a spawned gamescope's per-instance log (ANSI-colored).
+fn node_from_log(log: &std::path::Path) -> Option<u32> {
+    let log = std::fs::read_to_string(log).ok()?;
     for line in log.lines().rev() {
         if let Some(pos) = line.find("stream available on node ID:") {
             let tail = &line[pos + "stream available on node ID:".len()..];
@@ -1034,6 +1304,27 @@ fn node_from_log() -> Option<u32> {
     None
 }
 
+/// Is a PipeWire node with exactly `node_id` present on the default daemon right now? Used by the
+/// keep-alive reuse liveness probe ([`GamescopeDisplay::kept_display_alive`]): a kept gamescope node
+/// vanishes when its nested game exits, so a missing id means "recreate, don't reuse the corpse".
+fn gamescope_node_present(node_id: u32) -> bool {
+    let Ok(out) = Command::new("pw-dump").arg(node_id.to_string()).output() else {
+        // pw-dump unavailable → don't block reuse (mark_failed is the backstop on a genuinely dead node).
+        return true;
+    };
+    let Ok(dump) = serde_json::from_slice::<serde_json::Value>(&out.stdout) else {
+        return true;
+    };
+    dump.as_array()
+        .map(|objs| {
+            objs.iter().any(|o| {
+                o.get("id").and_then(|i| i.as_u64()) == Some(node_id as u64)
+                    && o.get("type").and_then(|t| t.as_str()) == Some("PipeWire:Interface:Node")
+            })
+        })
+        .unwrap_or(true)
+}
+
 /// Find the `gamescope` `Video/Source` node id in a `pw-dump` snapshot of the default daemon.
 ///
 /// `node.name=gamescope` appears on TWO objects (the adapter *and* the inner stream node); only
@@ -1041,10 +1332,18 @@ fn node_from_log() -> Option<u32> {
 /// other wedges the link. So we require `Video/Source` first and fall back to a bare name match
 /// only if no class-tagged node is present (older gamescope that doesn't set media.class).
 fn find_gamescope_node() -> Option<u32> {
+    find_gamescope_node_scoped(None)
+}
+
+/// Like [`find_gamescope_node`], but when `scope` is `Some(pid)` only a node whose owning process
+/// (`application.process.id`) is `pid` or a descendant of it qualifies (A5 — a spawn's node must
+/// belong to OUR gamescope's process tree, so a coexisting foreign / other-session gamescope node is
+/// never mistaken for ours). `None` = any gamescope node (the managed/attach paths, single-session).
+fn find_gamescope_node_scoped(scope: Option<u32>) -> Option<u32> {
     let out = Command::new("pw-dump").output().ok()?;
     let dump: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_slice(&out.stdout).ok()?;
     let nodes = dump.as_array()?;
-    let node_props = |obj: &serde_json::Value| -> Option<(u32, String, String)> {
+    let node_props = |obj: &serde_json::Value| -> Option<(u32, String, String, Option<u32>)> {
         if obj.get("type").and_then(|t| t.as_str()) != Some("PipeWire:Interface:Node") {
             return None;
         }
@@ -1060,20 +1359,40 @@ fn find_gamescope_node() -> Option<u32> {
             .and_then(|n| n.as_str())
             .unwrap_or("")
             .to_string();
-        Some((id, name, class))
+        // PipeWire records the owning process id as a string or an int depending on version.
+        let pid = props
+            .and_then(|p| p.get("application.process.id"))
+            .and_then(|v| {
+                v.as_u64()
+                    .or_else(|| v.as_str().and_then(|s| s.parse().ok()))
+                    .map(|n| n as u32)
+            });
+        Some((id, name, class, pid))
     };
-    // Preferred: a Video/Source node named (or containing) "gamescope".
+    // A node is in-scope when no scope is asked, or its owning pid descends from the scope pid. When
+    // the pid prop is absent (older gamescope / PipeWire) we DON'T exclude it — falling back to the
+    // per-instance log is the primary addressing (design §7 risk note).
+    let in_scope = |pid: Option<u32>| -> bool {
+        match scope {
+            None => true,
+            Some(root) => pid.map(|p| descends_from(p, root)).unwrap_or(true),
+        }
+    };
+    // Preferred: a Video/Source node named (or containing) "gamescope", in scope.
     for obj in nodes {
-        if let Some((id, name, class)) = node_props(obj) {
-            if class == "Video/Source" && (name == "gamescope" || name.contains("gamescope")) {
+        if let Some((id, name, class, pid)) = node_props(obj) {
+            if class == "Video/Source"
+                && (name == "gamescope" || name.contains("gamescope"))
+                && in_scope(pid)
+            {
                 return Some(id);
             }
         }
     }
-    // Fallback: a node literally named "gamescope" with no usable class tag.
+    // Fallback: a node literally named "gamescope" with no usable class tag, in scope.
     for obj in nodes {
-        if let Some((id, name, _)) = node_props(obj) {
-            if name == "gamescope" {
+        if let Some((id, name, _, pid)) = node_props(obj) {
+            if name == "gamescope" && in_scope(pid) {
                 tracing::warn!(
                     node_id = id,
                     "gamescope node has no media.class=Video/Source tag — capturing it anyway"
@@ -1168,22 +1487,62 @@ fn parse_version(text: &str) -> Option<(u32, u32, u32)> {
     None
 }
 
