diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d056825..271061a 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ Thumbs.db
 
 # Godot UID files (regenerated from path)
 *.uid
+assets/build_info.json
diff --git a/scripts/game.gd b/scripts/game.gd
index 5a6974b..a4696aa 100644
--- a/scripts/game.gd
+++ b/scripts/game.gd
@@ -33,11 +33,22 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 		_setup_networked()
 
 
+
+static func _build_label() -> String:
+	var f := FileAccess.open("res://assets/build_info.json", FileAccess.READ)
+	if f == null:
+		return "dev"
+	var d = JSON.parse_string(f.get_as_text())
+	if d is Dictionary:
+		return "%s %s" % [d.get("checkpoint", "?"), d.get("commit", "?")]
+	return "dev"
+
+
 func _show_build_stamp() -> void:
 	var layer := CanvasLayer.new()
 	add_child(layer)
 	var lbl := Label.new()
-	lbl.text = "build %s" % ProjectSettings.get_setting("application/config/version", "dev")
+	lbl.text = "build %s" % _build_label()
 	lbl.add_theme_color_override("font_color", Color(1, 1, 1, 0.5))
 	lbl.add_theme_font_size_override("font_size", 13)
 	lbl.set_anchors_and_offsets_preset(Control.PRESET_BOTTOM_LEFT)
diff --git a/scripts/main_menu.gd b/scripts/main_menu.gd
index df8edcb..0fe689a 100644
--- a/scripts/main_menu.gd
+++ b/scripts/main_menu.gd
@@ -49,9 +49,20 @@ var _is_authenticating: bool = false
 
 # ─── Lifecycle ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+
+static func _build_label() -> String:
+	var f := FileAccess.open("res://assets/build_info.json", FileAccess.READ)
+	if f == null:
+		return "dev"
+	var d = JSON.parse_string(f.get_as_text())
+	if d is Dictionary:
+		return "%s %s" % [d.get("checkpoint", "?"), d.get("commit", "?")]
+	return "dev"
+
+
 func _ready() -> void:
 	var v := Label.new()
-	v.text = "build %s" % ProjectSettings.get_setting("application/config/version", "dev")
+	v.text = "build %s" % _build_label()
 	v.add_theme_color_override("font_color", Color(1, 1, 1, 0.4))
 	v.add_theme_font_size_override("font_size", 12)
 	v.set_anchors_and_offsets_preset(Control.PRESET_BOTTOM_RIGHT)