.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml

@@ -267,8 +267,8 @@ jobs:
           TELEGRAM_TEST_ENV: "true"
           VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID }}
           VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK }}
-          VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN }}
-          VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU }}
+          VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN }}
+          VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU }}
           VITE_GATEWAY_URL: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_GATEWAY_URL }}
           GATEWAY_DEFAULT_SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES: ${{ vars.TEST_GATEWAY_DEFAULT_SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES }}
           # Unset vars render empty -> the compose ":-" defaults apply.

PLAN.md

@@ -1348,6 +1348,12 @@ provided cert) at the contour caddy; prod VPN; rollback.
       timeout (constant reconnects in the caddy log); now an **immediate heartbeat on open** + a **10 s**
       default interval. Both surfaced while diagnosing a reported "slow load in Telegram" that was actually
       the owner's **external network** (the server is sub-ms end-to-end) — not a regression.
+  - **Landing follow-up (owner review pass):** reworked from the first cut — the per-language Telegram
+    link var renamed `VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN/_RU` → **`VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN/_RU`** (it carries
+    a channel **username**, the landing builds `https://t.me/<name>`; the connector keeps the matching
+    `..._CHANNEL_ID_..` to post). Switchers became icons — a 🌐 language dropdown (saved, synced to the app)
+    and a ☼/☾ theme toggle that is **ephemeral** (follows the system scheme, never persisted, no "auto").
+    The "Play in browser" CTA was dropped (no standalone-web onboarding yet).
 
 ## Deferred TODOs (cross-stage)
 

deploy/.env.example

@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ GM_BASICAUTH_HASH=                     # required; `caddy hash-password` bcrypt
 # --- UI build args (baked into the gateway image) ---------------------------
 VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID=
 VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK=
-VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN=                 # landing "Play in Telegram" link, English bot
-VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU=                 # landing "Play in Telegram" link, Russian bot
+VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN=                 # landing "Play in Telegram" link, English bot
+VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU=                 # landing "Play in Telegram" link, Russian bot
 VITE_GATEWAY_URL=
 
 # --- Gateway ----------------------------------------------------------------

deploy/README.md

@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ connector **fails at boot** if both are empty.
 | `GATEWAY_DEFAULT_SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES` | variable | `en,ru` | Variant-gating set for non-Telegram logins (web/email/guest). |
 | `VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID` | variable | _(empty)_ | UI build-arg: numeric bot id for the web Login Widget. |
 | `VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK` | variable | _(empty)_ | UI build-arg: deep-link base for share-to-Telegram (e.g. `https://t.me/<bot>/<app>`). |
-| `VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN` | variable | _(empty)_ | UI build-arg: the landing "Play in Telegram" link for the **English** bot (e.g. `https://t.me/Scrabble_Game`). |
-| `VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU` | variable | _(empty)_ | UI build-arg: the landing "Play in Telegram" link for the **Russian** bot (e.g. `https://t.me/Erudit_Game`). |
+| `VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN` | variable | _(empty)_ | UI build-arg: the landing "Play in Telegram" link for the **English** bot (e.g. `https://t.me/Scrabble_Game`). |
+| `VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU` | variable | _(empty)_ | UI build-arg: the landing "Play in Telegram" link for the **Russian** bot (e.g. `https://t.me/Erudit_Game`). |
 | `VITE_GATEWAY_URL` | variable | _(empty)_ | UI build-arg: gateway origin; empty = same-origin (the usual single-origin deploy). |
 
 The five `VITE_*` are **build-args** baked into the gateway image at build time, so

deploy/docker-compose.yml

@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ services:
       args:
         VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID: ${VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID:-}
         VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK: ${VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK:-}
-        VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN: ${VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN:-}
-        VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU: ${VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU:-}
+        VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN: ${VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN:-}
+        VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU: ${VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU:-}
         VITE_GATEWAY_URL: ${VITE_GATEWAY_URL:-}
         VITE_APP_VERSION: ${APP_VERSION:-dev}
     restart: unless-stopped

docs/FUNCTIONAL.md

@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ Settings also pick the board's bonus-label style (beginner / classic / none). A
 costs nothing when the rack has no legal move. The word-check accepts only the
 variant's alphabet, remembers answers within the session and rate-limits repeats.
 A public **landing page** at the site root introduces the game, switches language and
-theme, and links into the web app or the matching Telegram bot; the game itself runs at
-`/app/` (web) and `/telegram/` (the Telegram Mini App).
+theme, and links to the matching per-language Telegram channel; the game itself runs at
+`/app/` (web) and `/telegram/` (the Telegram Mini App). The landing's theme is ephemeral
+(it follows the system scheme, not the saved preference); its language choice is saved.
 