-/// Owns the spawned gamescope process; killing it tears the virtual output down.
-struct GamescopeProc(Child);
+/// Owns the spawned gamescope process (and its per-instance log, A5); killing it tears the virtual
+/// output down.
+struct GamescopeProc {
+    child: Child,
+    log: std::path::PathBuf,
+}
 
 impl Drop for GamescopeProc {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
-        let _ = self.0.kill();
-        let _ = self.0.wait();
+        let _ = self.child.kill();
+        let _ = self.child.wait();
         // Clear the relayed EIS socket name so the host-lifetime injector can't reconnect to this
         // now-dead session's socket between sessions (the stale path is the "Connection refused").
         let _ = std::fs::remove_file(ei_socket_file());
+        // Drop this spawn's per-instance log (A5) so `$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR` doesn't accumulate them.
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&self.log);
     }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::{parse_version, MIN_GAMESCOPE};
+    use super::{is_steam_launch, parse_version, shape_dedicated_command, MIN_GAMESCOPE};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn steam_launch_detection() {
+        assert!(is_steam_launch("steam steam://rungameid/570"));
+        assert!(is_steam_launch("steam -silent steam://rungameid/570"));
+        assert!(!is_steam_launch("vkcube"));
+        assert!(!is_steam_launch("lutris lutris:rungameid/42"));
+        assert!(!is_steam_launch("steam -bigpicture")); // no URI = not a game launch
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn dedicated_command_shaping() {
+        // Steam URI → -silent inserted so the game is the gamescope focus.
+        assert_eq!(
+            shape_dedicated_command("steam steam://rungameid/570"),
+            "steam -silent steam://rungameid/570"
+        );
+        // Idempotent: an already-silent command is left alone.
+        assert_eq!(
+            shape_dedicated_command("steam -silent steam://rungameid/570"),
+            "steam -silent steam://rungameid/570"
+        );
+        // Non-Steam launches and operator custom commands are untouched.
+        assert_eq!(shape_dedicated_command("vkcube"), "vkcube");
+        assert_eq!(
+            shape_dedicated_command("lutris lutris:rungameid/42"),
+            "lutris lutris:rungameid/42"
+        );
+        // A bare `steam` with no URI is left alone (not a game launch).
+        assert_eq!(
+            shape_dedicated_command("steam -bigpicture"),
+            "steam -bigpicture"
+        );
+    }
 
     #[test]
     fn parses_version_banner() {
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/kwin.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/kwin.rs
index a8d1349f..6922d9b8 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/kwin.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/kwin.rs
@@ -212,12 +212,11 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for KwinDisplay {
         });
         // Layout position (§6.2) is applied by the registry via `apply_position` right after create
         // (it owns the display group, so it computes auto-row / manual placement over the whole group).
-        Ok(VirtualOutput {
+        Ok(VirtualOutput::owned(
             node_id,
-            remote_fd: None,
-            preferred_mode: Some((mode.width, mode.height, achieved_hz)),
-            keepalive: Box::new(StopGuard { stop }),
-        })
+            Some((mode.width, mode.height, achieved_hz)),
+            Box::new(StopGuard { stop }),
+        ))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/mutter.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/mutter.rs
index cfafdc1a..fccaa839 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/mutter.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/mutter.rs
@@ -97,12 +97,11 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for MutterDisplay {
             h = mode.height,
             "Mutter virtual monitor ready"
         );
-        Ok(VirtualOutput {
+        Ok(VirtualOutput::owned(
             node_id,
-            remote_fd: None,
-            preferred_mode: Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
-            keepalive: Box::new(StopGuard(stop)),
-        })
+            Some((mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz)),
+            Box::new(StopGuard(stop)),
+        ))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/wlroots.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/wlroots.rs
index 464cf345..096cff34 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/wlroots.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/wlroots.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 //! `systemctl --user`, see `scripts/headless/prepare-session.sh`), with the ScreenCast
 //! interface routed to xdpw (`scripts/headless/portals.conf`).
 
-use super::{Mode, VirtualDisplay, VirtualOutput};
+use super::{DisplayOwnership, Mode, VirtualDisplay, VirtualOutput};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
 use std::os::fd::OwnedFd;
 use std::process::Command;
@@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for WlrootsDisplay {
                 _stop: StopGuard(stop),
                 _output: output,
             }),
+            // Owned (the compositor output is ours to tear down), but not registry-poolable: the
+            // portal fd can't be re-opened per attach, so the registry passes it through on
+            // `remote_fd.is_some()` (keep-alive stays off for wlroots until fresh-portal re-attach).
+            ownership: DisplayOwnership::Owned,
+            reused_gen: None,
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/policy.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/policy.rs
index 18b9df5e..f1208717 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/policy.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/policy.rs
@@ -158,6 +158,22 @@ pub struct Layout {
     pub positions: BTreeMap<String, Position>,
 }
 
