diff --git a/app/page.tsx b/app/page.tsx
index 191bc32..aa92c6a 100644
--- a/app/page.tsx
+++ b/app/page.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,27 @@ export default async function Home() {
   return (
     <div className="relative min-h-screen overflow-x-hidden text-ink">
       <script type="application/ld+json" dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: JSON.stringify(JSON_LD) }} />
+      {/* First-visit cover for the what's-new tour: solid midnight painted with
+          the initial HTML, hidden synchronously (same parse pass, before paint)
+          for anyone who has already seen the tour. First-timers keep it until
+          FeatureTour mounts and takes over with the identical color, so home
+          never flashes before the thank-you screen. HIDDEN, never removed: the
+          server and client trees must stay structurally identical or hydration
+          fails (suppressHydrationWarning covers the style the script mutates). */}
+      <div
+        id="gf-tour-cover"
+        suppressHydrationWarning
+        style={{ position: "fixed", inset: 0, zIndex: 120, background: "#02001e" }}
+      />
+      <script
+        dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{
+          __html:
+            "try{if(localStorage.getItem('gitfut:tour:v1'))document.getElementById('gf-tour-cover').style.display='none'}catch(e){document.getElementById('gf-tour-cover').style.display='none'}",
+        }}
+      />
+      <noscript>
+        <style>{`#gf-tour-cover{display:none}`}</style>
+      </noscript>
       <Background />
       <AppShell stars={stars} scoutCount={scoutCount} />
     </div>
diff --git a/components/AppShell.tsx b/components/AppShell.tsx
index b89aaa6..b1878a6 100644
--- a/components/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/components/AppShell.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import BuyMeACoffee from "@/components/BuyMeACoffee";
 import SupportProductHunt from "@/components/SupportProductHunt";
 import GithubStar from "@/components/GithubStar";
 import { SAMPLE_CARDS } from "@/lib/github/samples";
+import { TOUR_STORAGE_KEY } from "@/components/tour/steps";
 
 const HowItWorksModal = dynamic(() => import("@/components/HowItWorksModal"), {
   ssr: false,
@@ -18,6 +19,11 @@ const HowItWorksModal = dynamic(() => import("@/components/HowItWorksModal"), {
 // Home-only: AppShell is rendered solely by app/page.tsx, so the TEAM NEWS
 // bulletin never mounts on scout/duel pages. Lazy + ssr:false like the modal.
 const WhatsNew = dynamic(() => import("@/components/WhatsNew"), { ssr: false });
+// First-visit what's-new tour (thank-you + zoom showcase). Mounted over home as
+// a pure overlay — no navigation in or out — and only until it has been seen
+// once (localStorage; the pre-hydration cover in app/page.tsx hides home's
+// first paint for exactly the visitors who will get it).
+const FeatureTour = dynamic(() => import("@/components/tour/FeatureTour"), { ssr: false });
 
 export default function AppShell({
   stars,
@@ -30,6 +36,7 @@ export default function AppShell({
   const [isPending, startTransition] = useTransition();
   const [pending, setPending] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [modalOpen, setModalOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [tourOpen, setTourOpen] = useState(false);
 
   // Mark this tab as "has visited home" so a scouted card shows BACK, while a
   // directly-opened / shared card link (no home visit) shows a "make your card"
@@ -40,6 +47,29 @@ export default function AppShell({
     } catch {}
   }, []);
 
+  // The tour auto-plays exactly once. If it should NOT play, the pre-hydration
+  // cover was already removed synchronously by the inline script; if the tour
+  // chunk somehow never arrives, the safety timer clears the cover anyway so
+  // nobody stares at a blank screen. Deferred set (like seen-home above) so it
+  // can't cascade a render.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let show = false;
+    try {
+      show = !localStorage.getItem(TOUR_STORAGE_KEY);
+    } catch {}
+    const t = setTimeout(() => {
+      if (show) setTourOpen(true);
+    }, 0);
+    const safety = setTimeout(() => {
+      const cover = document.getElementById("gf-tour-cover");
+      if (cover) cover.style.display = "none";
+    }, 4000);
+    return () => {
+      clearTimeout(t);
+      clearTimeout(safety);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
   // Scouting navigates to the canonical /<username> route. The transition keeps
   // the loading screen up (with the mascot + puns) while the report is fetched
   // and server-rendered; the route then plays its own reveal.
