diff --git a/_includes/layout.html b/_includes/layout.html
index 537d19a..afc4fef 100644
--- a/_includes/layout.html
+++ b/_includes/layout.html
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@
     {% include "header.html" %}
     {{ content }}
     {% include "footer.html" %}
-    <script type="module" src="/assets/space-egg/trigger.js?v=17"></script>
+    <script type="module" src="/assets/space-egg/trigger.js?v=18"></script>
   </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/assets/space-egg/game.js b/assets/space-egg/game.js
index 0445298..5e57472 100644
--- a/assets/space-egg/game.js
+++ b/assets/space-egg/game.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { createRenderer } from './rendering.js?v=14';
-import { gameMarkup, gameTheme, waitForStyles, adaptControls } from './view.js?v=15';
+import { gameMarkup, gameTheme, waitForStyles, adaptControls } from './view.js?v=18';
 import { matchesWorld } from './protocol.js?v=14';
 import { createOrdnance, ORDNANCE, blastTouches } from './ordnance.js?v=14';
 import { targetStrength, damageEdge } from './targets.js?v=14';
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { POWERUPS, damageHull, expandedRect, effectSeconds, advanceScroll, shipC
 import { hitsRect, firstHit } from './physics.js?v=14';
 import { createSound } from './sound.js?v=17';
 import { internalDestination } from './navigation.js?v=14';
-import { createMultiplayer, MAX_PLAYERS, pilotName } from './multiplayer.js?v=15';
+import { createMultiplayer, MAX_PLAYERS, pilotName } from './multiplayer.js?v=18';
 import { invitationLink, invitationPeer } from './invitation.js?v=15';
 import { hitReward, pageReward } from './scoring.js?v=14';
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export async function openGame(onClose, invitedPeerId = null, signal) {
     const { drawShip, drawPilotName, drawOrdnance } = createRenderer(context, reducedMotion);
     const launchButton = find('.launch');
     const scoreOutput = find('.score');
-    const colors = ['#ff6600', '#56dfff', '#ee91ff', '#b2ef5e'];
+    const colors = ['#ff6600', '#56dfff', '#ee91ff', '#b2ef5e', '#ffd65a', '#ff718d', '#a7a0ff', '#72f0cf'];
     function playerColor(id = network?.playerId) {
       const index = network?.playerIds.indexOf(id) ?? -1;
       return colors[Math.max(0, index) % colors.length];
diff --git a/assets/space-egg/multiplayer.js b/assets/space-egg/multiplayer.js
index 7d9f24c..2129c5f 100644
--- a/assets/space-egg/multiplayer.js
+++ b/assets/space-egg/multiplayer.js
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ function loadPeerLibrary() {
   return libraryPromise;
 }
 
-export const MAX_PLAYERS = 4;
+export const MAX_PLAYERS = 8;
 
 export function pilotName(value) {
   if (typeof value !== 'string') return '';
   return Array.from(value.replace(/[\u0000-\u001f\u007f\u202a-\u202e\u2066-\u2069]/g, '').replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim()).slice(0, 20).join('');
 }
-const protocol = 9;
+const protocol = 10;
 