+/// How a session that **launches a game** (a library id on the Hello / apps.json / Decky pin) is
+/// served (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` §5.2). Orthogonal to the preset/lifecycle axes
+/// — a top-level [`DisplayPolicy`] field, NOT part of [`EffectivePolicy`], so a preset never clobbers
+/// it. Linux-only in effect (a launching Windows session opens into the one desktop).
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize, ToSchema)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum GameSession {
+    /// Today's routing: the launch rides whatever session the box is in (managed Steam session on
+    /// Bazzite/SteamOS, bare spawn on plain distros, spawned into the live desktop on KWin/Mutter/wlroots).
+    #[default]
+    Auto,
+    /// A launching session always gets its OWN headless gamescope at the client's mode, nesting just
+    /// the game — no Steam Big Picture, no game mode. Degrades to `auto` when gamescope is unavailable.
+    Dedicated,
+}
+
 /// A named bundle of the fields below. `Custom` (the default) means the explicit fields rule; any
 /// other preset ignores the stored fields and expands to its own ([`DisplayPolicy::effective`]).
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize, ToSchema)]
@@ -202,6 +218,11 @@ pub struct DisplayPolicy {
     /// Upper bound on simultaneously-live virtual displays (clamped to `1..=16` on write).
     #[serde(default = "default_max_displays")]
     pub max_displays: u32,
+    /// How a game-launching session is served (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` §5.2).
+    /// Orthogonal to `preset`/lifecycle — preserved across preset changes; `#[serde(default)]` = `Auto`
+    /// so existing `display-settings.json` files are untouched.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub game_session: GameSession,
 }
 
 fn one() -> u32 {
@@ -224,6 +245,7 @@ impl Default for DisplayPolicy {
             identity: Identity::default(),
             layout: Layout::default(),
             max_displays: 4,
+            game_session: GameSession::default(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -279,7 +301,11 @@ impl EffectivePolicy {
     /// transform, factored out pure so arranging displays stays orthogonal to the other axes and is
     /// unit-tested without touching the global store. (`Custom` so the explicit fields — incl. the new
     /// layout — rule; a named preset would ignore them.)
-    pub fn with_manual_layout(&self, positions: BTreeMap<String, Position>) -> DisplayPolicy {
+    pub fn with_manual_layout(
+        &self,
+        positions: BTreeMap<String, Position>,
+        game_session: GameSession,
+    ) -> DisplayPolicy {
         DisplayPolicy {
             version: 1,
             preset: Preset::Custom,
@@ -292,6 +318,8 @@ impl EffectivePolicy {
                 positions,
             },
             max_displays: self.max_displays,
+            // Preserve the orthogonal game-session axis (EffectivePolicy doesn't carry it).
+            game_session,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -398,6 +426,13 @@ impl DisplayPolicyStore {
         self.configured().map(|p| p.effective())
     }
 
+    /// The game-session routing axis (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` §5.2). Orthogonal to
+    /// the preset — read directly off the stored policy (or the default `Auto` when unconfigured), so a
+    /// preset selection never resets it.
+    pub fn game_session(&self) -> GameSession {
+        self.get().game_session
+    }
+
     /// Persist + adopt a new policy (sanitized first). The in-memory value changes only if the disk
     /// write succeeds, so a full disk can't leave memory and file disagreeing.
     pub fn set(&self, policy: DisplayPolicy) -> Result<()> {
@@ -560,7 +595,9 @@ mod tests {
         let mut positions = BTreeMap::new();
         positions.insert("1".to_string(), Position { x: 0, y: 0 });
         positions.insert("7".to_string(), Position { x: 2560, y: 0 });
-        let p = eff.with_manual_layout(positions);
+        let p = eff.with_manual_layout(positions, GameSession::Dedicated);
+        // The orthogonal game-session axis is preserved through the layout transform.
+        assert_eq!(p.game_session, GameSession::Dedicated);
         // Preset drops to Custom so the explicit fields (incl. the layout) rule…
         assert_eq!(p.preset, Preset::Custom);
         // …every other behavior axis is preserved verbatim…
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/registry.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/registry.rs
index ed602be6..f3e04c6f 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/registry.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/registry.rs
@@ -164,6 +164,28 @@ pub fn release(slot: Option<u64>) -> usize {
     }
 }
 
+/// Tear down a **reused-but-dead** pool entry by its generation stamp (A2). Called by the pipeline
+/// builder when the first frame fails on a display [`acquire`] handed back as REUSED — so the retry
+/// loop's next `acquire` creates fresh instead of re-wedging on the same corpse. No-op off Linux / if
+/// the entry is already gone (idempotent — the subsequent stale-gen lease drop no-ops too).
+pub fn mark_failed(gen: u64) {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    linux::mark_failed(gen);
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+    let _ = gen;
+}
+
+/// Invalidate every kept display of `backend` — its compositor instance is gone (a Game↔Desktop switch
+/// tore it down), so `/display/state` must stop listing it and its keepalive must be reaped
+/// (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A4). Called from the session-switch watcher / a
+/// per-connect re-detect that finds the previous backend's compositor gone. No-op off Linux.
+pub fn invalidate_backend(backend: &str) {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    linux::invalidate_backend(backend);
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+    let _ = backend;
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Linux keep-alive pool
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -202,6 +224,13 @@ mod linux {
         /// exclusive session); on teardown it hands off to a surviving sibling, and only runs when the
         /// group's last member drops. `None` for extend/primary and non-first / non-exclusive members.
         topology_restore: Option<Restore>,
+        /// The launch command this display was created with (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md`
+        /// A2): keep-alive reuse requires an exact match, so a kept spawn running game A never serves a
+        /// session launching game B. `None` = a plain desktop / no nested command.
+        launch: Option<String>,
+        /// The session epoch at creation (A4). Reuse requires an epoch match; the linger timer reaps
+        /// entries whose epoch is stale (their compositor instance was replaced under them).
+        epoch: u64,
         /// Generation stamp: a [`DisplayLease`] only releases if its gen still matches (a stale lease
         /// — its entry was reused + re-stamped — is a no-op).
         gen: u64,
@@ -210,6 +239,18 @@ mod linux {
     /// A per-group topology-restore action (see [`Entry::topology_restore`]).
     type Restore = Box<dyn FnOnce() + Send>;
 
