diff --git a/cmake/web_shell.html b/cmake/web_shell.html
index 66c2fcc92..452dde382 100644
--- a/cmake/web_shell.html
+++ b/cmake/web_shell.html
@@ -121,7 +121,9 @@
     }
 
     var urlPath = window.location.pathname;
+    var queryString = window.location.search;
     console.log("urlPath:", urlPath);
+    console.log("queryString:", queryString);
 
     var Module = {
       canvas: (function() {
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@
         resizeCanvas(); // Initial canvas resize
         return canvas;
       })(),
-      arguments: [urlPath],
+      arguments: [urlPath + queryString],
       setStatus: function(text) {
         var m = text.match(/([^(]+)\((\d+(\.\d+)?)\/(\d+)\)/);
         var statusElement = document.getElementById('downloading-text');
diff --git a/docs/pages/todo/brainstorm_now.md b/docs/pages/todo/brainstorm_now.md
index e26b88871..532d1d664 100644
--- a/docs/pages/todo/brainstorm_now.md
+++ b/docs/pages/todo/brainstorm_now.md
@@ -6,12 +6,16 @@ permalink: brainstorm_now
 summary: That which we are brainstorming at the moment.
 ---
 
+- see how krunker handles tab switches, if it timeouts, if there is sound etc
+
+- assign random nicknames, or just ask for one
+    - will later take them from accounts once we have authentication
+
 - increase timeout
 - host causal pl server
 - diagnose why web cant connect to native local servers but first add TURN servers maybe
 - memory problem with hyperactive space station
 
-
 - fix clipoard on web
 - fix tip order in tutorial about fast reloads etc move it to later
 
diff --git a/docs/pages/todo/todo_done.md b/docs/pages/todo/todo_done.md
index e9ce2ca5f..9d8c07365 100644
--- a/docs/pages/todo/todo_done.md
+++ b/docs/pages/todo/todo_done.md
@@ -6921,3 +6921,4 @@ This will discard your redo history."
 - send back actual id from signalling server to the server and set it as link correctly
 - also set the link when connecting
 
+= origin parameter that adds a preffix to the nickname like /game/us:1&origin=hackernews it would make [hackernews] web_user1
diff --git a/src/cmd_line_params.h b/src/cmd_line_params.h
index d392ef2a4..2f9bdaef3 100644
--- a/src/cmd_line_params.h
+++ b/src/cmd_line_params.h
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ struct cmd_line_params {
 	std::optional<int> tutorial_level;
 	bool tutorial_challenge = false;
 
+	std::string origin;
+
 	void parse(const int argc, const char* const * const argv, const int start_i) {
 		for (int i = start_i; i < argc; ++i) {
 			const auto a = std::string(argv[i]);
@@ -89,41 +91,54 @@ struct cmd_line_params {
 			else if (a.size() > 1 && a[0] == '/') {
 				/* URL location argument. */
 
-				if (begins_with(a, "/game")) {
+				std::string loc;
+				std::string query;
+
+				if (!typesafe_sscanf(a, "%x?%x", loc, query)) {
+					loc = a;
+				}
+
+				if (begins_with(loc, "/game")) {
 					std::string webrtc_id;
 
-					if (1 == typesafe_sscanf(a, "/game/%x", webrtc_id)) {
+					if (1 == typesafe_sscanf(loc, "/game/%x", webrtc_id)) {
 						should_connect = true;
 						connect_address = webrtc_id;
 					}
 				}
-				else if (begins_with(a, "/host")) {
+				else if (begins_with(loc, "/host")) {
 					start_server = true;
 				}
-				else if (begins_with(a, "/tutorial")) {
+				else if (begins_with(loc, "/tutorial")) {
 					launch_activity = activity_type::TUTORIAL;
 
 					uint32_t level = 0;
 					std::string keyword;
 
-					if (1 == typesafe_sscanf(a, "/tutorial/%x", level)) {
+					if (1 == typesafe_sscanf(loc, "/tutorial/%x", level)) {
 						tutorial_level = level;
 					}
-					else if (1 == typesafe_sscanf(a, "/tutorial/%x", keyword)) {
+					else if (1 == typesafe_sscanf(loc, "/tutorial/%x", keyword)) {
 						if (keyword == "challenge") {
 							tutorial_challenge = true;
 						}
 					}
 				}
-				else if (begins_with(a, "/menu")) {
+				else if (begins_with(loc, "/menu")) {
 					launch_activity = activity_type::MAIN_MENU;
 				}
-				else if (begins_with(a, "/editor")) {
+				else if (begins_with(loc, "/editor")) {
 					launch_activity = activity_type::EDITOR_PROJECT_SELECTOR;
 				}
-				else if (begins_with(a, "/range")) {
+				else if (begins_with(loc, "/range")) {
 					launch_activity = activity_type::SHOOTING_RANGE;
 				}
+
+				if (!query.empty()) {
+					typesafe_sscanf(query, "origin=%x", origin);
+				}
+
+				LOG_NVPS(a, loc, query, origin);
 			}
 			else if (a == "--appimage-path") {
 				appimage_path = get_next();
diff --git a/src/work.cpp b/src/work.cpp
index be851a72d..b04023bae 100644
--- a/src/work.cpp
+++ b/src/work.cpp
@@ -529,7 +529,18 @@ work_result work(
 		}
 
 		if (result->client.nickname.empty()) {
-			result->client.nickname = augs::get_user_name();
+			const auto system_user_name = augs::get_user_name();
+
+#if PLATFORM_WEB
+			if (!params.origin.empty()) {
+				result->client.nickname = typesafe_sprintf("[%x] %x", params.origin, system_user_name);
+			}
+			else {
+				result->client.nickname = system_user_name;
+			}
+#else
+			result->client.nickname = system_user_name;
+#endif
 		}
 
 		if (is_steam_client) {