diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 54d188f..93bb078 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -41,34 +41,22 @@ jobs:
         run: rustup show
 
       - name: Check formatting
-        run: cargo fmt --check
+        run: cargo fmt --all --check
 
       - name: Check workspace
-        run: cargo check --workspace
+        run: cargo check --workspace --all-targets
 
-      - name: Clippy
-        run: cargo clippy --workspace
+      - name: Clippy workspace
+        run: cargo clippy --workspace --all-targets -- -D warnings
 
-      - name: Clippy foundation crates
-        run: cargo clippy -p game -p shared -- -D warnings
-
-      - name: Test foundation helpers
-        run: cargo test -p game --lib
-
-      - name: Test shared hydration and actor validation
-        run: cargo test -p shared
-
-      - name: Test sim crate
-        run: cargo test -p sim
+      - name: Test workspace
+        run: cargo test --workspace
 
       - name: Validate level scenes
         run: cargo validate-levels
 
-      - name: Test scene schema crate
-        run: cargo test -p scene
-
-      - name: Check editor (dev)
-        run: cargo check -p editor --features dev
+      - name: Clippy launch feature matrix
+        run: cargo clippy -p editor -p game --bins --features dev,hot-reload -- -D warnings
 
       - name: Build binaries
         run: |
diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 3ba308b..ac2b63f 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -4,48 +4,222 @@
     {
       "type": "lldb",
       "request": "launch",
-      "name": "Debug editor",
-      "preLaunchTask": "build editor (dev fast-link)",
-      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/editor",
-      "args": [],
-      "env": {
-        "BEVY_FPS_HDR": "0",
-        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
-        "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target",
-        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
-      },
-      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "lldb",
-      "request": "launch",
-      "name": "Debug game",
-      "preLaunchTask": "build game (dev fast-link)",
-      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/game",
-      "args": [],
-      "env": {
-        "BEVY_FPS_HDR": "0",
-        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
-        "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target",
-        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
-      },
-      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "lldb",
-      "request": "launch",
-      "name": "Run editor (release)",
+      "name": "Editor: Debug",
       "cargo": {
-        "args": ["build", "--release", "-p", "editor"],
-        "filter": { "name": "editor", "kind": "bin" }
+        "args": ["build", "-p", "editor", "--bin", "editor", "--features", "dev"],
+        "filter": { "name": "editor", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
       },
       "args": [],
       "env": {
+        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+      },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Editor: GPU validation",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": ["build", "-p", "editor", "--bin", "editor", "--features", "dev"],
+        "filter": { "name": "editor", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": {
+        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "1",
+        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+      },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Editor: Hot reload",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": [
+          "build",
+          "-p",
+          "editor",
+          "--bin",
+          "editor",
+          "--features",
+          "dev,hot-reload"
+        ],
+        "filter": { "name": "editor", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": {
+        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+      },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Editor: SDR fallback",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": ["build", "-p", "editor", "--bin", "editor", "--features", "dev"],
+        "filter": { "name": "editor", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": {
+        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
         "BEVY_FPS_HDR": "0",
         "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
-        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/release/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
       },
-      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Editor: Release",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": ["build", "--release", "-p", "editor", "--bin", "editor"],
+        "filter": { "name": "editor", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": { "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1", "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0" },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Game: Debug",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": ["build", "-p", "game", "--bin", "game", "--features", "dev"],
+        "filter": { "name": "game", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": {
+        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+      },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Game: GPU validation",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": ["build", "-p", "game", "--bin", "game", "--features", "dev"],
+        "filter": { "name": "game", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": {
+        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "1",
+        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+      },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Game: Hot reload",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": [
+          "build",
+          "-p",
+          "game",
+          "--bin",
+          "game",
+          "--features",
+          "dev,hot-reload"
+        ],
+        "filter": { "name": "game", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": {
+        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+      },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Game: SDR fallback",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": ["build", "-p", "game", "--bin", "game", "--features", "dev"],