+    /// The result of the keep-alive reuse lookup (A2 validated reuse): a live kept display was reused,
+    /// a dead one was pulled out (recreate), or nothing matched.
+    enum ReuseOutcome {
+        /// A live kept display — the session-facing output to return.
+        Reused(VirtualOutput),
+        /// A dead kept display, removed from the pool, plus its group restore (run before the corpse's
+        /// keepalive drops); the caller falls through to a fresh create.
+        Dead(Entry, Option<Restore>),
+        /// No matching kept display.
+        Miss,
+    }
+
     /// Hand off a torn-down display's topology restore (design §6.1 — per-group restore): if a
     /// same-group (backend) sibling survives in `remaining`, MOVE the restore onto it (a later teardown
     /// runs it); if the group is now empty, RETURN the action so the caller runs it (before dropping the
@@ -245,6 +286,19 @@ mod linux {
         })
     }
 
+    /// Does a pooled entry's session `epoch` still match the current one for reuse / expiry purposes?
+    /// The session epoch tracks the box's **active-session (desktop) compositor** instance (KWin /
+    /// Mutter / wlroots) — whose PipeWire node dies with the compositor, so a stale-epoch kept output
+    /// is a corpse. A **gamescope** spawn is the exact opposite: an independent nested session (its own
+    /// group), whose node lives with its own child process, wholly unrelated to whatever desktop /
+    /// game-mode compositor the epoch tracks. So gamescope entries are EXEMPT from the epoch — a desktop
+    /// switch, or a game-mode gamescope restart, must never invalidate a kept dedicated game session
+    /// (review findings #2/#5/#6/#7/#10). Their liveness is the `kept_display_alive` node probe + the B2
+    /// game-exit path + `mark_failed`, not the epoch.
+    fn epoch_matches(backend: &str, entry_epoch: u64, cur_epoch: u64) -> bool {
+        backend == "gamescope" || entry_epoch == cur_epoch
+    }
+
     /// The linger resolution for Linux: the console policy's `keep_alive` when configured, else
     /// **Immediate** (today's behavior — a Linux disconnect tears the output down at once).
     fn linger() -> Linger {
@@ -262,9 +316,17 @@ mod linux {
     fn take_expired(entries: &mut Vec<Entry>, now: Instant) -> (Vec<Entry>, Vec<Restore>) {
         let mut expired = Vec::new();
         let mut restores = Vec::new();
+        // A4 backstop: also reap a KEPT (non-Active) DESKTOP display whose session epoch is stale — its
+        // compositor instance was replaced (a Game↔Desktop switch / same-kind restart), so its node id
+        // now means nothing. gamescope spawns are exempt (`epoch_matches` — independent nested sessions).
+        // An Active entry is left to its own session's capture-loss rebuild (which, under the bumped
+        // epoch, won't reuse it); `invalidate_backend` clears a whole desktop backend on a known switch.
+        let cur_epoch = crate::vdisplay::session_epoch();
         let mut i = 0;
         while i < entries.len() {
-            if entries[i].life.poll_expiry(now) {
+            let dead_epoch = !epoch_matches(entries[i].backend, entries[i].epoch, cur_epoch)
+                && !matches!(entries[i].life, lifecycle::State::Active { .. });
+            if entries[i].life.poll_expiry(now) || dead_epoch {
                 let mut e = entries.remove(i);
                 let backend = e.backend;
                 if let Some(r) = hand_off_restore(entries, backend, e.topology_restore.take()) {
@@ -312,13 +374,18 @@ mod linux {
         preferred_mode: Option<(u32, u32, u32)>,
         gen: u64,
         quit: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+        reused: bool,
     ) -> VirtualOutput {
-        VirtualOutput {
+        // The pooled display is registry-owned; the session holds a gen-stamped lease as its keepalive.
+        let mut out = VirtualOutput::owned(
             node_id,
-            remote_fd: None,
             preferred_mode,
-            keepalive: Box::new(DisplayLease { gen, quit }),
-        }
+            Box::new(DisplayLease { gen, quit }),
+        );
+        // A2: tell the pipeline builder this was a REUSED kept display, so a first-frame failure can
+        // `mark_failed(gen)` (tear the corpse down) rather than re-wedge the retry loop on the same node.
+        out.reused_gen = reused.then_some(gen);
+        out
     }
 
     pub(super) fn acquire(
@@ -328,6 +395,10 @@ mod linux {
     ) -> Result<VirtualOutput> {
         ensure_timer();
         let backend = vd.name();
+        // A2 reuse key: the launch command this acquire carries (a kept spawn running game A must never
+        // be reused for a session launching game B). A4 reuse key: the current session epoch.
+        let launch = vd.launch_command();
+        let cur_epoch = crate::vdisplay::session_epoch();
         let r = reg();
 