@@ -80,6 +110,8 @@ export default function AppShell({
 
       {modalOpen && <HowItWorksModal onClose={() => setModalOpen(false)} />}
       <WhatsNew />
+
+      {tourOpen && <FeatureTour onDone={() => setTourOpen(false)} />}
     </>
   );
 }
diff --git a/components/BallCursor.tsx b/components/BallCursor.tsx
index 08816ea..7c6aaf7 100644
--- a/components/BallCursor.tsx
+++ b/components/BallCursor.tsx
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ export default function BallCursor() {
   return (
     <button
       type="button"
+      data-tour="ball"
       onClick={(e) => {
         posRef.current = { x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY };
         setPhase("dribble");
diff --git a/components/ResultView.tsx b/components/ResultView.tsx
index abede81..6eb9ef6 100644
--- a/components/ResultView.tsx
+++ b/components/ResultView.tsx
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ interface Props {
   stars?: number | null;
   /** GitHub-derived flag; share links only carry ?country= when it's overridden. */
   canonicalCountry?: string;
+  /** Rendered as the feature tour's demo stage: drop the support pills, which
+   *  are promo chrome with nothing to do with the tour (and float above it). */
+  demo?: boolean;
 }
 
 // Card width scales with the viewport but is bounded by BOTH width and height
@@ -47,6 +50,7 @@ export default function ResultView({
   onCountryChange,
   stars,
   canonicalCountry = "",
+  demo = false,
 }: Props) {
   const captureRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const storyRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
@@ -193,12 +197,14 @@ export default function ResultView({
               storyRef={storyRef}
               canonicalCountry={canonicalCountry}
             />
-            <DuelButton login={card.login} />
+            <div data-tour="duel">
+              <DuelButton login={card.login} />
+            </div>
           </div>
           {/* Mobile cabinet: right under the duel CTA, before the report panels
               stack — the stacked layout's most visible slot after the card. */}
           {hasAwards && (
-            <div className="hidden w-[min(90vw,420px)] max-[980px]:block">
+            <div className="hidden w-[min(90vw,420px)] max-[980px]:block" data-tour="trophies">
               <TrophyCabinetPanel card={card} onAwardClick={setActiveAward} />
             </div>
           )}
@@ -212,7 +218,7 @@ export default function ResultView({
             <MetricsPanel card={card} />
             {hasAwards ? (
               <>
-                <div className="max-[980px]:hidden">
+                <div className="max-[980px]:hidden" data-tour="trophies">
                   <TrophyCabinetPanel card={card} onAwardClick={setActiveAward} />
                 </div>
                 <button
@@ -255,8 +261,8 @@ export default function ResultView({
       </div>
     </main>
 
-    <SupportProductHunt />
-    <BuyMeACoffee />
+    {!demo && <SupportProductHunt />}
+    {!demo && <BuyMeACoffee />}
 
     {modalOpen && <HowItWorksModal onClose={() => setModalOpen(false)} />}
 
diff --git a/components/tour/FeatureTour.tsx b/components/tour/FeatureTour.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c9ce1ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/tour/FeatureTour.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,503 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import ResultView from "@/components/ResultView";
+import BallCursor from "@/components/BallCursor";
+import { SAMPLE_CARDS } from "@/lib/github/samples";
+import { BALL_MQ, TOUR_STEPS, TOUR_STORAGE_KEY, type TourStep } from "./steps";
+
+// The first-visit what's-new tour: a dark thank-you screen over a fully mounted
+// demo scout page (the baked torvalds sample — zero fetch), then a camera that
+// dives from stop to stop. The camera is a translate+scale on the stage; the
+// spotlight is a rounded hole cut with a huge box-shadow that rides INSIDE the
+// stage, so hole and content zoom as one. Home stays mounted under the overlay
+// the whole time — entry and exit are mount/unmount, no navigation.
