diff --git a/neo/framework/Common.cpp b/neo/framework/Common.cpp
index 62bfabb4..21ab1960 100644
--- a/neo/framework/Common.cpp
+++ b/neo/framework/Common.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ idCVar preload_CommonAssets( "preload_CommonAssets", "1", CVAR_SYSTEM | CVAR_BOO
 
 idCVar net_inviteOnly( "net_inviteOnly", "1", CVAR_BOOL | CVAR_ARCHIVE, "whether or not the private server you create allows friends to join or invite only" );
 
+// DG: add cvar for pause
+idCVar com_pause( "com_pause", "0", CVAR_BOOL | CVAR_SYSTEM , "set to 1 to pause game, to 0 to unpause again" );
+// DG end
+
 extern idCVar g_demoMode;
 
 idCVar com_engineHz( "com_engineHz", "60", CVAR_FLOAT | CVAR_ARCHIVE, "Frames per second the engine runs at", 10.0f, 1024.0f );
diff --git a/neo/framework/common_frame.cpp b/neo/framework/common_frame.cpp
index a1968f50..a63f0053 100644
--- a/neo/framework/common_frame.cpp
+++ b/neo/framework/common_frame.cpp
@@ -438,6 +438,8 @@ void idCommonLocal::ProcessGameReturn( const gameReturn_t& ret )
 
 extern idCVar com_forceGenericSIMD;
 
+extern idCVar com_pause;
+
 /*
 =================
 idCommonLocal::Frame
@@ -485,13 +487,16 @@ void idCommonLocal::Frame()
 		// if the console or another gui is down, we don't need to hold the mouse cursor
 		bool chatting = false;
 		
+		// DG: Add pause from com_pause cvar
 		// RB begin
 #if defined(USE_DOOMCLASSIC)
-		if( console->Active() || Dialog().IsDialogActive() || session->IsSystemUIShowing() || ( game && game->InhibitControls() && !IsPlayingDoomClassic() ) )
+		if( console->Active() || Dialog().IsDialogActive() || session->IsSystemUIShowing()
+				|| ( game && game->InhibitControls() && !IsPlayingDoomClassic() ) )
 #else
-		if( console->Active() || Dialog().IsDialogActive() || session->IsSystemUIShowing() || ( game && game->InhibitControls() ) )
+		if( com_pause.GetInteger() || console->Active() || Dialog().IsDialogActive() || session->IsSystemUIShowing()
+				|| ( game && game->InhibitControls() ) )
 #endif
-			// RB end
+			// RB end, DG end
 		{
 			Sys_GrabMouseCursor( false );
 			usercmdGen->InhibitUsercmd( INHIBIT_SESSION, true );
@@ -505,9 +510,16 @@ void idCommonLocal::Frame()
 		
 		// RB begin
 #if defined(USE_DOOMCLASSIC)
-		const bool pauseGame = ( !mapSpawned || ( !IsMultiplayer() && ( Dialog().IsDialogPausing() || session->IsSystemUIShowing() || ( game && game->Shell_IsActive() ) ) ) ) && !IsPlayingDoomClassic();
+		const bool pauseGame = ( !mapSpawned
+								 || ( !IsMultiplayer()
+									  && ( Dialog().IsDialogPausing() || session->IsSystemUIShowing()
+										   || ( game && game->Shell_IsActive() ) || com_pause.GetInteger() ) ) )
+							   && !IsPlayingDoomClassic();
 #else
-		const bool pauseGame = ( !mapSpawned || ( !IsMultiplayer() && ( Dialog().IsDialogPausing() || session->IsSystemUIShowing() || ( game && game->Shell_IsActive() ) ) ) );
+		const bool pauseGame = ( !mapSpawned
+								 || ( !IsMultiplayer()
+									  && ( Dialog().IsDialogPausing() || session->IsSystemUIShowing()
+										   || ( game && game->Shell_IsActive() ) || com_pause.GetInteger() ) ) );
 #endif
 		// RB end
 		