 // Star topology: the host owns scoring and relays guests' visual updates.
 export function createMultiplayer({ onMessage, onConnected, onStatus, onPlayers = () => {}, loadPeer = loadPeerLibrary }) {
diff --git a/assets/space-egg/trigger.js b/assets/space-egg/trigger.js
index 23fa5df..70a3e48 100644
--- a/assets/space-egg/trigger.js
+++ b/assets/space-egg/trigger.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ async function reveal(invitedPeerId = null) {
   const cancel = event => { if (event.key === 'Escape') controller.abort(); };
   window.addEventListener('keydown', cancel);
   try {
-    const { openGame } = await import('./game.js?v=17');
+    const { openGame } = await import('./game.js?v=18');
     controller.signal.throwIfAborted();
     await openGame(() => { active = false; }, invitedPeerId, controller.signal);
   } catch (error) {
diff --git a/assets/space-egg/view.js b/assets/space-egg/view.js
index 376dabc..3b33a21 100644
--- a/assets/space-egg/view.js
+++ b/assets/space-egg/view.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export function gameMarkup() {
         <div class="tools-controls"></div><div class="tools-stats"></div>
       </div></div>
       <div class="lobby" hidden><div class="panel">
-        <span class="kicker">Besättning / upp till fyra</span><h2>Flyg tillsammans</h2>
+        <span class="kicker">Besättning / upp till åtta</span><h2>Flyg tillsammans</h2>
         <p class="lobby-intro">Skapa ett rum och bjud in med en länk.</p>
         <label class="name-label">Pilotnamn <span>(valfritt)</span><input class="pilot-name" maxlength="20" autocomplete="off" placeholder="Ditt anropsnamn"></label>
         <section class="crew" hidden aria-label="Besättning"><h3>Besättning <span class="crew-count"></span></h3><ul class="crew-list" aria-live="polite"></ul></section>
diff --git a/scripts/space-browser-multiplayer.py b/scripts/space-browser-multiplayer.py
index 7c60c5e..da5b60d 100644
--- a/scripts/space-browser-multiplayer.py
+++ b/scripts/space-browser-multiplayer.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def page():
     g.locator('.pilot-name').fill('Mats')
     g.locator('.join-game').click()
     try:
-        g.locator('.connection-status').filter(has_text='2 / 4').wait_for(state='attached', timeout=35000)
+        g.locator('.connection-status').filter(has_text='2 / 8').wait_for(state='attached', timeout=35000)
     except Exception:
         print('HOST:', h.locator('.lobby-status').inner_text(), flush=True)
         print('GUEST:', g.locator('.lobby-status').inner_text(), flush=True)
diff --git a/scripts/space-transport.test.mjs b/scripts/space-transport.test.mjs
index 49577dc..7b61af2 100644
--- a/scripts/space-transport.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/space-transport.test.mjs
@@ -35,25 +35,27 @@ function fakePeerLibrary() {
 }
 const flush = () => new Promise(resolve => setImmediate(resolve));
 
-test('host admits four pilots, relays authenticated senders and rejects guest authority', async t => {
+test('host admits eight pilots, relays authenticated senders and rejects guest authority', async t => {
   const Peer = fakePeerLibrary();
-  const received = [[], [], [], [], []];
+  const received = Array.from({ length: 9 }, () => []);
   const clients = received.map(messages => createMultiplayer({ loadPeer: async () => Peer,
     onMessage: (message, sender) => messages.push({ message, sender }), onConnected() {}, onStatus() {} }));
   t.after(() => clients.forEach(client => client.close()));
   const id = await clients[0].host('Host');
-  for (let i = 1; i < 4; i++) await clients[i].join(id, `Guest ${i}`);
+  for (let i = 1; i < 8; i++) await clients[i].join(id, `Guest ${i}`);
   await flush();
-  for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) assert.equal(clients[i].playerIds.length, 4);
+  for (let i = 0; i < 8; i++) assert.equal(clients[i].playerIds.length, 8);
   clients[1].send({ type: 'position', x: 0.5 });
   clients[1].send({ type: 'state', score: 100000 });
   await flush();
   assert.equal(received[0].length, 1);
-  assert.equal(received[2].length, 1);
-  assert.equal(received[2][0].sender, clients[1].playerId);
-  await assert.rejects(clients[4].join(id), /fullt/);
-  clients[3].close(); await flush();
-  assert.equal(clients[0].playerIds.length, 3);
+  for (let i = 2; i < 8; i++) {
+    assert.equal(received[i].length, 1);
+    assert.equal(received[i][0].sender, clients[1].playerId);
+  }
+  await assert.rejects(clients[8].join(id), /fullt/);
+  clients[7].close(); await flush();
+  assert.equal(clients[0].playerIds.length, 7);
 });
 
 test('critical updates survive congestion; excessive backlog disconnects cleanly', async t => {