         // Reap expired first (run any group restores + drop outside the lock).
@@ -340,28 +411,94 @@ mod linux {
         }
         drop(expired);
 
-        // Reuse: a kept (lingering/pinned) display of the same backend + mode. A reconnecting session
-        // re-attaches a fresh PipeWire consumer to the still-live `node_id`.
-        {
-            let mut es = r.entries.lock().unwrap();
-            if let Some(e) = es.iter_mut().find(|e| {
-                matches!(
-                    e.life,
-                    lifecycle::State::Lingering { .. } | lifecycle::State::Pinned
-                ) && e.backend == backend
-                    && e.mode == mode
-            }) {
-                // Lingering/Pinned → Active (Acquire::Reuse); side effect matters, value is known.
-                e.life.acquire();
-                let gen = r.gen.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
-                e.gen = gen;
-                let out = output_for(e.node_id, e.preferred_mode, gen, quit);
-                tracing::info!(
-                    backend,
-                    node_id = e.node_id,
-                    "virtual display reused (keep-alive reconnect)"
-                );
-                return Ok(out);
+        // Reuse: a kept (lingering/pinned) display of the same backend + mode + launch + epoch. A
+        // reconnecting session re-attaches a fresh PipeWire consumer to the still-live `node_id`. Gated
+        // on `vd.poolable_now()` (A1): a gamescope managed/attach acquire must NOT reuse a kept bare-spawn
+        // (they share the backend name `"gamescope"`); its `create` builds a `SessionManaged`/`External`
+        // output that passes through below.
+        if vd.poolable_now() {
+            // Reuse a kept display, matching backend + mode + launch (+ epoch for the desktop backends;
+            // gamescope spawns are independent nested sessions, exempt from the active-session epoch —
+            // see `epoch_matches`). The liveness probe (`kept_display_alive`, which may shell `pw-dump`
+            // for gamescope) must NOT run under the pool lock (it can block / hang the daemon), so:
+            //   1. find the candidate + snapshot (gen, node_id) UNDER the lock, then release it;
+            //   2. probe liveness OUTSIDE the lock;
+            //   3. re-lock and re-find the SAME entry by its gen (another thread may have reused/removed
+            //      it meanwhile — then we just miss and create fresh).
+            let candidate = {
+                let es = r.entries.lock().unwrap();
+                es.iter()
+                    .find(|e| {
+                        matches!(
+                            e.life,
+                            lifecycle::State::Lingering { .. } | lifecycle::State::Pinned
+                        ) && e.backend == backend
+                            && e.mode == mode
+                            && e.launch == launch
+                            && epoch_matches(e.backend, e.epoch, cur_epoch)
+                    })
+                    .map(|e| (e.gen, e.node_id))
+            };
+            if let Some((cand_gen, node_id)) = candidate {
+                let alive = vd.kept_display_alive(node_id); // OUTSIDE the lock (may block)
+                let reuse = {
+                    let mut es = r.entries.lock().unwrap();
+                    // Re-find the SAME entry by its snapshot gen; skip if it's gone or no longer kept
+                    // (a concurrent reconnect adopted it) — we then miss and create fresh.
+                    match es.iter().position(|e| {
+                        e.gen == cand_gen
+                            && matches!(
+                                e.life,
+                                lifecycle::State::Lingering { .. } | lifecycle::State::Pinned
+                            )
+                    }) {
+                        Some(idx) if alive => {
+                            es[idx].life.acquire();
+                            let gen = r.gen.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                            es[idx].gen = gen;
+                            let preferred_mode = es[idx].preferred_mode;
+                            tracing::info!(
+                                backend,
+                                node_id,
+                                "virtual display reused (keep-alive reconnect)"
+                            );
+                            ReuseOutcome::Reused(output_for(
+                                node_id,
+                                preferred_mode,
+                                gen,
+                                quit.clone(),
+                                true,
+                            ))
+                        }
+                        Some(idx) => {
+                            // Dead kept display: remove it, hand off its group restore, create fresh.
+                            let mut dead = es.remove(idx);
+                            let restore = hand_off_restore(
+                                &mut es,
+                                dead.backend,
+                                dead.topology_restore.take(),
+                            );
+                            ReuseOutcome::Dead(dead, restore)
+                        }
+                        None => ReuseOutcome::Miss, // adopted/removed by another thread
+                    }
+                };
+                match reuse {
+                    ReuseOutcome::Reused(out) => return Ok(out),
+                    ReuseOutcome::Dead(dead, restore) => {
+                        // Outside the lock: re-enable physicals (if the group emptied) then drop the
+                        // corpse's keepalive (may block) — then fall through to a fresh create below.
+                        if let Some(rst) = restore {
+                            rst();
+                        }
+                        tracing::info!(
+                            backend,
+                            "virtual display: kept display was dead — recreating (validated reuse)"
+                        );
+                        drop(dead);
+                    }
+                    ReuseOutcome::Miss => {}
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -381,13 +518,18 @@ mod linux {
         // the group arrangement (manual per-slot positions) + the state slot.
         let identity_slot = vd.last_identity_slot();
 