diff --git a/neo/sys/posix/posix_session_local.cpp b/neo/sys/posix/posix_session_local.cpp
index 404f4670..cca9802e 100644
--- a/neo/sys/posix/posix_session_local.cpp
+++ b/neo/sys/posix/posix_session_local.cpp
@@ -456,10 +456,9 @@ idSessionLocalWin::IsSystemUIShowing
 */
 bool idSessionLocalWin::IsSystemUIShowing() const
 {
-	// RB: TODO track SDL_ACTIVEENT
+	// DG: pausing here when window is out of focus like originally done on windows is hacky
+	// it's done with com_pause now.
 	return isSysUIShowing;
-	
-	//return !win32.activeApp || isSysUIShowing; // If the user alt+tabs away, treat it the same as bringing up the steam overlay
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/neo/sys/sdl/sdl_events.cpp b/neo/sys/sdl/sdl_events.cpp
index dd0a4bbc..e0e4ca21 100644
--- a/neo/sys/sdl/sdl_events.cpp
+++ b/neo/sys/sdl/sdl_events.cpp
@@ -741,14 +741,18 @@ sysEvent_t Sys_GetEvent()
 							newmod |= KMOD_CAPS;
 							
 						SDL_SetModState( ( SDL_Keymod )newmod );
-						// DG: disabling the cursor is now done once in GLimp_Init() because it should always be disabled
-						GLimp_GrabInput( GRAB_ENABLE | GRAB_REENABLE );
+						
+						// DG: un-pause the game when focus is gained, that also re-grabs the input
+						//     disabling the cursor is now done once in GLimp_Init() because it should always be disabled
+						cvarSystem->SetCVarBool( "com_pause", false );
 						// DG end
 						break;
 					}
 					
 					case SDL_WINDOWEVENT_FOCUS_LOST:
-						GLimp_GrabInput( 0 );
+						// DG: pause the game when focus is lost, that also un-grabs the input
+						cvarSystem->SetCVarBool( "com_pause", true );
+						// DG end
 						break;
 						
 						// DG: handle resizing and moving of window
@@ -779,11 +783,13 @@ sysEvent_t Sys_GetEvent()
 #else
 			case SDL_ACTIVEEVENT:
 			{
-				int flags = 0;
+				// DG: (un-)pause the game when focus is gained, that also (un-)grabs the input
+				bool pause = true;
 			
 				if( ev.active.gain )
 				{
-					flags = GRAB_ENABLE | GRAB_REENABLE | GRAB_HIDECURSOR;
+			
+					pause = false;
 			
 					// unset modifier, in case alt-tab was used to leave window and ALT is still set
 					// as that can cause fullscreen-toggling when pressing enter...
@@ -795,7 +801,7 @@ sysEvent_t Sys_GetEvent()
 					SDL_SetModState( ( SDLMod )newmod );
 				}
 			
-				GLimp_GrabInput( flags );
+				cvarSystem->SetCVarBool( "com_pause", pause );
 			}
 			
 			return res_none;
diff --git a/neo/sys/win32/win_session_local.cpp b/neo/sys/win32/win_session_local.cpp
index 3b175eb7..b76b065b 100644
--- a/neo/sys/win32/win_session_local.cpp
+++ b/neo/sys/win32/win_session_local.cpp
@@ -456,7 +456,9 @@ idSessionLocalWin::IsSystemUIShowing
 */
 bool idSessionLocalWin::IsSystemUIShowing() const
 {
-	return !win32.activeApp || isSysUIShowing; // If the user alt+tabs away, treat it the same as bringing up the steam overlay
+	// DG: wtf, !win32.activeApp doesn't belong here, this is totally confusing and hacky.
+	// pause (when losing focus or invoking explicitly) is now handled properly by com_pause
+	return isSysUIShowing;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/neo/sys/win32/win_wndproc.cpp b/neo/sys/win32/win_wndproc.cpp
index 680b467e..5eec81eb 100644
--- a/neo/sys/win32/win_wndproc.cpp
+++ b/neo/sys/win32/win_wndproc.cpp
@@ -288,6 +288,10 @@ LONG WINAPI MainWndProc( HWND hWnd, UINT uMsg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam )
 			
 			// start playing the game sound world
 			soundSystem->SetMute( !win32.activeApp );
+			// DG: set com_pause so game pauses when focus is lost
+			// and continues when focus is regained
+			cvarSystem->SetCVarBool( "com_pause", !win32.activeApp );
+			// DG end
 			
 			// we do not actually grab or release the mouse here,
 			// that will be done next time through the main loop