diff --git a/source/blood/src/blood.h b/source/blood/src/blood.h
index a3c5a4b98..a9951efad 100644
--- a/source/blood/src/blood.h
+++ b/source/blood/src/blood.h
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ struct GameInterface : ::GameInterface
 	bool GenerateSavePic() override;
 	void FreeGameData() override;
 	void set_hud_layout(int size) override;
-	void set_hud_scale(int size) override;
 	FString statFPS() override;
 	FSavegameInfo GetSaveSig() override;
 	void MenuOpened() override;
diff --git a/source/blood/src/controls.cpp b/source/blood/src/controls.cpp
index 82ea3d440..74c9ab766 100644
--- a/source/blood/src/controls.cpp
+++ b/source/blood/src/controls.cpp
@@ -65,11 +65,6 @@ void GameInterface::set_hud_layout(int layout)
 	viewResizeView(layout);
 }
 
-void GameInterface::set_hud_scale(int scale)
-{
-	// Not implemented, only needed as a placeholder. Maybe implement it after all? The hud is a bit large at its default size.
-}
-
 
 fix16_t gViewLook, gViewAngle;
 float gViewAngleAdjust;
diff --git a/source/core/gamecvars.cpp b/source/core/gamecvars.cpp
index 7e55fca07..cffc9b050 100644
--- a/source/core/gamecvars.cpp
+++ b/source/core/gamecvars.cpp
@@ -159,11 +159,7 @@ CUSTOM_CVARD(Int, snd_speech, 1, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG, "enables/disabl
 
 // HUD
 
-// This was particularly messy. EDuke and Rednukem had no consistent setting for this but a complex combination of 4 CVARs and lots of mod flags controlling the HUD layout
-// NBlood had this differently with an inverted scale of 0-7 with 0 having no HUD.
-// For consistency all frontends now use the same scale, with 0 being the smallest and 11 being the largest, which get converted to the internal settings by the set_hud_layout callback.
-
-int hud_size_max = 11;	// 11 is for Duke Nukem and its offspring games.
+int hud_size_max = 11;	// The maximum is different for each game
 
 CUSTOM_CVARD(Int, hud_size, 9, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_NOINITCALL, "Defines the HUD size and style")
 {
@@ -171,35 +167,22 @@ CUSTOM_CVARD(Int, hud_size, 9, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_NOINITCALL, "Defines the HUD
 	else if (self > hud_size_max) self = hud_size_max;
 	else
 	{
-		if (gi->validate_hud(self))
-			gi->set_hud_layout(self);
-		else
-			Printf("Hud size %d not available\n", *self);
+		gi->set_hud_layout(self);
 	}
 }
 
-// This is to allow flattening the overly complicated HUD configuration to one single value and keep the complexity safely inside the HUD code.
+// This is for game code to change the size, so that the range checks remain isolated here.
 bool G_ChangeHudLayout(int direction)
 {
 	if (direction < 0 && hud_size > 0)
 	{
-		int layout = hud_size - 1;
-		while (!gi->validate_hud(layout) && layout >= 0) layout--;
-		if (layout >= 0 && layout < hud_size && gi->validate_hud(layout))
-		{
-			hud_size = layout;
-			return true;
-		}
+		hud_size = hud_size - 1;
+		return true;
 	}
-	else if (direction > 0 && hud_size < 11)
+	else if (direction > 0 && hud_size < hud_size_max)
 	{
-		int layout = hud_size + 1;
-		while (!gi->validate_hud(layout) && layout <= 11) layout++;
-		if (layout <= 11 && layout > hud_size && gi->validate_hud(layout))
-		{
-			hud_size = layout;
-			return true;
-		}
+		hud_size = hud_size + 1;
+		return true;
 	}
 	return false;
 }
@@ -218,7 +201,7 @@ CUSTOM_CVARD(Int, hud_scale, 100, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_NOINITCALL, "changes the h
 {
 	if (self < 36) self = 36;
 	else if (self > 100) self = 100;
-	else gi->set_hud_scale(self);
+	else gi->UpdateScreenSize();
 }
 
 CCMD(scaleup)
@@ -235,13 +218,6 @@ CCMD(scaledown)
 	if (hud_scale != oldscale) gi->PlayHudSound();
 }
 