 ### Identity & sessions *(Stage 1 / 6 / 9 / 15)*
 A player arrives from a platform (Telegram first), via email login, or as an

docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md

@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ top-1 подсказку, безлимитную проверку слова с
 Проверка слова принимает только алфавит варианта, запоминает ответы в рамках сессии
 и ограничивает частоту повторов.
 Публичная **посадочная страница** в корне сайта представляет игру, переключает язык и
-тему и ведёт в веб-приложение или в соответствующего Telegram-бота; сама игра живёт по
-адресам `/app/` (веб) и `/telegram/` (Telegram Mini App).
+тему и ведёт в соответствующий по-язычный Telegram-канал; сама игра живёт по адресам
+`/app/` (веб) и `/telegram/` (Telegram Mini App). Тема на странице эфемерна (берётся из
+системной настройки, а не из сохранённой), выбор языка сохраняется.
 
 ### Личность и сессии *(Stage 1 / 6 / 9 / 15)*
 Игрок приходит с платформы (сначала Telegram), через email-вход или как

gateway/Dockerfile

@@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ RUN corepack enable && corepack prepare pnpm@11.0.9 --activate
 # VITE_APP_VERSION carries `git describe` for the About screen (defaults to "dev").
 ARG VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID=
 ARG VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK=
-ARG VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN=
-ARG VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU=
+ARG VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN=
+ARG VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU=
 ARG VITE_GATEWAY_URL=
 ARG VITE_APP_VERSION=
 ENV VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID=$VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID \
     VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK=$VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK \
-    VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN=$VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN \
-    VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU=$VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU \
+    VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN=$VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN \
+    VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU=$VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU \
     VITE_GATEWAY_URL=$VITE_GATEWAY_URL \
     VITE_APP_VERSION=$VITE_APP_VERSION
 

ui/README.md

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pnpm codegen      # regenerate src/gen from edge.proto + scrabble.fbs (dev-time)
 gateway origin for a packaged (non-proxied) build. `VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID` (Stage 11)
 enables the "Link Telegram" web sign-in (the Login Widget) — inert until the site
 domain is registered with BotFather (`/setdomain`); `VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK` is the
-share-to-Telegram deep-link base (Stage 9). `VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN` / `VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU`
+share-to-Telegram deep-link base (Stage 9). `VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN` / `VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU`
 are the per-language "Play in Telegram" links shown on the landing page (Stage 17).
 
 The build has **two entries**: the game SPA (`index.html`, served at `/app/` and

ui/e2e/landing.spec.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,21 @@
 import { expect, test } from './fixtures';
 
 // The landing page is a separate Vite entry (landing.html), served at "/" in production while
-// the game SPA moves to /app/ and /telegram/ (Stage 17). In dev it is reachable at /landing.html.
-test('landing shows the pitch, a browser CTA to /app/, and switches language', async ({ page }) => {
+// the game SPA lives at /app/ and /telegram/ (Stage 17). In dev it is reachable at /landing.html.
+test('landing shows the pitch, switches language via the dropdown, and toggles theme', async ({ page }) => {
   await page.goto('/landing.html');
 
-  // The primary call to action opens the web app mount.
-  await expect(page.getByRole('link', { name: /Play in browser/i })).toHaveAttribute('href', '/app/');
+  // The tagline renders (English in the default test browser).
+  await expect(page.getByText(/Play Scrabble/i)).toBeVisible();
 