-        // wlroots (remote_fd = Some, sandboxed xdpw portal) can't be kept without re-opening the
-        // portal fd per attach — pass it through unchanged (capturer owns it, teardown on drop). The
-        // poolable backends put their node on the default daemon (remote_fd = None).
-        if real.remote_fd.is_some() {
+        // Pool ONLY a registry-owned display on the default PipeWire daemon
+        // (design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md A1). Pass through, unchanged (capturer owns the
+        // keepalive, teardown on drop), everything else:
+        //   * `External`/`SessionManaged` — gamescope attach / managed session: the gamescope module
+        //     owns their lifecycle (its own restore machinery), so the registry must not keep them
+        //     (the stale-node reuse wedge). Their unit keepalive tears nothing down on drop.
+        //   * `remote_fd = Some` — wlroots' sandboxed xdpw portal fd can't be re-opened per attach.
+        if real.ownership != crate::vdisplay::DisplayOwnership::Owned || real.remote_fd.is_some() {
             tracing::debug!(
                 backend,
-                "virtual display not poolable (portal fd) — keep-alive off for this backend"
+                ownership = ?real.ownership,
+                "virtual display not registry-poolable — keep-alive off (owner keeps it / portal fd)"
             );
             return Ok(real);
         }
@@ -410,6 +552,8 @@ mod linux {
             backend,
             identity_slot,
             topology_restore,
+            launch: launch.clone(),
+            epoch: cur_epoch,
             gen,
         };
 
@@ -455,7 +599,7 @@ mod linux {
         if (position.x, position.y) != (0, 0) {
             vd.apply_position(position.x, position.y);
         }
-        Ok(output_for(node_id, preferred_mode, gen, quit))
+        Ok(output_for(node_id, preferred_mode, gen, quit, false))
     }
 
     /// The [`DisplayLease`] `Drop` path: release the session's hold on the pooled display. The
@@ -704,6 +848,71 @@ mod linux {
         n
     }
 
+    /// A2 — tear down a reused-but-dead pool entry by its generation stamp. Removes it (hand off /
+    /// run its group restore), drops the keepalive outside the lock. Idempotent (already gone → no-op).
+    pub(super) fn mark_failed(gen: u64) {
+        let Some(r) = REG.get() else { return };
+        let (torn, restore) = {
+            let mut es = r.entries.lock().unwrap();
+            let Some(idx) = es.iter().position(|e| e.gen == gen) else {
+                return; // already gone — the subsequent stale-gen lease drop no-ops too
+            };
+            let mut e = es.remove(idx);
+            let backend = e.backend;
+            let restore = hand_off_restore(&mut es, backend, e.topology_restore.take());
+            (e, restore)
+        };
+        if let Some(rst) = restore {
+            rst(); // outside the lock, before the keepalive drops
+        }
+        tracing::warn!(
+            backend = torn.backend,
+            "virtual display: reused kept display was dead on first frame — torn down (A2 mark_failed)"
+        );
+        drop(torn); // keepalive Drop outside the lock (may block)
+    }
+
+    /// A4 — invalidate every kept display of `backend` (its compositor instance is gone). Removes them
+    /// all (any lifecycle state — a dead compositor's Active entries are doomed too; their sessions
+    /// rebuild), runs/hands off group restores, drops keepalives outside the lock (they hit dead
+    /// sockets and fail fast). Mirrors `force_release`'s shape but selects by backend, not slot/state.
+    pub(super) fn invalidate_backend(backend: &str) {
+        let Some(r) = REG.get() else { return };
+        let (removed, restores) = {
+            let mut es = r.entries.lock().unwrap();
+            let mut out = Vec::new();
+            let mut restores = Vec::new();
+            let mut i = 0;
+            while i < es.len() {
+                if es[i].backend == backend {
+                    let mut e = es.remove(i);
+                    let b = e.backend;
+                    if let Some(rst) = hand_off_restore(&mut es, b, e.topology_restore.take()) {
+                        restores.push(rst);
+                    }
+                    out.push(e);
+                } else {
+                    i += 1;
+                }
+            }
+            (out, restores)
+        };
+        if removed.is_empty() {
+            return;
+        }
+        for restore in restores {
+            restore();
+        }
+        tracing::info!(
+            backend,
+            count = removed.len(),
+            "virtual displays invalidated — compositor instance gone (A4 session switch)"
+        );
+        for e in removed {
+            drop(e); // outside the lock
+        }
+    }
+
     /// The session's refcount handle — the `keepalive` the capturer holds. `Drop` releases the
     /// registry hold; a stale lease (its entry was reused + re-stamped, or torn down) is a no-op.
     struct DisplayLease {
@@ -744,6 +953,8 @@ mod linux {
                 backend,
                 identity_slot: None,
                 topology_restore: restore,
+                launch: None,
+                epoch: 0,
                 gen,
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
index 021a11e9..e5fd9c58 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ use windows::Win32::System::Threading::{
     CreateMutexW, OpenProcess, WaitForSingleObject, PROCESS_SYNCHRONIZE,
 };
 