-int hud_statusbarrange;	// will be set by the game's configuration setup.
-CUSTOM_CVARD(Int, hud_custom, 0, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_NOINITCALL, "change the custom hud") // this has no backing implementation, it seems to be solely for scripted HUDs.
-{
-	if (self < 0) self = 0;
-	else if (self > 0 && self >= hud_statusbarrange) self = hud_statusbarrange - 1;
-}
-
 CVARD(Bool, hud_stats, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG, "enable/disable level statistics display")
 CVARD(Bool, hud_showmapname, true, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG, "enable/disable map name display on load")
 CVARD(Bool, hud_position, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE, "aligns the status bar to the bottom/top")
diff --git a/source/core/gamestruct.h b/source/core/gamestruct.h
index 1d6457200..884d7a5b0 100644
--- a/source/core/gamestruct.h
+++ b/source/core/gamestruct.h
@@ -57,9 +57,7 @@ struct GameInterface
 	virtual void clearlocalinputstate() {}
 	virtual void UpdateScreenSize() {}
 	virtual void FreeGameData() {}
-	virtual bool validate_hud(int) { return true; }
 	virtual void set_hud_layout(int size) = 0;
-	virtual void set_hud_scale(int size) {}
 	virtual bool automapActive() { return false; }
 	virtual void PlayHudSound() {}
 	virtual FString statFPS() { return "FPS display not available"; }
diff --git a/source/exhumed/src/exhumed.h b/source/exhumed/src/exhumed.h
index 3ad991319..872445601 100644
--- a/source/exhumed/src/exhumed.h
+++ b/source/exhumed/src/exhumed.h
@@ -338,9 +338,7 @@ struct GameInterface : ::GameInterface
     int app_main() override;
     void UpdateScreenSize() override;
     bool GenerateSavePic() override;
-    bool validate_hud(int) override { return true;  }
     void set_hud_layout(int size) override;
-    void set_hud_scale(int size) override {}
     void DrawNativeMenuText(int fontnum, int state, double xpos, double ypos, float fontscale, const char* text, int flags) override;
     void MenuOpened() override;
     void MenuSound(EMenuSounds snd) override;
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/2d_d.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/2d_d.cpp
index a61fae369..9f3012403 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/2d_d.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/2d_d.cpp
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ void Logo_d(const CompletionFunc &completion)
 
 	JobDesc jobs[3];
 	int job = 0;
-	if (VOLUMEALL && !inputState.CheckAllInput()) jobs[job++] = { PlayVideo("logo.anm", logosound, logoframetimes), []() { S_PlaySpecialMusic(MUS_INTRO); } };
+	if (VOLUMEALL) jobs[job++] = { PlayVideo("logo.anm", logosound, logoframetimes), []() { S_PlaySpecialMusic(MUS_INTRO); } };
 	if (!isNam()) jobs[job++] = { Create<DDRealmsScreen>(), nullptr };
 	jobs[job++] = { Create<DTitleScreen>(), []() { S_PlaySound(NITEVISION_ONOFF, CHAN_AUTO, CHANF_UI); } };
 	RunScreenJob(jobs, job, completion, true, true);
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/duke3d.h b/source/games/duke/src/duke3d.h
index 4416342f6..f25f59717 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/duke3d.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/duke3d.h
@@ -38,9 +38,7 @@ struct GameInterface : ::GameInterface
 	void clearlocalinputstate() override;
 	void UpdateScreenSize() override;
 	bool GenerateSavePic() override;
-	bool validate_hud(int) override;
 	void set_hud_layout(int size) override;
-	void set_hud_scale(int size) override;
 	void PlayHudSound() override;
 	bool automapActive() override;
 	FString statFPS() override;
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/funct.h b/source/games/duke/src/funct.h
index 567023817..6907ddd3d 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/funct.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/funct.h
@@ -242,5 +242,6 @@ void setinterpolation(int* posptr);
 void stopinterpolation(int* posptr);
 void dointerpolations(int smoothratio);
 int* animateptr(int i);
+void updateviewport(void);
 
