diff --git a/include/d/d_msg_class.h b/include/d/d_msg_class.h
index 2735561c05..c70345ca92 100644
--- a/include/d/d_msg_class.h
+++ b/include/d/d_msg_class.h
@@ -121,6 +121,25 @@ struct jmessage_tReference : public JMessage::TReference {
     void setDemoFrame(u32 i_frame) { mDemoFrame = i_frame; }
     void setTopColorType(u8 i_colorType) { mTopColorType = i_colorType; }
     void setNowColorType(u8 i_colorType) { mNowColorType = i_colorType; }
+#if TARGET_PC
+    void resetColors() {
+        mNowCCColor = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+        mNowGCColor = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+        mTopCCColor = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+        mTopGCColor = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+        mNowFullColor = false;
+        mTopFullColor = false;
+    }
+    void setFullColor(u32 ccColor, u32 gcColor) {
+        mNowCCColor = ccColor;
+        mNowGCColor = gcColor;
+        mNowFullColor = true;
+    }
+    void clearNowFullColor() { mNowFullColor = false; }
+    bool hasTopFullColor() { return mTopFullColor; }
+    u32 getTopCCColor() { return mTopCCColor; }
+    u32 getTopGCColor() { return mTopGCColor; }
+#endif
     void setTopTagScale(u16 i_tagScale) { mTopTagScale = i_tagScale; }
     void setNowTagScale(u16 i_tagScale) { mNowTagScale = i_tagScale; }
     void setRevoMessageID(u32 i_msgID) { mRevoMessageID = i_msgID; }
@@ -365,6 +384,14 @@ struct jmessage_tReference : public JMessage::TReference {
     /* 0x1274 */ bool mSelectSetCancelFlag;
     /* 0x1275 */ bool mBombNameUseFlag;
     /* 0x1276 */ u8 mBatchColorFlag;
+#if TARGET_PC
+    u32 mNowCCColor;
+    u32 mNowGCColor;
+    u32 mTopCCColor;
+    u32 mTopGCColor;
+    bool mNowFullColor;
+    bool mTopFullColor;
+#endif
 };  // Size: 0x1278
 
 struct jmessage_tMeasureProcessor : public JMessage::TRenderingProcessor {
@@ -462,6 +489,9 @@ struct jmessage_tRenderingProcessor : public JMessage::TRenderingProcessor {
     void do_selwidthcenter(int);
     void do_heightcenter();
     void do_color(u8);
+#if TARGET_PC
+    void do_fullcolor(u32 ccColor, u32 gcColor);
+#endif
     void do_scale(f32);
     void do_linedown(s16);
     void do_transY(s16, bool);
@@ -640,6 +670,9 @@ struct jmessage_string_tRenderingProcessor : public JMessage::TRenderingProcesso
     void do_rubystrcat(char*);
     void do_outfont(u8);
     void do_color(u8);
+#if TARGET_PC
+    void do_fullcolor(u32 ccColor, u32 gcColor);
+#endif
     void do_scale(f32);
     void do_linedown(s16);
     void do_numset(s16);
diff --git a/mods/flow_demo/src/mod.cpp b/mods/flow_demo/src/mod.cpp
index e4d18a90f0..a05150458b 100644
--- a/mods/flow_demo/src/mod.cpp
+++ b/mods/flow_demo/src/mod.cpp
@@ -177,18 +177,20 @@ MOD_EXPORT ModResult mod_initialize(ModError* outError) {
     if (result == MOD_OK) {
         result = add_message(mods::flow::MessageBuilder{kResponseStyle}
                                  .text_color(MESSAGE_COLOR_DEFAULT)
-                                 .text("Hello from ")
-                                 .text_color(MESSAGE_COLOR_RED)
-                                 .text("FlowService")
+                                 .text("Custom ")
+                                 .text_color(0xFF0000FF)
+                                 .text("colors")
+                                 .text_color(MESSAGE_COLOR_DEFAULT)
+                                 .text(" and even ")
+                                 .text_color(0x00FF00FF, 0x00FFFFFF)
+                                 .text("gradients")
                                  .text_color(MESSAGE_COLOR_DEFAULT)
-                                 .text(", ")
-                                 .player_name()
                                  .text("!\n")
                                  .character_delay(3)
                                  .text("This text is slow. ")
                                  .character_delay(0)
                                  .pause(12)
-                                 .text_scale(125)
+                                 .text_scale(150)
                                  .text("Big")
                                  .text_scale(100)
                                  .text(" text too.")
diff --git a/sdk/include/mods/svc/flow.hpp b/sdk/include/mods/svc/flow.hpp
index e0d6e5c2f1..c7671f69a6 100644
--- a/sdk/include/mods/svc/flow.hpp
+++ b/sdk/include/mods/svc/flow.hpp
@@ -500,7 +500,20 @@ public:
     }
     MessageBuilder& text_color(MessageTextColor color) {
         const auto index = static_cast<uint8_t>(color);
-        return raw_tag(255, 0, {&index, 1});
+        return raw_tag(0xFF, 0, {&index, 1});
+    }
+    /* Full 32-bit text color (Dusklight extension) */
+    MessageBuilder& text_color(uint32_t rgba) {
+        std::array<uint8_t, 4> arguments{};
+        write_bits(arguments.data(), rgba);
+        return raw_tag(0xFF, 0, arguments);
+    }
+    /* Full 32-bit text vertical gradient colors (Dusklight extension) */
+    MessageBuilder& text_color(uint32_t upperRgba, uint32_t lowerRgba) {
+        std::array<uint8_t, 8> arguments{};
+        write_bits(arguments.data(), upperRgba);
+        write_bits(arguments.data() + sizeof(upperRgba), lowerRgba);
+        return raw_tag(0xFF, 0, arguments);
     }
     MessageBuilder& text_scale(uint16_t percent) { return timed_tag(255, 1, percent); }
     MessageBuilder& character_delay(uint16_t frames) { return timed_tag(0, 6, frames); }
diff --git a/sdk/include/mods/svc/message.h b/sdk/include/mods/svc/message.h
index 172dce4895..b170e6f09b 100644
--- a/sdk/include/mods/svc/message.h
+++ b/sdk/include/mods/svc/message.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 #define MESSAGE_SERVICE_ID "dev.twilitrealm.dusklight.message"
 #define MESSAGE_SERVICE_MAJOR 1u
-#define MESSAGE_SERVICE_MINOR 0u
+#define MESSAGE_SERVICE_MINOR 1u
 