+//
+// Rhythm (the Screen Studio feel): the page is shown whole first, the camera
+// dives slowly, and between stops it pulls all the way back and breathes before
+// diving again — so a viewer never loses where they are. Nothing auto-advances.
+
+const EASE = "cubic-bezier(.16,1,.3,1)";
+const ZOOM_IN_MS = 1500; // the slow dive
+const ZOOM_OUT_MS = 900; // the pull back to the whole page
+const OPEN_HOLD = 1500; // look at the scout page before the first dive
+const WIDE_HOLD = 1000; // breathe at full view between stops
+const EXIT_MS = 380;
+const CAP_GAP = 14; // caption sits close to the spotlight, part of the same beat
+
+interface Cam {
+  s: number;
+  tx: number;
+  ty: number;
+}
+const IDENTITY: Cam = { s: 1, tx: 0, ty: 0 };
+
+interface Rect {
+  x: number;
+  y: number;
+  w: number;
+  h: number;
+}
+
+interface Caption {
+  step: TourStep;
+  /** Viewport-space placement, computed when the dive is fired. */
+  style: { left: number; top?: number; bottom?: number };
+  /** Camera travel time — the caption fades in as it lands. */
+  landMs: number;
+}
+
+// "Thank you" around the world. Same words, one shared grid cell, so the block
+// never changes width as it cycles. Non-latin scripts get a clean system stack
+// (no webfont downloads — these ship with every OS we care about).
+const THANKS: readonly { lang: string; text: string; font?: string; rtl?: boolean }[] = [
+  { lang: "en", text: "Thank you!" },
+  { lang: "fr", text: "Merci!" },
+  { lang: "es", text: "Gracias" },
+  {
+    lang: "ar",
+    text: "شكرًا",
+    font: '"Noto Naskh Arabic","SF Arabic","Geeza Pro","Segoe UI",Tahoma,serif',
+    rtl: true,
+  },
+  { lang: "de", text: "Danke!" },
+  { lang: "ko", text: "감사합니다", font: '"Apple SD Gothic Neo","Malgun Gothic","Noto Sans KR",sans-serif' },
+  { lang: "ja", text: "ありがとう", font: '"Hiragino Sans","Yu Gothic","Noto Sans JP",Meiryo,sans-serif' },
+];
+const THANKS_MS = 5000;
+// The counters land at ~2s. The way into the tour surfaces as they settle, so
+// the thank-you is read before there is anywhere to click.
+const CTA_DELAY = 2000;
+
+const STATS = [
+  { to: 150, prefix: "+", suffix: "k", label: "VISITORS" },
+  { to: 950, prefix: "+", suffix: "k", label: "CARDS GENERATED", delay: 220 },
+  { to: 2.4, decimals: 1, suffix: "k", label: "GITHUB STARS", delay: 440 },
+];
+
+const demoCard = () => SAMPLE_CARDS.find((c) => c.login === "torvalds") ?? SAMPLE_CARDS[0];
+
+const prefersReduced = () => window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches;
+
+// Eased count-up; renders the target outright under reduced motion.