 END_DUKE_NS
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
index abfd9937f..0882de486 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
@@ -416,8 +416,6 @@ static void Startup(void)
 	}
 
 	ud.last_level = -1;
-	hud_size.Callback();
-	hud_scale.Callback();
 }
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -432,6 +430,7 @@ int GameInterface::app_main()
 	Startup();
 	enginePostInit();
 	videoInit();
+	updateviewport();
 	videoSetPalette(BASEPAL);
 	app_loop();
 	return 0;
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/game_misc.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/game_misc.cpp
index 2e1943692..76e9f1c47 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/game_misc.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/game_misc.cpp
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ void drawoverheadmap(int cposx, int cposy, int czoom, int cang)
 	if (/*textret == 0 &&*/ ud.overhead_on == 2)
 	{
 		double scale = isRR() ? 0.5 : 1.;
-		int top = isRR() ? 0 : ((ud.screen_size > 0) ? 147 : 179);
+		int top = isRR() ? 0 : (hud_size < 11 ? 147 : 179);
 		if (!(currentLevel->flags & MI_USERMAP))
 			DrawText(twod, SmallFont2, CR_UNDEFINED, 5, top+6, GStrings.localize(gVolumeNames[volfromlevelnum(currentLevel->levelNumber)]), 
 				DTA_FullscreenScale, 3, DTA_VirtualWidth, 320, DTA_VirtualHeight, 200, DTA_ScaleX, scale, DTA_ScaleY, scale, DTA_KeepRatio, true, TAG_DONE);
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/hudweapon_d.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/hudweapon_d.cpp
index f00266caf..e578580ac 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/hudweapon_d.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/hudweapon_d.cpp
@@ -195,14 +195,14 @@ void displaymasks_d(int snum)
 
 	if (ps[snum].scuba_on)
 	{
-		if (ud.screen_size > 4)
+		if (hud_size < 9)
 		{
 			hud_drawsprite(44, (200 - 8 - tilesiz[SCUBAMASK].y), 65536, 0, SCUBAMASK, 0, p, 2 + 16);
 			hud_drawsprite((320 - 43), (200 - 8 - tilesiz[SCUBAMASK].y), 65536, 1024, SCUBAMASK, 0, p, 2 + 4 + 16);
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			hud_drawsprite(44 << 16, (200 - tilesiz[SCUBAMASK].y) << 16, 65536, 0, SCUBAMASK, 0, p, 2 + 16);
+			hud_drawsprite(44, (200 - tilesiz[SCUBAMASK].y), 65536, 0, SCUBAMASK, 0, p, 2 + 16);
 			hud_drawsprite((320 - 43), (200 - tilesiz[SCUBAMASK].y), 65536, 1024, SCUBAMASK, 0, p, 2 + 4 + 16);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/input.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/input.cpp
index fea5e7570..6f136537e 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/input.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/input.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ void nonsharedkeys(void)
 			{
 				if (G_ChangeHudLayout(1))
 				{
-					S_PlaySound(isRR() ? 341 : THUD, CHAN_AUTO, CHANF_UI);
+					gi->PlayHudSound();
 				}
 			}
 			else
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void nonsharedkeys(void)
 			{
 				if (G_ChangeHudLayout(-1))
 				{
-					S_PlaySound(isRR() ? 341 : THUD, CHAN_AUTO, CHANF_UI);
+					gi->PlayHudSound();
 				}
 			}
 			else
@@ -211,16 +211,6 @@ void nonsharedkeys(void)
 		}
 	}
 
-#if 0 // ESC is blocked by the menu, this function is not particularly useful anyway.
-	if (inputState.GetKeyStatus(sc_Escape) && ud.overhead_on && ps[myconnectindex].newowner == -1)
-	{
-		inputState.ClearKeyStatus(sc_Escape);
-		ud.last_overhead = ud.overhead_on;
-		ud.overhead_on = 0;
-		ud.scrollmode = 0;
-	}
-#endif
-
 	if (buttonMap.ButtonDown(gamefunc_Map))
 	{
 		buttonMap.ClearButton(gamefunc_Map);
@@ -739,7 +729,6 @@ static void processInputBits(player_struct *p, ControlInfo &info)
 	}
 
 	if (gamequit) loc.bits |= SKB_GAMEQUIT;
-	//if (inputState.GetKeyStatus(sc_Escape))  loc.bits |= SKB_ESCAPE; fixme. This never gets here because the menu eats the escape key.
 
