diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index f0194d2..0fd6071 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
     <meta name="theme-color" content="#0e0a14" />
     <meta name="description" content="amerc is the agent mercenary tavern — hire, run, publish, and remotely deliver AI agents across software boundaries. No infrastructure, just skills." />
-    <meta name="version" content="0.59.0-a11y" />
+    <meta name="version" content="0.60.0-canvasperf" />
     <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.svg" type="image/svg+xml" />
     <link rel="icon" href="/app-192.png" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" />
     <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 624f041..43e16ab 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "amerc-site",
-  "version": "0.59.0-a11y",
+  "version": "0.60.0-canvasperf",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/src/Scene2D.jsx b/src/Scene2D.jsx
index c8b40cf..dfbf13d 100644
--- a/src/Scene2D.jsx
+++ b/src/Scene2D.jsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import Account from './Account.jsx';
 import TavernGame from './TavernGame.jsx';
 import { api } from './api.js';
 
-const RELEASE = '0.59.0-a11y';
+const RELEASE = '0.60.0-canvasperf';
 
 const NAV = [
   { id: 'home', label: 'Tavern' },
diff --git a/src/TavernGame.jsx b/src/TavernGame.jsx
index c5888d5..a7a4832 100644
--- a/src/TavernGame.jsx
+++ b/src/TavernGame.jsx
@@ -57,12 +57,13 @@ export default function TavernGame({ onHotspot, stats }) {
   useEffect(() => { statsRef.current = stats; }, [stats]);
   const [ready, setReady] = useState(false);
   useEffect(() => {
-    const keys = Object.keys(SRC); const S = {}; let loaded = 0, raf, f = 0, buf;
+    const keys = Object.keys(SRC); const S = {}; let loaded = 0, raf, f = 0, buf, paused = false, io;
     const start = () => {
       setReady(true);
       buf = document.createElement('canvas'); buf.width = W; buf.height = H; buildStatic(buf, S);
       const ctx = canvasRef.current.getContext('2d'); ctx.imageSmoothingEnabled = false;
       const render = () => {
+        if (paused) return;
         f++;
         ctx.drawImage(buf, 0, 0);
         // bartender (a clothed guard tending bar) behind the bar (idle bob)
@@ -107,9 +108,15 @@ export default function TavernGame({ onHotspot, stats }) {
         raf = requestAnimationFrame(render);
       };
       render();
+      // pause the 60fps loop while the tavern is scrolled out of view (CPU/battery)
+      io = new IntersectionObserver(([e]) => {
+        if (e.isIntersecting) { if (paused) { paused = false; render(); } }
+        else if (!paused) { paused = true; cancelAnimationFrame(raf); }
+      }, { threshold: 0 });
+      io.observe(canvasRef.current);
     };
     keys.forEach((k) => { const im = new Image(); im.onload = () => { if (++loaded === keys.length) start(); }; im.src = SRC[k]; S[k] = im; });
-    return () => cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
+    return () => { cancelAnimationFrame(raf); if (io) io.disconnect(); };
   }, []);
 
   return (