-  // The language switch flips the copy to Russian (reusing the app i18n).
-  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Русский' }).click();
-  await expect(page.getByRole('link', { name: /Играть в браузере/ })).toBeVisible();
+  // The language dropdown switches the copy to Russian.
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Language' }).click();
+  await page.getByRole('menuitem', { name: /Русский/ }).click();
+  await expect(page.getByText(/Играй в Скрэббл/)).toBeVisible();
+
+  // The theme toggle flips the document theme (ephemeral, light<->dark).
+  const before = await page.evaluate(() => document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme'));
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Theme' }).click();
+  const after = await page.evaluate(() => document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme'));
+  expect(after).not.toBe(before);
 });

ui/src/Landing.svelte

@@ -1,89 +1,84 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { onMount } from 'svelte';
-  import { applyReduceMotion, applyTheme, type ThemePref } from './lib/theme';
-  import { i18n, localeFrom, setLocale, t, type Locale, type MessageKey } from './lib/i18n/index.svelte';
+  import { applyTheme } from './lib/theme';
+  import { i18n, localeFrom, setLocale, t, type Locale } from './lib/i18n/index.svelte';
   import { loadPrefs, savePrefs, type Prefs } from './lib/session';
   import { aboutContent } from './lib/aboutContent';
-  import { telegramBotLink } from './lib/landing';
+  import { telegramChannelLink } from './lib/landing';
 
-  // Standalone landing page (Stage 17): the public entry at "/", separate from the game SPA
-  // (served at /app/ and /telegram/). It reuses the app's theme/i18n/prefs leaf modules — but
-  // not the app store — so it stays light (no gateway, auth or live stream).
+  // Standalone landing page (Stage 17), the public entry at "/" (the game SPA lives at /app/ and
+  // /telegram/). It reuses the app's theme/i18n/prefs leaf modules — not the app store — so it
+  // stays light. Theme is EPHEMERAL here (no auto, no persistence): it starts from the system
+  // scheme and the icon toggles light<->dark in memory. Language IS persisted (synced with the app).
 
-  const themes: ThemePref[] = ['auto', 'light', 'dark'];
-  const themeLabel: Record<ThemePref, MessageKey> = {
-    auto: 'settings.themeAuto',
-    light: 'settings.themeLight',
-    dark: 'settings.themeDark',
-  };
-  const locales: Locale[] = ['en', 'ru'];
-
-  let theme = $state<ThemePref>('auto');
+  let theme = $state<'light' | 'dark'>('light');
+  let langOpen = $state(false);
   let prefs: Partial<Prefs> = {};
 
-  // The away/move clock the random-game copy mentions (backend game.DefaultTurnTimeout = 24h).
-  const about = $derived(aboutContent(i18n.locale, 24));
-  const tgLink = $derived(telegramBotLink(i18n.locale));
+  const about = $derived(aboutContent(i18n.locale, 24)); // 24h = the auto-match move clock
+  const tgLink = $derived(telegramChannelLink(i18n.locale));
+  const locales: { code: Locale; label: string }[] = [
+    { code: 'en', label: '🇬🇧 English' },
+    { code: 'ru', label: '🇷🇺 Русский' },
+  ];
+
+  function systemTheme(): 'light' | 'dark' {
+    return typeof matchMedia !== 'undefined' && matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches ? 'dark' : 'light';
+  }
 
   onMount(async () => {
     prefs = await loadPrefs();
-    theme = prefs.theme ?? 'auto';
+    theme = systemTheme();
     applyTheme(theme);
-    applyReduceMotion(prefs.reduceMotion ?? false);
     setLocale(prefs.locale ?? localeFrom(typeof navigator !== 'undefined' ? navigator.language : 'en'));
   });
 
-  function persist(): void {
-    // savePrefs takes the full set, so keep the labels/lines the app may have stored.
+  function toggleTheme(): void {
+    theme = theme === 'light' ? 'dark' : 'light';
+    applyTheme(theme); // ephemeral — deliberately not persisted
+  }
+
+  function chooseLocale(lc: Locale): void {
+    setLocale(lc);
+    langOpen = false;
+    // Persist the language only, keeping the app's other prefs (notably its own persisted theme).
     void savePrefs({
-      theme,
-      locale: i18n.locale,
+      theme: prefs.theme ?? 'auto',
+      locale: lc,
       reduceMotion: prefs.reduceMotion ?? false,
       boardLabels: prefs.boardLabels ?? 'beginner',
       boardLines: prefs.boardLines ?? false,
     });
-  }
-  function chooseTheme(th: ThemePref): void {
-    theme = th;
-    applyTheme(th);
-    persist();
-  }
-  function chooseLocale(lc: Locale): void {
-    setLocale(lc);
-    persist();
+    prefs = { ...prefs, locale: lc };
   }
 </script>
 