 typedef uint16_t MessageId;
 typedef uint64_t MessageHandle;
diff --git a/sdk/include/mods/svc/ui.h b/sdk/include/mods/svc/ui.h
index 38d67e3192..e9cbc3fa65 100644
--- a/sdk/include/mods/svc/ui.h
+++ b/sdk/include/mods/svc/ui.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 #define UI_SERVICE_ID "dev.twilitrealm.dusklight.ui"
 #define UI_SERVICE_MAJOR 1u
-#define UI_SERVICE_MINOR 4u
+#define UI_SERVICE_MINOR 5u
 
 /*
  * UI primitives: a panel inside the host Mods window, mod-owned windows, dialogs, toasts,
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ typedef struct UiControlDesc {
     /* Optional override for the modified indicator. CONFIG_VAR controls derive it from value !=
      * default when this is NULL. */
     UiPredicateFn is_modified;
-    /* Passed to every callback above. */
+    /* Passed to every callback. */
     void* user_data;
     /* NUMBER: inclusive clamp range and step. min == max means the defaults (0 .. INT32_MAX); step
      * < 1 means 1. */
@@ -121,11 +121,13 @@ typedef struct UiControlDesc {
     const char* const* color_presets;
     size_t color_preset_count;
     bool color_alpha; /* COLOR: use RRGGBBAA values instead of RRGGBB */
+    /* Optional selected state for BUTTON/GROUP. Added in UiService minor version 5. */
+    UiPredicateFn is_selected;
 } UiControlDesc;
 
 #define UI_CONTROL_DESC_INIT                                                                       \
     {sizeof(UiControlDesc), UI_CONTROL_BUTTON, NULL, NULL, UI_BINDING_CALLBACKS, 0u, NULL, NULL,   \
-        NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, 1, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0u, 0, NULL, 0u, false}
+        NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, 1, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0u, 0, NULL, 0u, false, NULL}
 