+        "filter": { "name": "game", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": {
+        "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+        "BEVY_FPS_HDR": "0",
+        "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/target/debug/deps:${env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH}"
+      },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "lldb",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Game: Release",
+      "cargo": {
+        "args": ["build", "--release", "-p", "game", "--bin", "game"],
+        "filter": { "name": "game", "kind": "bin" },
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" },
+        "problemMatcher": "$rustc"
+      },
+      "args": [],
+      "env": { "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1", "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0" },
+      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+      "terminal": "integrated",
+      "sourceLanguages": ["rust"],
+      "gracefulShutdown": "SIGINT"
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/.vscode/tasks.json b/.vscode/tasks.json
index 7610ed4..3692069 100644
--- a/.vscode/tasks.json
+++ b/.vscode/tasks.json
@@ -2,42 +2,61 @@
   "version": "2.0.0",
   "tasks": [
     {
-      "label": "cargo fmt (check)",
+      "label": "cargo fmt (workspace check)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "fmt",
-      "args": ["--check"],
+      "args": ["--all", "--check"],
       "problemMatcher": [],
       "group": "build"
     },
     {
-      "label": "cargo check (workspace)",
+      "label": "cargo check (workspace all targets)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "check",
-      "args": ["--workspace"],
+      "args": ["--workspace", "--all-targets"],
       "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
       "group": "build"
     },
     {
-      "label": "cargo clippy (workspace)",
+      "label": "cargo clippy (workspace strict)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "clippy",
-      "args": ["--workspace"],
+      "args": ["--workspace", "--all-targets", "--", "-D", "warnings"],
       "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
       "group": "build"
     },
     {
-      "label": "cargo clippy (foundation strict)",
-      "type": "cargo",
-      "command": "clippy",
-      "args": ["-p", "game", "-p", "shared", "--", "-D", "warnings"],
-      "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
-      "group": "build"
-    },
-    {
-      "label": "cargo test (foundation)",
+      "label": "cargo test (workspace)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "test",
-      "args": ["-p", "game", "--lib"],
+      "args": ["--workspace"],
+      "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
+      "group": "test"
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "cargo clippy (launch feature matrix)",
+      "type": "cargo",
+      "command": "clippy",
+      "args": [
+        "-p",
+        "editor",
+        "-p",
+        "game",
+        "--bins",
+        "--features",
+        "dev,hot-reload",
+        "--",
+        "-D",
+        "warnings"
+      ],
+      "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
+      "group": "build"
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "validate level scenes",
+      "type": "cargo",
+      "command": "validate-levels",
+      "args": [],
       "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
       "group": "test"
     },
@@ -45,7 +64,7 @@
       "label": "build game (debug)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "build",
-      "args": ["-p", "game"],
+      "args": ["-p", "game", "--bin", "game"],
       "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
       "group": "build"
     },
@@ -53,47 +72,50 @@
       "label": "build editor (debug)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "build",
-      "args": ["-p", "editor"],
+      "args": ["-p", "editor", "--bin", "editor"],
       "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
-      "group": { "kind": "build", "isDefault": true }
+      "group": "build"
     },
     {
       "label": "build editor (dev fast-link)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "build",
-      "args": ["-p", "editor", "--features", "dev"],
+      "args": ["-p", "editor", "--bin", "editor", "--features", "dev"],
       "options": {
-        "env": {
-          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
-        }
+        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" }
       },
       "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
-      "group": "build"
+      "group": { "kind": "build", "isDefault": true }
     },
     {
       "label": "build game (dev fast-link)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "build",
-      "args": ["-p", "game", "--features", "dev"],
+      "args": ["-p", "game", "--bin", "game", "--features", "dev"],
       "options": {
-        "env": {
-          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
-        }
+        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" }
       },
       "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
       "group": "build"
     },
     {
-      "label": "clean build editor (dev)",
-      "type": "shell",
-      "command": "cargo clean -p editor && cargo build -p editor --features dev",
+      "label": "clean dev-link crates",
+      "type": "cargo",
+      "command": "clean",
+      "args": ["-p", "editor", "-p", "game", "-p", "game_hot", "-p", "shared"],
       "options": {
         "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
-        "env": {
-          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
-        }
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" }
       },
-      "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
+      "problemMatcher": []
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "clean build editor (dev)",
+      "dependsOrder": "sequence",
+      "dependsOn": ["clean dev-link crates", "build editor (dev fast-link)"],
+      "problemMatcher": [],
       "group": "build"
     },
     {
@@ -102,9 +124,7 @@
       "command": "cargo clean-target",
       "options": {
         "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
-        "env": {
-          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
-        }
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" }
       },