-use super::{Mode, VirtualOutput};
+use super::{DisplayOwnership, Mode, VirtualOutput};
 use crate::win_display::{
     force_extend_topology, isolate_displays_ccd, resolve_gdi_name, restore_displays_ccd,
     set_active_mode, set_virtual_primary_ccd, SavedConfig,
@@ -531,6 +531,9 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
                 mgr: self,
                 gen: mon.gen,
             }),
+            // The Windows manager owns the monitor lifecycle (refcount/linger/pin), so the registry
+            // (which delegates to it via `vd.create`) treats it as Owned.
+            ownership: DisplayOwnership::Owned,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/docs-site/content/docs/virtual-displays.md b/docs-site/content/docs/virtual-displays.md
index a56e277e..c33d56c2 100644
--- a/docs-site/content/docs/virtual-displays.md
+++ b/docs-site/content/docs/virtual-displays.md
@@ -106,6 +106,26 @@ Per-backend support:
   each client), up to **max displays**. Arrange them under Host → *Virtual displays* once two or more
   are streaming.
 
+### Dedicated game sessions
+
+**Dedicated game sessions** control how a session that *launches a game from your library* is served
+(Linux hosts):
+
+- **Auto** (default) — the launch rides whatever session the box is in: the managed Steam session on a
+  Steam Deck / Bazzite couch box, a bare gamescope on a plain distro, or spawned into your live KDE /
+  GNOME / Sway desktop.
+- **Dedicated** — every library launch gets its **own headless gamescope at your exact resolution and
+  refresh**, with just the game inside. The game boots straight in — no Steam Big Picture to navigate,
+  no game-mode desktop. Steam titles launch with the client hidden (`steam -silent`); non-Steam titles
+  start almost instantly (gamescope up in ~1 s, then the game's own boot). Combined with **keep alive**,
+  the game keeps running when you disconnect and you re-attach straight back into it; when you quit the
+  game, the session ends cleanly and your client returns to its library.
+
+Dedicated needs `gamescope` installed on the host; if it isn't, a launch falls back to **Auto**
+routing. This axis is independent of the preset — pick it under Host → *Virtual displays*. On a box
+that's already in Steam game mode, a dedicated Steam launch frees game mode's Steam first and restores
+it when the session ends. (GameStream / Moonlight launches follow the same routing.)
+
 ## Persistent scaling
 
 Set your display **scaling** once and have it stick across reconnects. This works by giving each
@@ -149,3 +169,13 @@ an empty extension. Use **Primary** or **Exclusive** so your desktop actually la
 
 **KWin virtual outputs need KWin ≥ 6.5.6.** Older KWin can't create the virtual output at all —
 see [requirements](/docs/requirements).
+
+**Reconnecting into game mode reconnects cleanly now.** On a Steam Deck / Bazzite box, disconnecting
+and reconnecting within game mode reuses the still-warm session (or cleanly recreates it) instead of
+landing on a dead stream — and switching between game mode and the KDE / GNOME desktop mid-stream
+follows the switch. If a launched game **exits**, a dedicated session ends and returns you to your
+library; a game mode / desktop session keeps streaming.
+
+**My couch box's TV stayed on the streamed session after I disconnected.** With the **gaming-rig**
+preset (keep alive = *forever*), a managed Steam session is held indefinitely so a reconnect resumes
+instantly — return to game mode on the box (or restart the host) to hand the TV back.
diff --git a/include/punktfunk_core.h b/include/punktfunk_core.h
index 8773bb6c..75376a55 100644
--- a/include/punktfunk_core.h
+++ b/include/punktfunk_core.h
@@ -283,6 +283,16 @@
 #define QUIT_CLOSE_CODE 81
 #endif
 