 /* Build pane contents. A non-MOD_OK result fails the mod. */
 typedef ModResult (*UiPaneBuildFn)(
diff --git a/src/d/d_msg_class.cpp b/src/d/d_msg_class.cpp
index 46b246264a..4358d6d5d2 100644
--- a/src/d/d_msg_class.cpp
+++ b/src/d/d_msg_class.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,21 @@
 #if TARGET_PC
 #include "dusk/menu_pointer.h"
 #include "dusk/scope_guard.hpp"
+#include "helpers/bits.hpp"
+
+static bool read_full_color(const void* data, u32 size, u32& ccColor, u32& gcColor) {
+    if (size == 4) {
+        ccColor = dusk::read_bits<u32>(data);
+        gcColor = ccColor;
+        return true;
+    }
+    if (size == 8) {
+        ccColor = dusk::read_bits<u32>(data);
+        gcColor = dusk::read_bits<u32>(static_cast<const u8*>(data) + sizeof(ccColor));
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
 #endif
 
 #if TARGET_PC
@@ -400,6 +415,9 @@ jmessage_tReference::jmessage_tReference() {
     resetCharCountBuffer();
     mNowColorType = 0;
     mTopColorType = 0;
+#if TARGET_PC
+    resetColors();
+#endif
     mButtonTagStopFlag = 0;
     mPageEndCount = 0;
     mSelectNum = 0;
@@ -594,6 +612,13 @@ void jmessage_tReference::pageSend() {
     if (mNowColorType != mTopColorType) {
         mTopColorType = mNowColorType;
     }
+#if TARGET_PC
+    mTopFullColor = mNowFullColor;
+    if (mNowFullColor) {
+        mTopCCColor = mNowCCColor;
+        mTopGCColor = mNowGCColor;
+    }
+#endif
 
     mTopWordCount = mNowWordCount;
     mCharAlpha = 0.0f;
@@ -1917,6 +1942,9 @@ void jmessage_tSequenceProcessor::do_begin(void const* pEntry, char const* pszTe
     pReference->resetCharCnt();
     pReference->setNowColorType(0);
     pReference->setTopColorType(0);
+#if TARGET_PC
+    pReference->resetColors();
+#endif
     pReference->setNowWordCount(0);
     pReference->setTopWordCount(0);
     pReference->setBatchColorFlag(0);
@@ -2280,9 +2308,21 @@ bool jmessage_tSequenceProcessor::do_tag(u32 i_tag, void const* i_data, u32 i_si
         return true;
     case MSGTAG_GROUP(255):
         switch (i_tag) {
-        case MSGTAG_COLOR:
+        case MSGTAG_COLOR: {
+#if TARGET_PC
+            u32 ccColor;
+            u32 gcColor;
+            if (read_full_color(i_data, i_size, ccColor, gcColor)) {
+                pReference->setFullColor(ccColor, gcColor);
+            } else if (i_size == 1) {
+                pReference->clearNowFullColor();
+                pReference->setNowColorType(*(u8*)i_data & 0xFF);
+            }
+#else
             pReference->setNowColorType(*(u8*)i_data & 0xFF);
+#endif
             return true;
+        }
         case MSGTAG_SCALE:
             pReference->setNowTagScale(*(BE(u16)*)i_data & 0xFFFF);
             return true;
@@ -2863,7 +2903,15 @@ void jmessage_tRenderingProcessor::do_begin(void const* pEntry, char const* pszT
         do_scale(field_0x44);
     }
 
+#if TARGET_PC
+    if (pReference->hasTopFullColor()) {
+        do_fullcolor(pReference->getTopCCColor(), pReference->getTopGCColor());
+    } else {
+        do_color(pReference->getTopColorType());
+    }
+#else
     do_color(pReference->getTopColorType());
+#endif
     pReference->resetDrawLightCount();
 
     do_widthcenter();
@@ -3017,9 +3065,20 @@ bool jmessage_tRenderingProcessor::do_tag(u32 i_tag, void const* i_data, u32 i_s
         return 1;
     case MSGTAG_GROUP(255):
         switch (i_tag) {
-        case MSGTAG_COLOR:
+        case MSGTAG_COLOR: {
+#if TARGET_PC
+            u32 ccColor;
+            u32 gcColor;
+            if (read_full_color(i_data, i_size, ccColor, gcColor)) {
+                do_fullcolor(ccColor, gcColor);
+            } else if (i_size == 1) {
+                do_color(*(u8*)i_data & 0xFF);
+            }
+#else
             do_color(*(u8*)i_data & 0xFF);
+#endif
             return 1;
+        }
         case MSGTAG_SCALE:
             field_0x13c = *(BE(u16)*)i_data & 0xFFFF;
             do_scale(field_0x13c / 100.0f);
@@ -3630,6 +3689,18 @@ void jmessage_tRenderingProcessor::do_color(u8 i_colorNo) {
     do_strcat(buffer, false, false, false);
 }
 
