diff --git a/tools/new_project_layout/project_studio/ops.py b/tools/new_project_layout/project_studio/ops.py
index a9ee0289..e951ec03 100644
--- a/tools/new_project_layout/project_studio/ops.py
+++ b/tools/new_project_layout/project_studio/ops.py
@@ -464,6 +464,11 @@ def op_rewrite_cmake_setup_host(root: Path, options: MigrateOptions) -> ApplyRes
 
     _fill(templates_dir() / "CMakeLists.txt.in", cmake, tokens, options.dry_run)
 
+    go = root / "game_options.toml"
+    if not go.is_file():
+        _fill(templates_dir() / "game_options.toml.in", go, tokens, options.dry_run)
+        changed.append("game_options.toml")
+
     if extras_bits and not options.dry_run:
         extras_note.write_text(
             "Preserved notes after setup-host CMake rewrite:\n\n"
diff --git a/tools/new_project_layout/setup_project.ps1 b/tools/new_project_layout/setup_project.ps1
index f9badb84..3fc8a08a 100644
--- a/tools/new_project_layout/setup_project.ps1
+++ b/tools/new_project_layout/setup_project.ps1
@@ -354,6 +354,7 @@ git init -q
 
 Fill-Template (Join-Path $TemplateDir "CMakeLists.txt.in") (Join-Path $Root "CMakeLists.txt")
 Fill-Template (Join-Path $TemplateDir "game.toml.in") (Join-Path $Root "game.toml")
+Fill-Template (Join-Path $TemplateDir "game_options.toml.in") (Join-Path $Root "game_options.toml")
 Fill-Template (Join-Path $TemplateDir "codegen_setup.c.in") (Join-Path $Root "codegen_setup.c")
 Fill-Template (Join-Path $TemplateDir "codegen_setup.h.in") (Join-Path $Root "codegen_setup.h")
 Fill-Template (Join-Path $TemplateDir "gitignore.in") (Join-Path $Root ".gitignore")
diff --git a/tools/new_project_layout/setup_project.sh b/tools/new_project_layout/setup_project.sh
index b571eff5..256c1c64 100755
--- a/tools/new_project_layout/setup_project.sh
+++ b/tools/new_project_layout/setup_project.sh
@@ -566,6 +566,7 @@ git init -q
 
 fill_template "$TEMPLATE_DIR/CMakeLists.txt.in" "$ROOT/CMakeLists.txt"
 fill_template "$TEMPLATE_DIR/game.toml.in" "$ROOT/game.toml"
+fill_template "$TEMPLATE_DIR/game_options.toml.in" "$ROOT/game_options.toml"
 fill_template "$TEMPLATE_DIR/codegen_setup.c.in" "$ROOT/codegen_setup.c"
 fill_template "$TEMPLATE_DIR/codegen_setup.h.in" "$ROOT/codegen_setup.h"
 fill_template "$TEMPLATE_DIR/gitignore.in" "$ROOT/.gitignore"
diff --git a/tools/new_project_layout/templates/CMakeLists.txt.in b/tools/new_project_layout/templates/CMakeLists.txt.in
index 062a5083..24db61d1 100644
--- a/tools/new_project_layout/templates/CMakeLists.txt.in
+++ b/tools/new_project_layout/templates/CMakeLists.txt.in
@@ -25,3 +25,17 @@ psxrecomp_add_game_runtime(psx-runtime
     GEN_FULL_GLOB "generated/@BOOT_EXE@_full_*.c"
 @CODEGEN_SETUP_ARG@
 )
+
+# Stage runtime configs next to the exe for direct build/ launches. Only copy
+# files that exist — never fail POST_BUILD when game_options.toml is absent.
+foreach(_PSX_RUNTIME_CONFIG game.toml game_options.toml)
+    if(EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${_PSX_RUNTIME_CONFIG}")
+        add_custom_command(TARGET psx-runtime POST_BUILD
+            COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_if_different
+                "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/${_PSX_RUNTIME_CONFIG}"
+                "$<TARGET_FILE_DIR:psx-runtime>/${_PSX_RUNTIME_CONFIG}"
+            COMMENT "Staging ${_PSX_RUNTIME_CONFIG}"
+            VERBATIM)
+    endif()
+endforeach()
+
diff --git a/tools/new_project_layout/templates/game_options.toml.in b/tools/new_project_layout/templates/game_options.toml.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dba252d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/new_project_layout/templates/game_options.toml.in
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# Native in-game OPTION persistence (optional).
+# Declared next to game.toml; read by the recompiler (init-store hooks) and
+# runtime (restore / save). Omit [[option]] rows until the title needs them.
+# See psxrecomp GameOptions / runtime game_options.c.
+#
+# [[option]]
+# name = "example"
+# addr = "0x80000000"
+# size = 1
+# init_store_pc = "0x80000000"
+# min = 0
+# max = 1