       "problemMatcher": [],
       "group": "build"
@@ -115,9 +135,7 @@
       "command": "cargo clean-target --apply",
       "options": {
         "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
-        "env": {
-          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
-        }
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" }
       },
       "problemMatcher": [],
       "group": "build"
@@ -128,9 +146,7 @@
       "command": "cargo clean-target --include-artifacts --days 3 --apply",
       "options": {
         "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
-        "env": {
-          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
-        }
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" }
       },
       "problemMatcher": [],
       "group": "build"
@@ -139,10 +155,11 @@
       "label": "run editor (dev fast-link)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "run",
-      "args": ["-p", "editor", "--features", "dev"],
+      "args": ["-p", "editor", "--bin", "editor", "--features", "dev"],
       "options": {
+        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
         "env": {
-          "BEVY_FPS_HDR": "0",
+          "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
           "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
           "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
         }
@@ -154,9 +171,83 @@
       "label": "run game (dev fast-link)",
       "type": "cargo",
       "command": "run",
-      "args": ["-p", "game", "--features", "dev"],
+      "args": ["-p", "game", "--bin", "game", "--features", "dev"],
       "options": {
+        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
         "env": {
+          "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+          "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
+        }
+      },
+      "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
+      "group": "build"
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "run editor (hot reload)",
+      "type": "cargo",
+      "command": "run",
+      "args": [
+        "-p",
+        "editor",
+        "--bin",
+        "editor",
+        "--features",
+        "dev,hot-reload"
+      ],
+      "options": {
+        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+        "env": {
+          "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+          "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
+        }
+      },
+      "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
+      "group": "build"
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "run game (hot reload)",
+      "type": "cargo",
+      "command": "run",
+      "args": ["-p", "game", "--bin", "game", "--features", "dev,hot-reload"],
+      "options": {
+        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+        "env": {
+          "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+          "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
+        }
+      },
+      "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
+      "group": "build"
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "run editor (SDR fallback)",
+      "type": "cargo",
+      "command": "run",
+      "args": ["-p", "editor", "--bin", "editor", "--features", "dev"],
+      "options": {
+        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+        "env": {
+          "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
+          "BEVY_FPS_HDR": "0",
+          "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
+          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
+        }
+      },
+      "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
+      "group": "build"
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "run game (SDR fallback)",
+      "type": "cargo",
+      "command": "run",
+      "args": ["-p", "game", "--bin", "game", "--features", "dev"],
+      "options": {
+        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
+        "env": {
+          "RUST_BACKTRACE": "1",
           "BEVY_FPS_HDR": "0",
           "WGPU_VALIDATION": "0",
           "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
@@ -171,28 +262,28 @@
       "command": "cargo watch -w crates/game_hot -w crates/sim -x \"build -p game_hot --features dylib\"",
       "options": {
         "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
-        "env": {
-          "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target"
-        }
+        "env": { "CARGO_TARGET_DIR": "${workspaceFolder}/target" }
       },
       "problemMatcher": ["$rustc"],
       "group": "build",
-      "isBackground": true
+      "isBackground": true,
+      "detail": "Requires cargo-watch: cargo install cargo-watch --locked"
     },
     {
-      "label": "verify foundation",
+      "label": "verify workspace",
       "dependsOrder": "sequence",
       "dependsOn": [
-        "cargo fmt (check)",
-        "cargo check (workspace)",
-        "cargo clippy (workspace)",
-        "cargo clippy (foundation strict)",
-        "cargo test (foundation)",
+        "cargo fmt (workspace check)",
+        "cargo check (workspace all targets)",
+        "cargo clippy (workspace strict)",
+        "cargo test (workspace)",
+        "cargo clippy (launch feature matrix)",
+        "validate level scenes",
         "build game (debug)",
         "build editor (debug)"
       ],
       "problemMatcher": [],
-      "group": { "kind": "build", "isDefault": true }
+      "group": "build"
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 81b9c85..63b6f8f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ native Bevy scene save/load, and BRP support for external tooling.
 
 ```bash
 # Check everything
-cargo fmt --check
-cargo check --workspace
-cargo clippy --workspace
-cargo clippy -p game -p shared -p protocol -p sim -- -D warnings
-cargo test -p game --lib
-cargo test -p sim
+cargo fmt --all --check
+cargo check --workspace --all-targets
+cargo clippy --workspace --all-targets -- -D warnings
+cargo clippy -p editor -p game --bins --features dev,hot-reload -- -D warnings
+cargo test --workspace
+cargo validate-levels
 
 # Runtime game
 cargo run -p game
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ cargo watch -w crates/game_hot -w crates/sim -x "build -p game_hot --features dy
 cargo run -p editor --features dev,hot-reload
 ```
 