+function CountUp({
+  to,
+  decimals = 0,
+  prefix = "",
+  suffix = "",
+  delay = 0,
+}: {
+  to: number;
+  decimals?: number;
+  prefix?: string;
+  suffix?: string;
+  delay?: number;
+}) {
+  const [reduced] = useState(prefersReduced);
+  const [v, setV] = useState(0);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (reduced) return;
+    let raf = 0;
+    let start = 0;
+    const DUR = 1600;
+    const tick = (t: number) => {
+      if (!start) start = t;
+      const p = Math.min((t - start - delay) / DUR, 1);
+      if (p >= 0) setV(to * (1 - Math.pow(1 - p, 3)));
+      if (p < 1) raf = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    };
+    raf = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    return () => cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
+  }, [to, delay, reduced]);
+  return (
+    <span className="tabular-nums">
+      {prefix}
+      {(reduced ? to : v).toFixed(decimals)}
+      {suffix}
+    </span>
+  );
+}
+
+export default function FeatureTour({ onDone }: { onDone: () => void }) {
+  const [phase, setPhase] = useState<"intro" | "tour" | "exit">("intro");
+  const [idx, setIdx] = useState(0);
+  const [caption, setCaption] = useState<Caption | null>(null);
+  const [thanksIdx, setThanksIdx] = useState(0);
+  const [ctaIn, setCtaIn] = useState(false);
+  // Resolved once on mount (ssr:false, so window exists): drop the ball stop
+  // where the ball itself never mounts, and flatten motion when asked to.
+  const [steps] = useState<readonly TourStep[]>(() =>
+    window.matchMedia(BALL_MQ).matches ? TOUR_STEPS : TOUR_STEPS.filter((s) => s.key !== "ball"),
+  );
+  const [reduced] = useState(prefersReduced);
+
+  const stageRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const holeRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const camRef = useRef<Cam>(IDENTITY);
+  const timers = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>[]>([]);
+
+  const clearTimers = () => {
+    timers.current.forEach(clearTimeout);
+    timers.current = [];
+  };
+  const after = (ms: number, fn: () => void) => {
+    timers.current.push(setTimeout(fn, ms));
+  };
+
+  const finish = useCallback(() => {
+    try {
+      localStorage.setItem(TOUR_STORAGE_KEY, String(Date.now()));
+    } catch {}
+    clearTimers();
+    setPhase("exit");
+    setTimeout(onDone, EXIT_MS + 30);
+  }, [onDone]);
+
+  // The pre-hydration cover (app/page.tsx) bridged SSR paint -> here; the
+  // intro is the same solid midnight, so hiding it now is seamless. Hidden,
+  // not removed — React owns that node and the trees must keep matching.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const cover = document.getElementById("gf-tour-cover");
+    if (cover) cover.style.display = "none";
+  }, []);
+
+  // Cycle the thank-you through its languages while the intro is up.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (phase !== "intro" || reduced) return;
+    const id = setInterval(() => setThanksIdx((i) => (i + 1) % THANKS.length), THANKS_MS);
+    return () => clearInterval(id);
+  }, [phase, reduced]);
+
+  // Hold the way in back until the thank-you has had its moment. It stays in
+  // the layout the whole time (only opacity moves), so nothing shifts when it
+  // arrives.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const t = setTimeout(() => setCtaIn(true), CTA_DELAY);
+    return () => clearTimeout(t);
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => clearTimers, []);
+
+  // ---- camera ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  // Document-space rect of a stage target, valid under any current transform
+  // (getBoundingClientRect includes the camera, so divide it back out).
+  const measure = useCallback((target: string): Rect | null => {
+    const stage = stageRef.current;
+    if (!stage) return null;
+    const els = Array.from(stage.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>(`[data-tour="${target}"]`));
+    const el = els.find((e) => e.getClientRects().length > 0) ?? els[0];
+    if (!el) return null;
+    const r = el.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const { s, tx, ty } = camRef.current;
+    return { x: (r.left - tx) / s, y: (r.top - ty) / s, w: r.width / s, h: r.height / s };
+  }, []);
+
+  // Move the camera; `hole` frames the spotlight, omitting it fades the veil
+  // away (the wide, undimmed view between stops).