+#if TARGET_PC
+void jmessage_tRenderingProcessor::do_fullcolor(u32 ccColor, u32 gcColor) {
+    mColorNo = 0xFF;
+    mCCColor = ccColor;
+    mGCColor = gcColor;
+
+    char buffer[40];
+    SAFE_SPRINTF(buffer, "\x1B" "CC[%08x]" "\x1B" "GC[%08x]", mCCColor, mGCColor);
+    do_strcat(buffer, false, false, false);
+}
+#endif
+
 void jmessage_tRenderingProcessor::do_scale(f32 param_1) {
     jmessage_tReference* pReference = (jmessage_tReference*)getReference();
 
@@ -4684,9 +4755,20 @@ bool jmessage_string_tRenderingProcessor::do_tag(u32 i_tag, void const* i_data,
     switch(i_tag & 0xFF0000) {
     case MSGTAG_GROUP(255):
         switch(i_tag) {
-        case MSGTAG_COLOR:
+        case MSGTAG_COLOR: {
+#if TARGET_PC
+            u32 ccColor;
+            u32 gcColor;
+            if (read_full_color(i_data, i_size, ccColor, gcColor)) {
+                do_fullcolor(ccColor, gcColor);
+            } else if (i_size == 1) {
+                do_color(*(u8*)i_data & 0xFF);
+            }
+#else
             do_color(*(u8*)i_data & 0xFF);
+#endif
             break;
+        }
         case MSGTAG_SCALE:
             do_scale(*(BE(u16)*)i_data / 100.0f);
             break;
@@ -5336,6 +5418,14 @@ void jmessage_string_tRenderingProcessor::do_color(u8 i_colorNo) {
     do_strcat(buffer);
 }
 
+#if TARGET_PC
+void jmessage_string_tRenderingProcessor::do_fullcolor(u32 ccColor, u32 gcColor) {
+    char buffer[32];
+    SAFE_SPRINTF(buffer, "\x1b" "CC[%08x]" "\x1b" "GC[%08x]", ccColor, gcColor);
+    do_strcat(buffer);
+}
+#endif
+
 void jmessage_string_tRenderingProcessor::do_scale(f32 i_scale) {
     J2DTextBox::TFontSize fontSize;
     mpReference->getPanePtr()->getFontSize(fontSize);
diff --git a/src/dusk/mods/svc/flow.cpp b/src/dusk/mods/svc/flow.cpp
index b55006c3b0..9c5af25e4c 100644
--- a/src/dusk/mods/svc/flow.cpp
+++ b/src/dusk/mods/svc/flow.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "JSystem/JMessage/control.h"
 #include "JSystem/JMessage/processor.h"
 #include "JSystem/JMessage/resource.h"
+#include "d/d_msg_class.h"
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
@@ -467,11 +468,19 @@ bool valid_encoded_text(const uint8_t* text, size_t size) {
         if (text[offset] == 0) {
             return offset + 1 == size;
         }
-        if (text[offset] == 0x1a) {
+        if (text[offset] == JMessage::data::gcTagBegin) {
             if (offset + 2 > size || text[offset + 1] < 5 || text[offset + 1] > size - offset) {
                 return false;
             }
-            offset += text[offset + 1];
+            const size_t tagSize = text[offset + 1];
+            const uint32_t tag =
+                MSGTAG_GROUP(text[offset + 2]) | read_bits<uint16_t>(text + offset + 3);
+            const size_t argumentSize = tagSize - 5;
+            if (tag == MSGTAG_COLOR && argumentSize != 1 && argumentSize != 4 && argumentSize != 8)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+            offset += tagSize;
         } else {
             ++offset;
         }
@@ -490,7 +499,7 @@ size_t encoded_text_size(const ResourceInfo& resource, const char* text) {
         if (bytes[offset] == 0) {
             return offset + 1;
         }
-        if (bytes[offset] == 0x1a) {
+        if (bytes[offset] == JMessage::data::gcTagBegin) {
             if (offset + 2 > maximum || bytes[offset + 1] < 5 ||
                 bytes[offset + 1] > maximum - offset)
             {
diff --git a/src/dusk/mods/svc/ui.cpp b/src/dusk/mods/svc/ui.cpp
index 7296909b67..3ac625ab77 100644
--- a/src/dusk/mods/svc/ui.cpp
+++ b/src/dusk/mods/svc/ui.cpp
@@ -570,6 +570,9 @@ ModResult ui_pane_add_control(
     case UI_CONTROL_GROUP:
         spec.kind = desc.kind == UI_CONTROL_BUTTON ? ui::ModControlSpec::Kind::Button :
                                                      ui::ModControlSpec::Kind::Group;
+        if (desc.struct_size >= sizeof(UiControlDesc)) {
+            spec.isSelected = wrap_predicate(mod, desc.is_selected, desc.user_data, pane);
+        }
         spec.onPressed = [modPtr = &mod, fn = desc.on_pressed, userData = desc.user_data,
                              guardHandle = pane] {
             if (!slot_live(guardHandle)) {
@@ -1147,6 +1150,7 @@ bool valid_color_preset(const char* value, bool alpha) {
 