 <main class="landing">
   <header class="bar">
-    <div class="seg">
-      {#each locales as lc (lc)}
-        <button class="opt" class:active={i18n.locale === lc} onclick={() => chooseLocale(lc)}>
-          {t(lc === 'en' ? 'lang.en' : 'lang.ru')}
-        </button>
-      {/each}
-    </div>
-    <div class="seg">
-      {#each themes as th (th)}
-        <button class="opt" class:active={theme === th} onclick={() => chooseTheme(th)}>
-          {t(themeLabel[th])}
-        </button>
-      {/each}
+    <div class="lang">
+      <button class="icon" aria-label="Language" aria-expanded={langOpen} onclick={() => (langOpen = !langOpen)}>🌐</button>
+      {#if langOpen}
+        <!-- svelte-ignore a11y_consider_explicit_label -->
+        <button class="backdrop" onclick={() => (langOpen = false)}></button>
+        <div class="menu" role="menu">
+          {#each locales as l (l.code)}
+            <button role="menuitem" class:on={i18n.locale === l.code} onclick={() => chooseLocale(l.code)}>{l.label}</button>
+          {/each}
+        </div>
+      {/if}
     </div>
+    <button class="icon" aria-label="Theme" onclick={toggleTheme}>{theme === 'light' ? '☼' : '☾'}</button>
   </header>
 
   <section class="hero">
     <h1>{about.title}</h1>
     <p class="tagline">{t('landing.tagline')}</p>
-    <div class="cta">
-      <a class="play primary" href="/app/">{t('landing.playWeb')}</a>
-      {#if tgLink}
-        <a class="play tg" href={tgLink} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
-          <img src="telegram-logo.svg" alt="" width="22" height="22" />
-          {t('landing.playTelegram')}
-        </a>
-      {/if}
-    </div>
+    {#if tgLink}
+      <a class="play" href={tgLink} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
+        <img src="telegram-logo.svg" alt="" width="22" height="22" />
+        {t('landing.playTelegram')}
+      </a>
+    {/if}
   </section>
 
   <section class="info">
@@ -125,32 +120,65 @@
   .bar {
     display: flex;
     justify-content: space-between;
-    gap: 10px;
-    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    align-items: center;
   }
-  .seg {
-    display: flex;
-    gap: 6px;
+  .lang {
+    position: relative;
   }
-  .opt {
-    padding: 7px 12px;
-    border: 1px solid var(--border);
-    background: var(--surface);
+  .icon {
+    min-width: 40px;
+    min-height: 40px;
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    font-size: 1.25rem;
+    background: transparent;
     color: var(--text);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border);
     border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-    user-select: none;
-    font-size: 0.85rem;
+    cursor: pointer;
   }
-  .opt.active {
-    background: var(--accent);
-    color: var(--accent-text);
-    border-color: var(--accent);
+  .backdrop {
+    position: fixed;
+    inset: 0;
+    z-index: 8;
+    background: none;
+    border: none;
+  }
+  .menu {
+    position: absolute;
+    left: 0;
+    top: calc(100% + 6px);
+    z-index: 9;
+    background: var(--surface);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border);
+    border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow);
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    min-width: 150px;
+    overflow: hidden;
+  }
+  .menu button {
+    text-align: left;
+    padding: 10px 14px;
+    background: none;
+    border: none;
+    color: var(--text);
+    white-space: nowrap;
+  }
+  .menu button:hover {
+    background: var(--surface-2);
+  }
+  .menu button.on {
+    color: var(--accent);
+    font-weight: 600;
   }
   .hero {
     text-align: center;
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
-    gap: 14px;
+    gap: 16px;
     padding: 24px 0 8px;
   }
   .hero h1 {
@@ -164,33 +192,20 @@
     color: var(--text-muted);
     font-size: 1.05rem;
   }
-  .cta {
-    display: flex;
-    gap: 12px;
-    justify-content: center;
-    flex-wrap: wrap;
-    margin-top: 6px;
-  }
   .play {
+    align-self: center;
     display: inline-flex;
     align-items: center;
     gap: 9px;
-    padding: 12px 22px;
+    padding: 12px 24px;
     border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
     font-weight: 700;
     text-decoration: none;
-    border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  }
-  .play.primary {
     background: var(--accent);
     color: var(--accent-text);
-    border-color: var(--accent);
+    margin-top: 6px;
   }
-  .play.tg {
-    background: var(--surface);
-    color: var(--text);
-  }
-  .play.tg img {
+  .play img {
     display: block;
   }
   .info {
@@ -225,7 +240,6 @@
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
     gap: 5px;
-    color: var(--text);
   }
   .ft {
     margin-top: auto;

