diff --git a/frontend/src/console/views/Game.vue b/frontend/src/console/views/Game.vue
index ad0f7420e..667a4edec 100644
--- a/frontend/src/console/views/Game.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/console/views/Game.vue
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ const descriptionOverlayRef = useTemplateRef<HTMLDivElement>(
   "description-overlay-ref",
 );
 const detailsOverlayRef = useTemplateRef<HTMLDivElement>("details-overlay-ref");
+const isConsoleEmulationDisabled = computed(
+  () => heartbeatStore.value.EMULATION.DISABLE_EMULATOR_JS,
+);
 
 const releaseDate = computed(() => {
   if (!rom.value?.metadatum.first_release_date) return null;
@@ -351,7 +354,7 @@ function handleAction(action: InputAction): boolean {
 }
 
 async function play() {
-  if (!rom.value) return;
+  if (!rom.value || isConsoleEmulationDisabled.value) return;
 
   romApi
     .updateUserRomProps({
@@ -633,7 +636,10 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
                     :class="{
                       'scale-105 shadow-[0_8px_28px_rgba(0,0,0,0.35),_0_0_0_2px_var(--console-game-play-button-focus-border),_0_0_16px_var(--console-accent-secondary)]':
                         selectedZone === 'play',
+                      'opacity-60 cursor-not-allowed':
+                        isConsoleEmulationDisabled,
                     }"
+                    :disabled="isConsoleEmulationDisabled"
                     @click="play()"
                   >
                     <span class="text-lg md:text-xl">▶</span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/console/views/Play.vue b/frontend/src/console/views/Play.vue
index 3c5e5be9e..840d9926a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/console/views/Play.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/console/views/Play.vue
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import playSessionApi from "@/services/api/play-session";
 import romApi from "@/services/api/rom";
 import storeAuth from "@/stores/auth";
 import storeConfig from "@/stores/config";
+import storeHeartbeat from "@/stores/heartbeat";
 import storeLanguage from "@/stores/language";
 import type { DetailedRom } from "@/stores/roms";
 import {
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ const router = useRouter();
 const { getBezelImagePath } = useThemeAssets();
 const authStore = storeAuth();
 const configStore = storeConfig();
+const heartbeatStore = storeHeartbeat();
 const languageStore = storeLanguage();
 const { selectedLanguage } = storeToRefs(languageStore);
 const romId = Number(route.params.rom);
@@ -727,6 +729,15 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   // Guard against duplicate mounts
   if (booted) return;
 
+  if (heartbeatStore.value.EMULATION.DISABLE_EMULATOR_JS) {
+    await router.replace({
+      name: ROUTES.CONSOLE_ROM,
+      params: { rom: romId },
+      query: route.query,
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
   booted = true;
   await boot();
   detachKey = attachKeyboardExit();