diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 31ae740..3e811c3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -42,3 +42,5 @@ Thumbs.db
 
 ## Claude
 .claude/
+
+builds
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 49fd961..c78b8d0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ dotnet run --project src/OpenTheBox
 ## Distribute
 
 ```powershell
-dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64
+dotnet publish src/OpenTheBox -c Release -r win-x64 -o "builds/$(Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd_HHmmss)_win"
+dotnet publish src/OpenTheBox -c Release -r linux-x64-o "builds/$(Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd_HHmmss)_linux"
 ```
 
 This produces a self-contained single-file executable in `publish/<runtime>/`. The target machine does **not** need .NET installed. Distribute the entire folder (exe + `content/`).
diff --git a/src/OpenTheBox/OpenTheBox.csproj b/src/OpenTheBox/OpenTheBox.csproj
index 9d1c2bb..cdec17b 100644
--- a/src/OpenTheBox/OpenTheBox.csproj
+++ b/src/OpenTheBox/OpenTheBox.csproj
@@ -42,4 +42,10 @@
     </Content>
   </ItemGroup>
 
+  <!-- Windows launcher scripts — copied to publish root next to the exe -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <None Include="launcher\LaunchOpenTheBox.cmd" CopyToPublishDirectory="PreserveNewest" Link="LaunchOpenTheBox.cmd" />
+    <None Include="launcher\Launch.ps1" CopyToPublishDirectory="PreserveNewest" Link="Launch.ps1" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
 </Project>
diff --git a/src/OpenTheBox/launcher/Launch.ps1 b/src/OpenTheBox/launcher/Launch.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db0972d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenTheBox/launcher/Launch.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+$Host.UI.RawUI.WindowTitle = 'Open The Box'
+[Console]::OutputEncoding = [Text.Encoding]::UTF8
+[Console]::InputEncoding  = [Text.Encoding]::UTF8
+Set-Location $PSScriptRoot
+
+$exe = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'OpenTheBox.exe'
+if (-not (Test-Path $exe)) {
+    Write-Host "ERROR: OpenTheBox.exe not found in $PSScriptRoot" -ForegroundColor Red
+    Read-Host 'Press Enter to exit'
+    exit 1
+}
+
+& $exe @args
+if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+    Write-Host "`nGame exited with code $LASTEXITCODE" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Read-Host 'Press Enter to exit'
+}
diff --git a/src/OpenTheBox/launcher/LaunchOpenTheBox.cmd b/src/OpenTheBox/launcher/LaunchOpenTheBox.cmd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2747fc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenTheBox/launcher/LaunchOpenTheBox.cmd
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+@echo off
+REM Launcher for Open The Box — opens in Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or cmd with UTF-8.
+REM Point Steam's launch target to this file.
+
+title Open The Box
+set "LAUNCH_PS1=%~dp0Launch.ps1"
+
+where wt >nul 2>nul
+if %ERRORLEVEL% equ 0 (
+    wt new-tab --title "Open The Box" -- powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "%LAUNCH_PS1%" %*
+    goto :eof
+)
+
+where pwsh >nul 2>nul
+if %ERRORLEVEL% equ 0 (
+    pwsh -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "%LAUNCH_PS1%" %*
+    goto :eof
+)
+
+where powershell >nul 2>nul
+if %ERRORLEVEL% equ 0 (
+    powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "%LAUNCH_PS1%" %*
+    goto :eof
+)
+
+REM Fallback: cmd with UTF-8 codepage
+chcp 65001 >nul 2>nul
+"%~dp0OpenTheBox.exe" %*
+if %ERRORLEVEL% neq 0 pause