+  const applyCam = useCallback(
+    (cam: Cam, ms: number, hole?: Rect) => {
+      const stage = stageRef.current;
+      const holeEl = holeRef.current;
+      if (!stage) return;
+      const dur = reduced ? 0 : ms;
+      stage.style.transition = `transform ${dur}ms ${EASE}`;
+      stage.style.transform = `translate3d(${cam.tx}px, ${cam.ty}px, 0) scale(${cam.s})`;
+      camRef.current = cam;
+      if (!holeEl) return;
+      holeEl.style.transition = `left ${dur}ms ${EASE}, top ${dur}ms ${EASE}, width ${dur}ms ${EASE}, height ${dur}ms ${EASE}, opacity ${dur}ms ${EASE}`;
+      if (hole) {
+        holeEl.style.left = `${hole.x}px`;
+        holeEl.style.top = `${hole.y}px`;
+        holeEl.style.width = `${hole.w}px`;
+        holeEl.style.height = `${hole.h}px`;
+        holeEl.style.opacity = "1";
+      } else {
+        holeEl.style.opacity = "0";
+      }
+    },
+    [reduced],
+  );
+
+  // Frame a stop into ~60% of the viewport, capped per step so small targets
+  // (the ball) zoom harder without pixelating into absurdity; land it slightly
+  // above center so the caption breathes below.
+  const camFor = useCallback((rect: Rect, step: TourStep): Cam => {
+    const vw = window.innerWidth;
+    const vh = window.innerHeight;
+    const s = Math.min(
+      Math.max(Math.min((vw * 0.6) / (rect.w + step.pad * 2), (vh * 0.56) / (rect.h + step.pad * 2)), 1.12),
+      step.maxScale,
+    );
+    return { s, tx: vw / 2 - (rect.x + rect.w / 2) * s, ty: vh * 0.44 - (rect.y + rect.h / 2) * s };
+  }, []);
+
+  // Caption hugs the spotlight: under it when there's room, above it otherwise
+  // (the ball sits at the very bottom).
+  const captionPos = (pad: Rect, cam: Cam): Caption["style"] => {
+    const vw = window.innerWidth;
+    const vh = window.innerHeight;
+    const top = pad.y * cam.s + cam.ty;
+    const bottom = (pad.y + pad.h) * cam.s + cam.ty;
+    const cx = (pad.x + pad.w / 2) * cam.s + cam.tx;
+    // Clamp by the pill's real half-width so it stays fully on-screen on phones.
+    const half = Math.min(470, vw * 0.88) / 2 + 8;
+    const left = Math.min(Math.max(cx, half), vw - half);
+    return bottom + 190 < vh ? { left, top: bottom + CAP_GAP } : { left, bottom: vh - top + CAP_GAP };
+  };
+
+  const dive = useCallback(
+    (step: TourStep) => {
+      const rect = measure(step.target);
+      if (!rect) return finish(); // target missing: bail out gracefully
+      const pad: Rect = {
+        x: rect.x - step.pad,
+        y: rect.y - step.pad,
+        w: rect.w + step.pad * 2,
+        h: rect.h + step.pad * 2,
+      };
+      const cam = camFor(rect, step);
+      applyCam(cam, ZOOM_IN_MS, pad);
+      setCaption({ step, style: captionPos(pad, cam), landMs: reduced ? 0 : ZOOM_IN_MS });
+    },
+    [measure, camFor, applyCam, finish, reduced],
+  );
+
+  // Travel to a stop: pull back to the whole page, breathe, then dive.
+  const goTo = useCallback(
+    (i: number, openDelay = 0) => {
+      const step = steps[i];
+      if (!step) return finish();
+      clearTimers();
+      setIdx(i);
+      setCaption(null);
+      const zoomed = camRef.current.s > 1.001;
+      if (zoomed && !reduced) applyCam(IDENTITY, ZOOM_OUT_MS);
+      const wait = reduced ? 0 : zoomed ? ZOOM_OUT_MS + WIDE_HOLD : openDelay;
+      after(wait, () => dive(step));
+    },
+    [steps, applyCam, dive, finish, reduced],
+  );
+
+  const start = () => {
+    setPhase("tour");
+    goTo(0, OPEN_HOLD);
+  };
+
+  // No Escape hatch on purpose: the tour is a once-ever thing, and it is only
+  // marked seen when someone actually walks it (finish or skip). A stray
+  // keypress or a reload must not burn it — it comes back next visit instead.
