diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index adb3013..aafc423 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="0.77.0-docsmobile" />
+    <meta name="version" content="0.78.0-loadscreen" />
     <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 f4ee2e7..2992738 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "amerc-site",
-  "version": "0.77.0-docsmobile",
+  "version": "0.78.0-loadscreen",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/src/Scene2D.jsx b/src/Scene2D.jsx
index 7b0a985..6caba8f 100644
--- a/src/Scene2D.jsx
+++ b/src/Scene2D.jsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { api } from './api.js';
 const Menu = ({ size = 20 }) => (<svg width={size} height={size} viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" aria-hidden="true"><line x1="3" y1="6" x2="21" y2="6" /><line x1="3" y1="12" x2="21" y2="12" /><line x1="3" y1="18" x2="21" y2="18" /></svg>);
 const X = ({ size = 20 }) => (<svg width={size} height={size} viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" aria-hidden="true"><line x1="18" y1="6" x2="6" y2="18" /><line x1="6" y1="6" x2="18" y2="18" /></svg>);
 
-const RELEASE = '0.77.0-docsmobile';
+const RELEASE = '0.78.0-loadscreen';
 
 const NAV = [
   { id: 'home', label: 'Tavern' },
diff --git a/src/main.jsx b/src/main.jsx
index 06893f0..c27eefe 100644
--- a/src/main.jsx
+++ b/src/main.jsx
@@ -45,10 +45,17 @@ class ErrorBoundary extends React.Component {
   }
 }
 
+const Loading = () => (
+  <div className="app-loading">
+    <span className="app-loading-gem" aria-hidden="true" />
+    <span className="app-loading-word">amerc</span>
+  </div>
+);
+
 createRoot(document.getElementById('root')).render(
   <React.StrictMode>
     <ErrorBoundary>
-      <Suspense fallback={<div style={{ color: '#9fb0d0', fontFamily: 'monospace', padding: 24 }}>Loading amerc…</div>}>
+      <Suspense fallback={<Loading />}>
         <App />
       </Suspense>
     </ErrorBoundary>
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index da38ad7..36dc8cd 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -1487,3 +1487,10 @@ button {
   .docs-side { width: 100%; max-height: 210px; overflow-y: auto; border-right: none; border-bottom: 2px solid #1b2536; }
   .docs-main { padding: 20px 16px; }
 }
+
+/* branded app loading screen (Suspense fallback) (0.78) */
+.app-loading { position: fixed; inset: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 16px; background: radial-gradient(circle at 50% 38%, #160d22, #07060c 70%); }
+.app-loading-gem { width: 28px; height: 28px; background: linear-gradient(135deg, #5fe6ff, #1f86c4); box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px #07273a, 0 0 22px rgba(39,216,255,0.5); animation: app-pulse 1.3s ease-in-out infinite; }
+.app-loading-word { font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; color: #f3d27a; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 2px; opacity: 0.85; }
+@keyframes app-pulse { 0%, 100% { transform: rotate(45deg) scale(1); opacity: 0.7; } 50% { transform: rotate(45deg) scale(1.16); opacity: 1; } }
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .app-loading-gem { animation: none; transform: rotate(45deg); } }