-Or use the VS Code task **watch game_hot (hot reload)** alongside **run editor (dev fast-link)** (enable the `hot-reload` feature on the editor run task when using dylib iteration).
+Or use the VS Code task **watch game_hot (hot reload)** alongside **run editor (hot reload)**, or choose **Editor: Hot reload** in Run and Debug. The watcher task requires `cargo-watch` (`cargo install cargo-watch --locked`).
 
 | Input | Action |
 |-------|--------|
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ deep-stale variants.
 - The native game/editor windows force an opaque Wayland surface and opaque camera clears to avoid compositor alpha issues on mixed HDR/SDR desktops.
 - If the window maps but appears transparent on Hyprland or another Wayland compositor, launch with `BEVY_FPS_HDR=0` to force the SDR camera path while debugging monitor/compositor behavior.
 - Bevy 0.19 removed the prior local `bevy_render` swapchain-timeout patch; launch troubleshooting should start from current wgpu/driver/compositor logs.
-- Debug launch configs and run tasks set `WGPU_VALIDATION=0` to quiet the known wgpu/Vulkan validation-layer warning `VUID-StandaloneSpirv-MemorySemantics-10871`. This only disables the Vulkan validation layer for those launches; Rust panics and application errors still surface normally.
-- If **CodeLLDB / mold** fails with hundreds of `undefined symbol` linker errors, the incremental `target/` cache is stale. Run the VS Code task **clean build editor (dev)** or `cargo clean -p editor && cargo build -p editor --features dev`, then launch **Debug editor** again. Use `cargo run -p editor --features dev` from the terminal if you need `libbevy_dylib` on `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` automatically.
+- Normal Debug and run configurations preserve project HDR and set `WGPU_VALIDATION=0` to suppress known Bevy/Solari Vulkan memory-model VUID noise on this stack. Use **GPU validation** when actively debugging renderer work; it forces `WGPU_VALIDATION=1` and may report those known upstream/driver messages. Use **SDR fallback** for compositor/HDR mapping failures; it additionally sets `BEVY_FPS_HDR=0`.
+- If **CodeLLDB / mold** fails with hundreds of `undefined symbol` linker errors, the incremental `target/` cache is stale. Run the VS Code task **clean build editor (dev)** or `cargo clean -p editor -p game -p game_hot -p shared && cargo build -p editor --bin editor --features dev`, then launch **Editor: Debug** again. Use `cargo run -p editor --features dev` from the terminal if you need `libbevy_dylib` on `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` automatically.
 