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// QUIC application error code the **host** closes the control connection with when a **dedicated game
+// session's game process exits** (the nested gamescope died — the user quit the game), so a launcher
+// client can distinguish "the game ended" from an error and return to its library cleanly rather than
+// surfacing a failure (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` §5.3). Sibling of
+// [`QUIT_CLOSE_CODE`]; a client that doesn't special-case it still ends the session (every client
+// returns to its launcher on session end), so it is purely refinement. Shared so host + clients agree.
+#define APP_EXITED_CLOSE_CODE 82
+#endif
+
 #if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
 // [`Hello::video_codecs`] bit: the client can decode H.264 / AVC. The GPU-less **software**
 // encode path (openh264) emits H.264, so a client that wants to stream from a software host MUST
diff --git a/web/messages/de.json b/web/messages/de.json
index b86843d6..52dbc801 100644
--- a/web/messages/de.json
+++ b/web/messages/de.json
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@
 	"display_conflict_reject": "Besetzt — ablehnen",
 	"display_identity": "Client-Identität",
 	"display_identity_help": "Ob die gestreamte Anzeige eine stabile Client-Identität trägt, sodass der Desktop des Hosts die Monitor-Einstellungen dieses Clients (Skalierung, Auflösung) merkt und beim erneuten Verbinden wieder anwendet. Geteilt: eine Identität für alle. Pro Client: jedes Gerät eigene. Pro Client + Auflösung: separate Einstellungen je Gerät und Auflösung.",
+	"display_game_session": "Dedizierte Spiel-Sitzungen",
+	"display_game_session_help": "Wie eine Sitzung bedient wird, die ein Spiel aus der Bibliothek startet. „Dediziert“ gibt dem Start immer ein eigenes headless-gamescope in genau deiner Auflösung — das Spiel startet direkt, ohne Steam Big Picture, ohne Game-Mode. „Auto“ nutzt die aktuelle Sitzung der Box. gamescope muss installiert sein; sonst fällt Dediziert auf Auto zurück.",
+	"display_game_session_auto": "Auto",
+	"display_game_session_dedicated": "Dediziert",
 	"display_identity_shared": "Geteilt",
 	"display_identity_per_client": "Pro Client",
 	"display_identity_per_client_mode": "Pro Client + Auflösung",
diff --git a/web/messages/en.json b/web/messages/en.json
index 6d222fd9..1dd88ea0 100644
--- a/web/messages/en.json
+++ b/web/messages/en.json
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@
 	"display_conflict_reject": "Busy — reject",
 	"display_identity": "Per-client identity",
 	"display_identity_help": "Whether the streamed display carries a stable per-client identity, so the host's desktop remembers that client's per-monitor settings (scaling, resolution) and reapplies them when it reconnects. Shared: one identity for everyone. Per client: each device keeps its own. Per client + resolution: a device keeps separate settings per resolution it connects at.",
+	"display_game_session": "Dedicated game sessions",
+	"display_game_session_help": "How a session that launches a game from the library is served. “Dedicated” always gives the launch its own headless gamescope at your exact resolution — the game boots straight in, no Steam Big Picture, no game mode. “Auto” uses whatever session the box is in. gamescope must be installed; otherwise Dedicated falls back to Auto.",
+	"display_game_session_auto": "Auto",
+	"display_game_session_dedicated": "Dedicated",
 	"display_identity_shared": "Shared",
 	"display_identity_per_client": "Per client",
 	"display_identity_per_client_mode": "Per client + resolution",
diff --git a/web/src/sections/Displays/DisplayCard.tsx b/web/src/sections/Displays/DisplayCard.tsx
index f5d7e4c5..2c7a4137 100644
--- a/web/src/sections/Displays/DisplayCard.tsx
+++ b/web/src/sections/Displays/DisplayCard.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import type {
 	ApiDisplayInfo,
 	DisplayPolicy,
 	EffectivePolicy,
+	GameSession,
 	Identity,
 	KeepAlive,
 	LayoutMode,
@@ -141,6 +142,8 @@ const DisplayForm: FC<{
 				identity: effective.identity,
 				layout: effective.layout,
 				max_displays: effective.max_displays,
+				// Game-session is orthogonal to the preset — carry it through the Custom switch.
+				game_session: draft.game_session ?? "auto",
 			});
 		} else {
 			apply({ ...draft, preset: id as Preset });
@@ -330,6 +333,24 @@ const DisplayForm: FC<{
 				</div>
 			)}
 
+			{/* Game-session routing — orthogonal to the preset/lifecycle axes, so it lives outside the
+			    Custom block and applies immediately on change (like a preset click). */}
+			<div className="border-t pt-4">
+				<Choice
+					label={m.display_game_session()}
+					help={m.display_game_session_help()}
+					value={draft.game_session ?? "auto"}
+					options={["auto", "dedicated"]}
+					labels={GAME_SESSION_LABEL}
+					disabled={busy}
+					onPick={(v) => {
+						const next = { ...draft, game_session: v as GameSession };
+						setDraft(next);
+						apply(next);
+					}}
+				/>
+			</div>
+
 			{/* What's in force right now */}
 			<div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 border-t pt-3">
 				<span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{m.display_effective()}:</span>
@@ -339,6 +360,9 @@ const DisplayForm: FC<{
 				<Badge variant="outline">{tr(IDENTITY_LABEL, effective.identity)}</Badge>
 				<Badge variant="outline">{tr(LAYOUT_LABEL, effective.layout.mode)}</Badge>
 				<Badge variant="outline">{`${effective.max_displays}×`}</Badge>
+				{(draft.game_session ?? "auto") === "dedicated" && (
+					<Badge variant="secondary">{m.display_game_session_dedicated()}</Badge>
+				)}
 			</div>
 
 			<p className="max-w-prose text-xs text-muted-foreground">{m.display_pending_note()}</p>
@@ -611,6 +635,11 @@ const LAYOUT_LABEL: Record<string, () => string> = {
 	manual: m.display_layout_manual,
 };
 
+const GAME_SESSION_LABEL: Record<string, () => string> = {
+	auto: m.display_game_session_auto,
+	dedicated: m.display_game_session_dedicated,
+};
+
 /** Look up a localized label, tolerating an unknown/undefined key (falls back to the raw value). */
 const tr = (map: Record<string, () => string>, key: string | null | undefined): string => {
 	const fn = key == null ? undefined : map[key];