diff --git a/source/blood/src/blood.cpp b/source/blood/src/blood.cpp
index 44c2fe282..249545a3d 100644
--- a/source/blood/src/blood.cpp
+++ b/source/blood/src/blood.cpp
@@ -560,15 +560,6 @@ void ProcessFrame(void)
             levelRestart();
             return;
         }
-        if (gPlayer[i].input.syncFlags.pause)
-        {
-            gPlayer[i].input.syncFlags.pause = 0;
-            if (paused && gGameOptions.nGameType > 0 && numplayers > 1)
-            {
-                sprintf(buffer,"%s paused the game",gProfile[i].name);
-                viewSetMessage(buffer);
-            }
-        }
     }
     viewClearInterpolations();
     {
diff --git a/source/blood/src/controls.cpp b/source/blood/src/controls.cpp
index 0240efb89..51e71e09d 100644
--- a/source/blood/src/controls.cpp
+++ b/source/blood/src/controls.cpp
@@ -125,11 +125,6 @@ void ctrlGetInput(void)
         return;
     }
 
-    if (paused != prevPauseState)
-    {
-        gInput.syncFlags.pause = 1;
-    }
-
     if (paused)
         return;
 
@@ -346,7 +341,6 @@ void ctrlGetInput(void)
 
 void registerinputcommands()
 {
-    C_RegisterFunction("pause", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend.pause = 1; sendPause = true; return CCMD_OK; });
     C_RegisterFunction("centerview", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend.lookCenter = 1; return CCMD_OK; });
     C_RegisterFunction("holsterweapon", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend.holsterWeapon = 1; return CCMD_OK; });
     C_RegisterFunction("turnaround", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend.spin180 = 1; return CCMD_OK; });
diff --git a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
index 07fafdd0e..12ab64eeb 100644
--- a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
+++ b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
@@ -100,7 +100,6 @@ auto vsnprintfptr = vsnprintf;	// This is an inline in Visual Studio but we need
 int gameclock;
 int lastTic;
 
-bool sendPause;
 int automapMode;
 bool automapFollow;
 
@@ -908,6 +907,7 @@ void TickSubsystems()
 
 static void updatePauseStatus()
 {
+	// This must go through the network in multiplayer games.
 	if (M_Active() || System_WantGuiCapture())
 	{
 		paused = 1;
diff --git a/source/core/inputstate.cpp b/source/core/inputstate.cpp
index b92f9658e..db2f46148 100644
--- a/source/core/inputstate.cpp
+++ b/source/core/inputstate.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 static int WeaponToSend = 0;
 ESyncBits ActionsToSend = 0;
 static int dpad_lock = 0;
+bool sendPause;
 
 //==========================================================================
 //
@@ -294,6 +295,11 @@ CCMD(invuse)
 	ActionsToSend |= SB_INVUSE;
 }
 
+CCMD(pause)
+{
+	sendPause = true;
+}
+
 
 
 void ApplyGlobalInput(InputPacket& input, ControlInfo *info)
diff --git a/source/core/packet.h b/source/core/packet.h
index 6018ae106..e856e962a 100644
--- a/source/core/packet.h
+++ b/source/core/packet.h
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ enum EDukeSyncBits_ : uint32_t
 	SKB_MULTIFLAG = 1 << 17,
 	SKB_CENTER_VIEW = 1 << 18,
 	SKB_HOLSTER = 1 << 19,
-	SKB_PAUSE = 1 << 21,
 	SKB_QUICK_KICK = 1 << 22,
 	SKB_AIMMODE = 1 << 23,
 	SKB_GAMEQUIT = 1 << 26,
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ enum EDukeSyncBits_ : uint32_t
 	SKB_ESCAPE = 1u << 31,
 
 	SKB_INTERFACE_BITS = (SKB_QUICK_KICK | \
-		SKB_HOLSTER | SKB_PAUSE | \
+		SKB_HOLSTER | \
 		SKB_TURNAROUND | SKB_OPEN | SKB_ESCAPE),
 
 	SKB_NONE = 0,
@@ -110,7 +109,6 @@ union SYNCFLAGS
         unsigned int lookLeft : 1;
         unsigned int lookRight : 1;
         unsigned int spin180 : 1;
-        unsigned int pause : 1;
         unsigned int quit : 1;
         unsigned int restart : 1;
     };
@@ -125,7 +123,6 @@ union SYNCFLAGS
 
 #define SK_AUTO_AIM    7
 #define SK_CENTER_VIEW 8
-#define SK_PAUSE       9
 
 #define SK_MESSAGE    11
 #define SK_LOOK_UP    12
diff --git a/source/exhumed/src/input.cpp b/source/exhumed/src/input.cpp
index 332b86585..4b748f42f 100644
--- a/source/exhumed/src/input.cpp
+++ b/source/exhumed/src/input.cpp
@@ -384,7 +384,6 @@ int ccmd_centerview(CCmdFuncPtr parm);
 
 void registerinputcommands()
 {
-    C_RegisterFunction("pause", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { /*BitsToSend |= SKB_PAUSE;*/ sendPause = true; return CCMD_OK; });
     C_RegisterFunction("centerview", nullptr, ccmd_centerview);
 
     // These are only here to silence the engine when the keys bound to them are pressed. The functions do not exist.
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/input.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/input.cpp
index 9e46ea6cf..7e27e95ac 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/input.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/input.cpp
@@ -1154,7 +1154,6 @@ void GetInput()
 
 void registerinputcommands()
 {
-	C_RegisterFunction("pause", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend |= SKB_PAUSE; sendPause = true; return CCMD_OK; });
 	C_RegisterFunction("centerview", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend |= SKB_CENTER_VIEW; return CCMD_OK; });
 	C_RegisterFunction("holsterweapon", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend |= SKB_HOLSTER; return CCMD_OK; });
 
diff --git a/source/sw/src/input.cpp b/source/sw/src/input.cpp
index f3ec56ed2..49bbdaa18 100644
--- a/source/sw/src/input.cpp
+++ b/source/sw/src/input.cpp
@@ -469,7 +469,6 @@ getinput(InputPacket *loc, SWBOOL tied)
 
 void registerinputcommands()
 {
-    C_RegisterFunction("pause", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend |= BIT(SK_PAUSE); sendPause = true; return CCMD_OK; });
     C_RegisterFunction("centerview", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend |= BIT(SK_CENTER_VIEW); return CCMD_OK; });
     C_RegisterFunction("holsterweapon", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend |= BIT(SK_HIDE_WEAPON); return CCMD_OK; });