 ## Editor Controls
 
@@ -238,8 +238,8 @@ The `.vscode/` folder is preconfigured:
 - `extensions.json` recommends rust-analyzer, Even Better TOML, CodeLLDB, crates, and Error Lens.
 - `settings.json` runs `clippy` on save, enables proc-macro/build-script support, formats on save,
   and excludes `target/` from search/watch.
-- `tasks.json` provides workspace check/clippy plus game/editor build/run tasks.
-- `launch.json` provides CodeLLDB launch configs for the editor and game.
+- `tasks.json` mirrors the full workspace formatting, all-target check, strict Clippy, test, level-validation, build/run, hot-reload, and target-cleanup workflows. **build editor (dev fast-link)** is the default build task.
+- `launch.json` uses CodeLLDB Cargo artifact filtering for editor/game Debug, GPU-validation, hot-reload, SDR fallback, and Release configurations. Normal launches keep HDR enabled while quieting known Vulkan validation noise; dynamic-link launches set the required `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` automatically.
 - `.github/workflows/ci.yml` mirrors local formatting, check, clippy, test, and binary build verification.
 
 ## Architecture Decisions
diff --git a/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/cache.rs b/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/cache.rs
index 7b21fd6..e50eaac 100644
--- a/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/cache.rs
+++ b/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/cache.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use bevy::prelude::*;
 use bevy_egui::{egui, EguiPrimaryContextPass, EguiTextureHandle, EguiUserTextures};
 use egui_phosphor_icons::icons;
 
-use super::sources::gltf::gltf_base_color_texture_path;
+use super::sources::gltf::{gltf_base_color_texture_path, validate_gltf_dependencies};
 use super::studio::{model_file_exists, ThumbnailStudio};
 use super::ThumbnailJobSource;
 use crate::assets::{
@@ -100,13 +100,12 @@ impl AssetThumbnailCache {
             return;
         }
 
-        if let Some(texture_path) = gltf_base_color_texture_path(&model_path) {
-            self.request_texture(key, texture_path, asset_server);
+        if !self.model_source_ready(&key, &model_path) {
             return;
         }
 
-        if !model_file_exists(&model_path) {
-            self.mark_studio_failed(&key, "file not found", false);
+        if let Some(texture_path) = gltf_base_color_texture_path(&model_path) {
+            self.request_texture(key, texture_path, asset_server);
             return;
         }
 
@@ -130,8 +129,7 @@ impl AssetThumbnailCache {
         {
             return;
         }
-        if !model_file_exists(&model_path) {
-            self.mark_studio_failed(&key, "file not found", false);
+        if !self.model_source_ready(&key, &model_path) {
             return;
         }
         if studio.enqueue_source(
@@ -160,8 +158,7 @@ impl AssetThumbnailCache {
         {
             return;
         }
-        if !model_file_exists(&model_path) {
-            self.mark_studio_failed(&key, "file not found", false);
+        if !self.model_source_ready(&key, &model_path) {
             return;
         }
         if studio.enqueue_source(
@@ -206,6 +203,18 @@ impl AssetThumbnailCache {
         }
     }
 
+    fn model_source_ready(&mut self, key: &str, model_path: &str) -> bool {
+        if !model_file_exists(model_path) {
+            self.mark_studio_failed(key, "file not found", false);
+            return false;
+        }
+        if let Err(reason) = validate_gltf_dependencies(model_path) {
+            self.mark_studio_failed(key, &reason, false);
+            return false;
+        }
+        true
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn complete_studio_thumbnail(
         &mut self,
         key: &str,
diff --git a/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/sources/gltf.rs b/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/sources/gltf.rs
index 91f100a..088c48a 100644
--- a/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/sources/gltf.rs
+++ b/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/sources/gltf.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,41 @@ pub fn gltf_base_color_texture_path(model_asset_path: &str) -> Option<String> {
     None
 }
 