+
+  // Mid-tour resize: reframe the current stop quickly, no ceremony.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (phase !== "tour") return;
+    const onResize = () => {
+      const step = steps[idx];
+      if (!step || camRef.current.s <= 1.001) return;
+      const rect = measure(step.target);
+      if (!rect) return;
+      const pad: Rect = { x: rect.x - step.pad, y: rect.y - step.pad, w: rect.w + step.pad * 2, h: rect.h + step.pad * 2 };
+      const cam = camFor(rect, step);
+      applyCam(cam, 180, pad);
+      setCaption({ step, style: captionPos(pad, cam), landMs: 180 });
+    };
+    window.addEventListener("resize", onResize);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener("resize", onResize);
+  }, [phase, idx, steps, measure, applyCam, camFor]);
+
+  const last = idx + 1 >= steps.length;
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="fixed inset-0 z-[110] overflow-hidden bg-bg"
+      style={{ opacity: phase === "exit" ? 0 : 1, transition: `opacity ${EXIT_MS}ms ease` }}
+    >
+      {/* ---- the demo stage: a real, live scout page under the camera ---- */}
+      <div
+        ref={stageRef}
+        className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 origin-top-left will-change-transform"
+        aria-hidden
+      >
+        <ResultView card={demoCard()} onBack={() => {}} onCountryChange={() => {}} stars={null} demo />
+        {/* fixed-position children anchor to this transformed stage, so this
+            ball lives in the stage's corner and zooms with the camera (the
+            layout's global ball sits beneath the overlay, unseen) */}
+        <BallCursor />
+        {/* spotlight: transparent hole + a world of darkness around it. The z
+            must clear everything in the stage (main is z-[2]) or the veil
+            dims nothing. */}
+        <div
+          ref={holeRef}
+          className="absolute rounded-2xl"
+          style={{
+            left: 0,
+            top: 0,
+            width: 0,
+            height: 0,
+            opacity: 0,
+            zIndex: 90,
+            boxShadow: "0 0 0 200vmax rgba(2,0,30,.84)",
+            border: "1px solid rgba(212,175,55,.4)",
+          }}
+        />
+      </div>
+
+      {/* ---- intro: the thank-you moment ---- */}
+      {phase === "intro" && (
+        <div className="absolute inset-0 z-[10] flex flex-col items-center justify-center bg-bg px-6 text-center">
+          {/* one soft, slowly breathing wash — the only decoration */}
+          {/* centering lives in the transform (and its keyframe) alone — a
+              Tailwind -translate-* here sets the separate `translate` property
+              and would compose with it, shoving the glow off-screen */}
+          <div
+            aria-hidden
+            className="gf-thanks-glow pointer-events-none absolute left-1/2 top-1/2 h-[560px] w-[900px] max-w-[120vw]"
+            style={{
+              transform: "translate(-50%,-58%)",
+              background:
+                "radial-gradient(closest-side, rgba(57,211,83,.13), transparent 70%), radial-gradient(closest-side, rgba(212,175,55,.09), transparent 72%)",
+            }}
+          />
+
+          <div className="font-mono text-[11px] font-semibold tracking-[.4em] text-brand">
+            ONE MONTH OF GITFUT
+          </div>
+
+          {/* every language stacked in a single grid cell: the block keeps one
+              width no matter which word is showing */}
+          <div className="mt-[clamp(16px,3vh,26px)] grid place-items-center">
+            {THANKS.map((w, i) => (
+              <span
+                key={w.lang}
+                lang={w.lang}
+                dir={w.rtl ? "rtl" : undefined}
+                className="font-sans text-[clamp(54px,8.4vw,108px)] font-light leading-[1.12] tracking-[-0.03em] text-ink"
+                style={{
+                  gridArea: "1 / 1",
+                  fontFamily: w.font,
+                  opacity: i === thanksIdx ? 1 : 0,
+                  // out fast, in after the outgoing word has cleared — no two
+                  // scripts ever ghost through each other
