etternagame · aaddaad · Dec 10, 2025 · Dec 10, 2025 · Dec 10, 2025
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -1,85 +1,67 @@
-<p align="center">
-    <img src="Docs/images/etterna-logo-dark.svg" width=250px>
-</p>
+# Etterna - Open Source Rhythm Game
 
-<p align=center>
-    <a href="https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/actions"><img src="https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/workflows/Etterna%20CI/badge.svg"/></a>
-    <a href="https://scan.coverity.com/projects/etternagame-etterna"><img src="https://img.shields.io/coverity/scan/12978.svg"/></a>
-    <a href="https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/releases"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/etternagame/etterna/total.svg?label=total%20downloads"/></a>
-    <a href="https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/releases"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/etternagame/etterna/latest/total.svg?label=latest%20downloads"/></a>
-    <a href="LICENSE"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue.svg?label=license"/></a>
-</p>
+[![Build Status](https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/workflows/Build/badge.svg)](https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/actions)
+[![Discord](https://img.shields.io/discord/441805741727645697.svg)](https://discord.gg/8BJK9tK)
+[![GitHub Release](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/etternagame/etterna)](https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/releases)
+[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue.svg)](LICENSE)
+[![PRs Welcome](https://img.shields.io/badge/PRs-welcome-brightgreen.svg)](CONTRIBUTING.md)
 
-<p align="center">
-    <a href="https://discord.gg/etternaonline"><img src="https://img.shields.io/discord/339597420239519755.svg?color=7289DA&label=Etterna%20Community&logo=Discord"/></a>
-    <a href="https://discord.gg/ZqpUjsJ"><img src="https://img.shields.io/discord/261758887152058368.svg?color=7289DA&label=Etterna%20Dev%20Group&logo=Discord"/></a>
-</p>
+> The next-generation open source rhythm game based on StepMania, focusing on high-precision scoring and customization.
 
-Etterna is a cross-platform rhythm game similar to [Dance Dance Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Dance_Revolution). It started as a fork of [StepMania 5](https://github.com/stepmania/stepmania) (v5.0.12), with a focus on keyboard players. Over time, Etterna evolved into its own game, with in-game multiplayer, the online scoreboard [Etterna Online](https://etternaonline.com/), and a community of over 4,000 players.
+---
 
 ## Table of Contents
-
-- [Installing](#Installing)
-  - [Windows and macOS](#Windows-and-macOS)
-  - [Linux](#Linux)
-- [Building](#Building)
-- [Documentation](#Documentation)
-- [Bug Reporting](#Bug-Reporting)
-- [Contributing](#Contributing)
-- [License](#License)
-- [Special Thanks](#Special-Thanks)
-
-## Installing
-
-### Windows, macOS, and Linux
-
-Head to the [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/releases) page, and download the relevant file for your operating system.
-
-For Windows, run the installer, and you should be ready to go.
-
-For macOS, first follow the below instructions. *After* doing them, mount the DMG and copy the Etterna folder to a location of your choice. Run the executable, and you are ready to go.
-
-For Linux, there should be no extra steps. If it does not work, try to follow the build instructions to install the necessary dependencies.
-
-### macOS
-
-This macOS binary is not signed, so before it can be installed it must be de-quarantined by executing this command in the same directory (likely your downloads folder) as the Etterna dmg.
-
-`xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ./Etterna*.dmg`
-
-## Building
-
-All details related to building are in the [Building.md](Docs/Building.md) file. Since Etterna is cross-platform, you should be able to build on any recent version of Windows, macOS, or Linux.
-
-## Documentation
-
-Etterna uses Doxygen and LuaDoc. Both still need a lot of work before being having decent coverage, though we still have them hosted at the following links.  
-
-Any commit to the develop branch immediately updates these documentation sites which can be found [here](https://docs.etterna.dev/).
-
-- Latest C++ documentation: [https://docs.etterna.dev/doxygen/html/index.html](https://docs.etterna.dev/doxygen/html/index.html)
-- Latest Lua documentation: [https://docs.etterna.dev/ldoc/index.html](https://docs.etterna.dev/ldoc/index.html)
-
-## Bug Reporting
-
-We use GitHub's [issue tracker](https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/issues) for all faults found in the game. If you would like to report a bug, please click the `Issues` tab at the top of this page, and use the `Bug report` template.
-
-## Contributing
-
-If you want to contribute to the Etterna client, please read [Building](Docs/Building.md) for instructions on how to get started. We have a variety of different tasks which would help the development of this game as a whole, all of which we have listed at [Contributing.md](Docs/Contributing.md). if you are more interested in helping with the in-game multiplayer, the nodejs server, along with its documentation, is hosted [here](https://github.com/etternagame/NodeMultiEtt). You will still need the Etterna client built and running on your system.
-
-If there is something else you want to work on that we don't have listed here, feel free to join [Etterna Dev Group](https://discord.gg/ZqpUjsJ), our development discord, and let us know what you want to add. The developers and contributors there would be able to give you a hand as to where you could start doing what you want to do.  
-
-## License
-
-Etterna uses the MIT License, as is required since we are derivative of StepMania 5. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for more details.
-
-In short, you are free to modify, sell, distribute, and sublicense this project. We ask that you include a reference to this GitHub repository in your derivative, and do not hold us liable when something breaks.
-
-Etterna uses the [MAD library](http://www.underbit.com/products/mad/) and [FFMPEG codecs](https://www.ffmpeg.org/). Those libraries, when built, use the [GPL license](http://www.gnu.org).
-
-## Special Thanks
-
-- All original SM devs/contributors
-- [Jet Brains](https://www.jetbrains.com/?from=Etterna) for giving us free licenses
-- [Coverity](https://scan.coverity.com/) for giving us free scans
+- [Features](#-features)
+- [Quick Start](#-quick-start)
+- [Building from Source](#-building-from-source)
+- [Contributing](#-contributing)
+- [Frequently Asked Questions](#-frequently-asked-questions)
+- [Community & Support](#-community--support)
+- [License](#-license)
+
+---
+
+## Features
+
+### Core Gameplay
+- **High-Precision Scoring System** - Industry-leading scoring algorithms
+- **Custom Theme Support** - Fully customizable interface
+- **Multi-Platform** - Windows, Linux, macOS
+- **Online Leaderboards** - Compete with players worldwide
+- **Extensive Song Library** - Support for thousands of community charts
+
+### Technical Features
+- **Modern C++ Codebase** - High-performance game engine
+- **Lua Scripting Support** - Flexible extension mechanism
+- **OpenGL Rendering** - Smooth visual effects
+- **Cross-Platform Build System** - CMake based
+- **Modular Architecture** - Easy to extend and maintain
+
+---
+
+## Quick Start
+
+### For Windows Users
+#### Option 1: Installer (Recommended for Beginners)
+1. Visit [Releases Page](https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/releases)
+2. Download the latest `Etterna-vX.X.X-Setup.exe`
+3. Run the installer and follow the instructions
+4. Launch Etterna and start playing!
+
+#### Option 2: Portable Version
+1. Download `Etterna-vX.X.X-Portable.zip`
+2. Extract to any directory
+3. Run `Etterna.exe`
+
+### For Linux Users
+```bash
+# Ubuntu/Debian (using .deb package)
+wget https://github.com/etternagame/etterna/releases/download/v0.70.1/etterna_0.70.1_amd64.deb
+sudo dpkg -i etterna_0.70.1_amd64.deb
+
+# Using AppImage (most distributions)
+chmod +x Etterna-*.AppImage
+./Etterna-*.AppImage
+
+# Arch Linux (AUR)
+yay -S etterna