+/// Verifies local external buffers and images before Bevy starts an async glTF load.
+pub fn validate_gltf_dependencies(model_asset_path: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let model_path = Path::new(model_asset_path);
+    if !is_gltf_path(model_path) {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    let gltf = gltf::Gltf::open(model_path).map_err(|error| format!("invalid glTF: {error}"))?;
+    let mut uris = Vec::new();
+    for buffer in gltf.buffers() {
+        if let gltf::buffer::Source::Uri(uri) = buffer.source() {
+            uris.push(uri);
+        }
+    }
+    for image in gltf.images() {
+        if let gltf::image::Source::Uri { uri, .. } = image.source() {
+            uris.push(uri);
+        }
+    }
+
+    let model_dir = model_path.parent().unwrap_or_else(|| Path::new(""));
+    for uri in uris {
+        if uri.starts_with("data:") || uri.contains("://") {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let dependency = model_dir.join(uri);
+        if !dependency.is_file() {
+            let display = normalize_asset_path(&dependency)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| dependency.to_string_lossy().replace('\\', "/"));
+            return Err(format!("missing dependency: {display}"));
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 pub struct GltfThumbnailSource;
 
 fn is_gltf_path(path: &Path) -> bool {
@@ -61,7 +96,9 @@ fn normalize_asset_path(path: &Path) -> Option<String> {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use std::fs;
     use std::path::PathBuf;
+    use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
 
     #[test]
     fn normalize_asset_path_keeps_assets_prefix() {
@@ -79,4 +116,25 @@ mod tests {
             Some("assets/models/textures/chair_albedo.png".into())
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn dependency_validation_reports_missing_external_buffer() {
+        let nonce = SystemTime::now()
+            .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+            .unwrap()
+            .as_nanos();
+        let directory = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("blacksite-gltf-{nonce}"));
+        fs::create_dir_all(&directory).unwrap();
+        let model = directory.join("missing-buffer.gltf");
+        fs::write(
+            &model,
+            r#"{"asset":{"version":"2.0"},"buffers":[{"uri":"missing.bin","byteLength":4}]}"#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let error = validate_gltf_dependencies(model.to_str().unwrap()).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(error.contains("missing.bin"));
+
+        fs::remove_dir_all(directory).unwrap();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/studio.rs b/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/studio.rs
index a2b82e7..108df7f 100644
--- a/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/studio.rs
+++ b/crates/editor/src/assets/thumbnails/studio.rs
@@ -315,6 +315,9 @@ fn process_thumbnail_studio(
             ThumbnailStudioLayer,
             RenderLayers::layer(THUMBNAIL_LAYER),
             Transform::default(),
+            Visibility::Visible,
+            InheritedVisibility::default(),
+            ViewVisibility::default(),
         ))
         .id();
 
diff --git a/crates/game/src/lib.rs b/crates/game/src/lib.rs
index 5ebae6b..c27e397 100644
--- a/crates/game/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/game/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 //! Runtime game crate: FPS player, rendering, and starter world.
 #![allow(clippy::type_complexity)]
+#![cfg_attr(
+    feature = "hot-reload",
+    allow(
+        clippy::too_many_arguments,
+        reason = "hot-lib-reloader wrappers preserve Bevy system signatures and macro spans"
+    )
+)]
 