+                  transition: i === thanksIdx ? "opacity 1s ease .6s" : "opacity .8s ease",
+                }}
+              >
+                {w.text}
+              </span>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+
+          {/* no divider above the numbers: the only rule on this screen is the
+              one under the CTA, so a line means "click me" and nothing else */}
+          <div className="mt-[clamp(36px,6vh,60px)] flex flex-wrap items-start justify-center gap-x-[clamp(30px,6vw,72px)] gap-y-6">
+            {STATS.map((s) => (
+              <div key={s.label} className="flex flex-col items-center gap-[7px]">
+                <span className="font-sans text-[clamp(26px,3.4vw,40px)] font-light leading-none tracking-[-0.02em] text-ink">
+                  <CountUp to={s.to} decimals={s.decimals} prefix={s.prefix} suffix={s.suffix} delay={s.delay} />
+                </span>
+                <span className="font-mono text-[10px] font-semibold tracking-[.24em] text-ink-mute">
+                  {s.label}
+                </span>
+              </div>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+
+          {/* the way in, in the same mono micro-caps voice as the eyebrow and
+              the stat labels, closed by a green hairline answering the gold one
+              above the numbers — the one live thing on a still screen */}
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={start}
+            tabIndex={ctaIn ? 0 : -1}
+            aria-hidden={!ctaIn}
+            className="group mt-[clamp(30px,5vh,52px)] cursor-pointer rounded-md px-3 py-3 text-center focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand/50"
+            style={{
+              opacity: ctaIn ? 1 : 0,
+              transform: ctaIn || reduced ? "none" : "translateY(7px)",
+              pointerEvents: ctaIn ? "auto" : "none",
+              transition: reduced ? "none" : `opacity .9s ease, transform .9s ${EASE}`,
+            }}
+          >
+            <span className="font-mono text-[11px] font-semibold tracking-[.3em] text-ink-soft transition-colors duration-300 group-hover:text-ink group-focus-visible:text-ink">
+              SEE WHAT WE BUILT
+            </span>
+            {/* draws itself open under the words as they land: the one bit of
+                choreography on a still screen, and the only thing telling you
+                this line is a control */}
+            <span
+              aria-hidden
+              className="mt-[9px] block h-px opacity-45 group-hover:opacity-100 group-hover:drop-shadow-[0_0_6px_rgba(57,211,83,.55)] group-focus-visible:opacity-100"
+              style={{
+                background: "linear-gradient(90deg,transparent,var(--color-brand),transparent)",
+                transform: reduced ? "none" : `scaleX(${ctaIn ? 1 : 0})`,
+                transition: reduced ? "none" : `transform 1.1s ${EASE} .15s, opacity .3s ease, filter .3s ease`,
+              }}
+            />
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      {/* ---- tour chrome: caption hugging the spotlight, controls docked ---- */}
+      {phase === "tour" && caption && (
+        <div
+          key={`${caption.step.key}-cap`}
+          className="pointer-events-none absolute z-[10] w-[min(470px,88vw)]"
+          style={{
+            ...caption.style,
+            opacity: 0,
+            animation: `gf-tour-cap .5s ease ${Math.max(caption.landMs - 250, 0)}ms forwards`,
+          }}
+        >
+          <div className="rounded-2xl border border-white/[0.08] bg-bg/85 px-6 py-4 text-center backdrop-blur-[6px]">
+            <div className="font-display text-[13px] font-bold tracking-[.28em] text-gold">
+              {caption.step.kicker}
+            </div>
+            <p className="mt-2 text-[14.5px] leading-relaxed text-ink">{caption.step.body}</p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      {phase === "tour" && (
+        <div className="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-[26px] z-[10] flex items-center justify-center gap-5">
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={() => goTo(idx - 1)}
+            disabled={idx === 0}