 bool valid_control_desc(const UiControlDesc& desc) {
     constexpr size_t kLegacyDescSize = offsetof(UiControlDesc, color_presets);
+    constexpr size_t kColorDescSize = offsetof(UiControlDesc, is_selected);
     if (desc.struct_size < kLegacyDescSize || desc.label == nullptr) {
         return false;
     }
@@ -1160,7 +1164,7 @@ bool valid_control_desc(const UiControlDesc& desc) {
     case UI_CONTROL_SELECT:
         break;
     case UI_CONTROL_COLOR:
-        if (desc.struct_size < sizeof(UiControlDesc)) {
+        if (desc.struct_size < kColorDescSize) {
             return false;
         }
         break;
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/group_button.cpp b/src/dusk/ui/group_button.cpp
index 79ae8a4d32..2f9a430d68 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/group_button.cpp
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/group_button.cpp
@@ -4,15 +4,20 @@ namespace dusk::ui {
 
 GroupButton::GroupButton(Rml::Element* parent, Props props)
     : SelectButton{parent, {.key = std::move(props.text)}},
-      mIsDisabled{std::move(props.isDisabled)} {
+      mIsSelected{std::move(props.isSelected)}, mIsDisabled{std::move(props.isDisabled)} {
     mRoot->SetClass("group-button", true);
 }
 
 void GroupButton::update() {
+    set_selected(selected());
     set_disabled(disabled());
     SelectButton::update();
 }
 
+bool GroupButton::selected() const {
+    return mIsSelected ? mIsSelected() : SelectButton::selected();
+}
+
 bool GroupButton::disabled() const {
     return mIsDisabled ? mIsDisabled() : SelectButton::disabled();
 }
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/group_button.hpp b/src/dusk/ui/group_button.hpp
index 2287bb9004..8b207318d4 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/group_button.hpp
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/group_button.hpp
@@ -8,15 +8,18 @@ class GroupButton : public SelectButton {
 public:
     struct Props {
         Rml::String text;
+        std::function<bool()> isSelected;
         std::function<bool()> isDisabled;
     };
 
     GroupButton(Rml::Element* parent, Props props);
 
     void update() override;
+    bool selected() const override;
     bool disabled() const override;
 
 private:
+    std::function<bool()> mIsSelected;
     std::function<bool()> mIsDisabled;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/mod_window.cpp b/src/dusk/ui/mod_window.cpp
index eebc1e086b..213ac29b7d 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/mod_window.cpp
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/mod_window.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Component* build_mod_control(Pane& pane, Pane* helpPane, ModControlSpec spec) {
     case ModControlSpec::Kind::Button:
         control = &pane.add_button(ControlledButton::Props{
                                        .text = s.label,
+                                       .isSelected = s.isSelected,
                                        .isDisabled = s.isDisabled,
                                    })
                        .on_pressed([shared] {
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ Component* build_mod_control(Pane& pane, Pane* helpPane, ModControlSpec spec) {
     case ModControlSpec::Kind::Group:
         control = &pane.add_group_button(GroupButton::Props{
                                              .text = s.label,
+                                             .isSelected = s.isSelected,
                                              .isDisabled = s.isDisabled,
                                          })
                        .on_pressed([shared] {
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/mod_window.hpp b/src/dusk/ui/mod_window.hpp
index f8eade44d3..88e59dd68c 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/mod_window.hpp
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/mod_window.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ struct ModControlSpec {
     std::function<void(int)> setInt;
     std::function<Rml::String()> getString;
     std::function<void(Rml::String)> setString;
+    std::function<bool()> isSelected;
     std::function<bool()> isDisabled;
     std::function<bool()> isModified;
     int min = 0;