 pub mod editor_ext;
 pub mod launch;
@@ -62,8 +69,8 @@ mod systems {
 mod hot {
     use avian3d::prelude::*;
     use bevy::input::mouse::AccumulatedMouseMotion;
+    use bevy::light::atmosphere::ScatteringMedium;
     use bevy::light::CascadeShadowConfig;
-    use bevy::pbr::ScatteringMedium;
     use bevy::prelude::*;
     use bevy::time::Fixed;
     use bevy::window::{CursorOptions, PrimaryWindow};
diff --git a/docs/editor/README.md b/docs/editor/README.md
index b8f5885..b6f4763 100644
--- a/docs/editor/README.md
+++ b/docs/editor/README.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Docs for the in-process egui editor (`crates/editor/`). Update this index when a
 - **Dedicated egui `Camera2d`** at full window — never attach `PrimaryEguiContext` to a viewport-cropped 3D camera (NaN layout panic).
 - **Unified viewport** uses one render-to-texture target for both the editor fly camera and the possessed player camera so HDR/atmosphere is not broken by sub-viewport cropping.
 - **PIE:** F8 possess/eject while sim runs; **F6** pauses/resumes simulation in Play; project settings drive shared rendering for the active viewport camera.
-- **Asset browser** mirrors the on-disk `assets/` directory with project tree, breadcrumb, search/filter/sort, grid/list views, texture/model/material thumbnails, a details pane, and context-aware row/menu actions; narrow docks prioritize content, keep the root panel fixed, switch list view to a compact single-column layout, and hide tree/details panes when they would crowd the content area. The footer stays pinned while only the project tree, asset content, and details panels scroll. **Built-ins** holds spawnable primitives and lights. **Materials** folder scans `assets/materials/*.ron`, renders material thumbnails on a sphere using `MaterialDesc`, and exposes shader-schema-driven parameters/textures in the details editor; **Shaders** holds shader schema RON files. glTF/GLB/FBX rows can expand into a shelf of normalized embedded mesh, material, and texture subassets with independent generated thumbnails. Mesh subassets can be selected, dragged into the viewport, or placed from details/context menus; material subassets render source-material spheres; texture subassets can be applied to the selected actor. Model import settings are staged with **Apply** / **Revert**, asset context menus can regenerate thumbnails, material asset details edit shared `MaterialAsset` fields, and file asset deletion moves sources/generated artifacts into `assets/.trash/`.
+- **Asset browser** mirrors the on-disk `assets/` directory with project tree, breadcrumb, search/filter/sort, grid/list views, texture/model/material thumbnails, a details pane, and context-aware row/menu actions; narrow docks prioritize content, keep the root panel fixed, switch list view to a compact single-column layout, and hide tree/details panes when they would crowd the content area. The footer stays pinned while only the project tree, asset content, and details panels scroll. **Built-ins** holds spawnable primitives and lights. **Materials** folder scans `assets/materials/*.ron`, renders material thumbnails on a sphere using `MaterialDesc`, and exposes shader-schema-driven parameters/textures in the details editor; **Shaders** holds shader schema RON files. glTF/GLB/FBX rows can expand into a shelf of normalized embedded mesh, material, and texture subassets with independent generated thumbnails. Mesh subassets can be selected, dragged into the viewport, or placed from details/context menus; material subassets render source-material spheres; texture subassets can be applied to the selected actor. Model import settings are staged with **Apply** / **Revert**, asset context menus can regenerate thumbnails, material asset details edit shared `MaterialAsset` fields, and file asset deletion moves sources/generated artifacts into `assets/.trash/`. Before thumbnail loading, glTF sources preflight local external buffers/images and show a stable non-retryable failure state when a dependency is missing instead of repeatedly invoking the asset loader.
 - **Static mesh renderer** — model drag/drop defaults to `ActorKind::StaticMesh + StaticMeshRenderer` using normalized artifacts under `assets/meshes/generated/`. Renderer slots store imported `EditorAssetRef` mesh/material references, not source FBX/glTF paths. `SceneInstance` placement keeps the legacy `ImportedModel + ModelRef` path for full scene playback.
 - **Brush authoring** — `ActorKind::Brush + BrushDesc` stores persisted convex blockout faces, validates authored geometry in the inspector and Window → Brush Diagnostics, and hydrates active valid brushes into generated mesh children. See [brushes.md](brushes.md).
 - **Draw Brush** — `B`, toolbar pencil, or command `brush.draw` enters a floor-polygon draw mode. LMB places snapped points, Backspace removes the last point, Enter locks the outline for height editing, mouse up/down adjusts height, and Enter/LMB creates additive prism brushes through history. Esc/right-click cancels. Simple concave outlines decompose into convex brush parts; self-intersections remain blocked.