ui/src/lib/i18n/en.ts

@@ -153,7 +153,6 @@ export const en = {
   'about.version': 'Version {v}',
 
   'landing.tagline': 'Play Scrabble with friends or a smart robot — in your browser or on Telegram.',
-  'landing.playWeb': 'Play in browser',
   'landing.playTelegram': 'Play in Telegram',
 
   'lang.en': 'English',

ui/src/lib/i18n/ru.ts

@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ export const ru: Record<MessageKey, string> = {
   'about.version': 'Версия {v}',
 
   'landing.tagline': 'Играй в Скрэббл с друзьями или умным роботом — в браузере или в Telegram.',
-  'landing.playWeb': 'Играть в браузере',
   'landing.playTelegram': 'Играть в Telegram',
 
   'lang.en': 'English',

ui/src/lib/landing.test.ts

@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
-import { telegramBotLink } from './landing';
+import { telegramChannelLink } from './landing';
 
-describe('telegramBotLink', () => {
+describe('telegramChannelLink', () => {
   afterEach(() => vi.unstubAllEnvs());
 
-  it('returns the per-language bot link when configured', () => {
-    vi.stubEnv('VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN', 'https://t.me/Scrabble_Game');
-    vi.stubEnv('VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU', 'https://t.me/Erudit_Game');
-    expect(telegramBotLink('en')).toBe('https://t.me/Scrabble_Game');
-    expect(telegramBotLink('ru')).toBe('https://t.me/Erudit_Game');
+  it('builds the per-language t.me link from the channel name', () => {
+    vi.stubEnv('VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN', 'Scrabble_Game');
+    vi.stubEnv('VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU', '@Erudit_Game'); // a leading @ is tolerated
+    expect(telegramChannelLink('en')).toBe('https://t.me/Scrabble_Game');
+    expect(telegramChannelLink('ru')).toBe('https://t.me/Erudit_Game');
   });
 
-  it('returns null when the locale link is unset or blank', () => {
-    vi.stubEnv('VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN', '');
-    vi.stubEnv('VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU', '   ');
-    expect(telegramBotLink('en')).toBeNull();
-    expect(telegramBotLink('ru')).toBeNull();
+  it('returns null when the locale channel is unset or blank', () => {
+    vi.stubEnv('VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN', '');
+    vi.stubEnv('VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU', '   ');
+    expect(telegramChannelLink('en')).toBeNull();
+    expect(telegramChannelLink('ru')).toBeNull();
   });
 });

ui/src/lib/landing.ts

@@ -1,16 +1,20 @@
 // Pure helpers for the public landing page (Stage 17), kept out of the Svelte component so
-// the per-language Telegram-bot link selection is unit-testable.
+// the per-language Telegram-channel link selection is unit-testable.
 
 import type { Locale } from './i18n/index.svelte';
 
 /**
- * telegramBotLink returns the t.me link for the locale's game bot, or null when it is not
- * configured. The two links are build-time vars (VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN / VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU)
- * because the test and prod contours run different bots (different usernames), so the link
- * cannot be hardcoded.
+ * telegramChannelLink returns the t.me link for the locale's game channel, or null when it is
+ * not configured. The channel usernames are build-time vars (VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN
+ * / VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU) because the test and prod contours run different
+ * channels; they are the same channels the connector posts to via TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID_*
+ * (the id to post, the name to link). A leading "@" is tolerated.
  */
-export function telegramBotLink(locale: Locale): string | null {
-  const raw = locale === 'ru' ? import.meta.env.VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU : import.meta.env.VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN;
-  const link = (raw as string | undefined)?.trim();
-  return link ? link : null;
+export function telegramChannelLink(locale: Locale): string | null {
+  const raw =
+    locale === 'ru'
+      ? import.meta.env.VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU
+      : import.meta.env.VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN;
+  const name = (raw as string | undefined)?.trim().replace(/^@/, '');
+  return name ? `https://t.me/${name}` : null;
 }