+            className="cursor-pointer rounded-lg px-4 py-2 text-[13.5px] font-semibold text-ink-soft transition hover:text-ink disabled:cursor-default disabled:opacity-25 disabled:hover:text-ink-soft"
+          >
+            back
+          </button>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-[7px]">
+            {steps.map((s, i) => (
+              <span
+                key={s.key}
+                className="h-[6px] w-[6px] rounded-full transition-colors duration-300"
+                style={{ background: i === idx ? "var(--color-brand)" : "rgba(255,255,255,.22)" }}
+              />
+            ))}
+          </div>
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={() => goTo(idx + 1)}
+            className="cursor-pointer rounded-lg border border-white/15 bg-white/[0.06] px-5 py-2 text-[13.5px] font-semibold text-ink transition hover:bg-white/[0.12]"
+          >
+            {last ? "finish" : "next"}
+          </button>
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={finish}
+            className="cursor-pointer text-[12.5px] text-ink-mute underline-offset-2 transition hover:text-ink hover:underline"
+          >
+            skip
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      <style>{`
+        @keyframes gf-tour-cap { from { opacity: 0; transform: translate(-50%, 8px); } to { opacity: 1; transform: translate(-50%, 0); } }
+        @keyframes gf-thanks-breathe { 0%,100% { opacity: .75; transform: translate(-50%,-58%) scale(1); } 50% { opacity: 1; transform: translate(-50%,-58%) scale(1.06); } }
+        .gf-thanks-glow { animation: gf-thanks-breathe 7s ease-in-out infinite; }
+        @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { .gf-thanks-glow { animation: none; } }
+      `}</style>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/components/tour/steps.ts b/components/tour/steps.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb6064b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/tour/steps.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// The what's-new tour script: which element the camera visits and what the
+// caption says. Targets are found by [data-tour] inside the tour's own demo
+// stage (never the live page), so the tour can't spotlight the wrong instance.
+// The ball stop only exists where the ball itself exists (BallCursor's desktop
+// media query). Advancing is manual — next/back, never a timer.
+
+export interface TourStep {
+  key: "trophies" | "ball" | "duel";
+  /** Matches a [data-tour=...] element inside the stage. */
+  target: string;
+  kicker: string;
+  body: string;
+  /** Padding around the target when framing it (px, pre-zoom). */
+  pad: number;
+  /** Zoom ceiling — small targets (the ball) may zoom harder. */
+  maxScale: number;
+}
+
+export const TOUR_STEPS: readonly TourStep[] = [
+  {
+    key: "trophies",
+    target: "trophies",
+    kicker: "THE TROPHY CABINET",
+    body: "GitFut now hands out real silverware. Every trophy is judged on real GitHub history and carries the story of why it was won.",
+    pad: 24,
+    maxScale: 2.1,
+  },
+  {
+    key: "ball",
+    target: "ball",
+    kicker: "THE MATCH BALL",
+    body: "See it resting in the corner? Click it once and it becomes your cursor. A right click sends it home.",
+    pad: 26,
+    maxScale: 3.4,
+  },
+  {
+    key: "duel",
+    target: "duel",
+    kicker: "DUEL A RIVAL",
+    body: "Call out any dev on GitHub and settle it card against card.",
+    pad: 26,
+    maxScale: 2.2,
+  },
+];
+
+/** The ball stop requires the ball — same media query BallCursor mounts on. */
+export const BALL_MQ = "(pointer: fine) and (hover: hover) and (min-width: 768px)";
+
+export const TOUR_STORAGE_KEY = "gitfut:tour:v1";
diff --git a/config/whatsNew.ts b/config/whatsNew.ts
index f5f38f4..51daee4 100644
--- a/config/whatsNew.ts
+++ b/config/whatsNew.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,6 @@ export const WHATS_NEW: WhatsNewItem[] = [
     id: "duels",
     title: "DUEL A RIVAL",
     body: "Take your card head-to-head against any dev. Six stats, one winner. The gold VS plate is on your card page.",
-    show: true,
+    show: false,
   },
 ];