 	if (!onVehicle)
 	{
@@ -1320,6 +1309,7 @@ void registerinputcommands()
 	C_RegisterFunction("jetpack", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend = SKB_JETPACK; return CCMD_OK; });
 	C_RegisterFunction("turnaround", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend = SKB_TURNAROUND; return CCMD_OK; });
 	C_RegisterFunction("invuse", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend = SKB_INVENTORY; return CCMD_OK; });
+	C_RegisterFunction("backoff", nullptr, [](CCmdFuncPtr)->int { BitsToSend = SKB_ESCAPE; return CCMD_OK; });
 }
 
 // This is called from ImputState::ClearAllInput and resets all static state being used here.
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/sbar.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/sbar.cpp
index 8c139b8bd..5e0b41e26 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/sbar.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/sbar.cpp
@@ -280,26 +280,29 @@ void DrawBorder()
 
 void updateviewport(void)
 {
-	ud.screen_size = clamp(ud.screen_size, 0, 64);
-	int ss = std::max(ud.screen_size - 8, 0);
+	static const uint8_t size_vals[] = { 60, 54, 48, 40, 32, 24, 16, 8, 8, 4, 4, 0 };
+	static const uint8_t size_vals_rr[] = { 56, 48, 40, 32, 24, 16, 12, 8, 8, 4, 4, 0 };
+	int ss = isRR() ? size_vals_rr[hud_size] : size_vals[hud_size];
+
+	ss = std::max(ss - 8, 0);
 
 	int x1 = scale(ss, xdim, 160);
 	int x2 = xdim - x1;
 
-	int y1 = scale(ss, (200 * 100) - ((tilesiz[TILE_BOTTOMSTATUSBAR].y >> (isRR() ? 1 : 0)) * ud.statusbarscale), 200 - tilesiz[TILE_BOTTOMSTATUSBAR].y);
+	int y1 = scale(ss, (200 * 100) - ((tilesiz[TILE_BOTTOMSTATUSBAR].y >> (isRR() ? 1 : 0)) * hud_scale), 200 - tilesiz[TILE_BOTTOMSTATUSBAR].y);
 	int y2 = 200 * 100 - y1;
 
-	if (isRR() && ud.screen_size <= 12)
+	if (isRR() && hud_size > 6)
 	{
 		x1 = 0;
 		x2 = xdim;
 		y1 = 0;
-		if (ud.statusbarmode)
+		if (hud_size >= 8)
 			y2 = 200 * 100;
 	}
 
 	int fbh = 0;
-	if (ud.screen_size > 0 && ud.coop != 1 && ud.multimode > 1)
+	if (hud_size < 11 && ud.coop != 1 && ud.multimode > 1)
 	{
 		int j = 0;
 		for (int i = connecthead; i >= 0; i = connectpoint2[i])
@@ -312,8 +315,8 @@ void updateviewport(void)
 	}
 
 	y1 += fbh * 100;
-	if (ud.screen_size >= 8 && ud.statusbarmode == 0)
-		y2 -= (tilesiz[TILE_BOTTOMSTATUSBAR].y >> (isRR() ? 1 : 0)) * ud.statusbarscale;
+	if (hud_size <= 7)
+		y2 -= (tilesiz[TILE_BOTTOMSTATUSBAR].y >> (isRR() ? 1 : 0)) * hud_scale;
 	y1 = scale(y1, ydim, 200 * 100);
 	y2 = scale(y2, ydim, 200 * 100);
 
@@ -326,22 +329,9 @@ void updateviewport(void)
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-bool GameInterface::validate_hud(int layout)
-{
-	return layout <= 11;
-}
-
 void GameInterface::set_hud_layout(int layout)
 {
-	static const uint8_t screen_size_vals[] = { 60, 54, 48, 40, 32, 24, 16, 8, 8, 4, 4, 0 };
-	static const uint8_t screen_size_vals_rr[] = { 56, 48, 40, 32, 24, 16, 12, 8, 8, 4, 4, 0 };
-	if (validate_hud(layout))
-	{
-		ud.screen_size = isRR()? screen_size_vals_rr[layout] : screen_size_vals[layout];
-		ud.statusbarmode = layout >= 8;
-		ud.althud = layout >= 10;
-		if (xdim > 0 && ydim > 0) updateviewport();
-	}
+	if (xdim > 0 && ydim > 0) updateviewport();
 }
 
 void GameInterface::PlayHudSound() 
@@ -349,12 +339,6 @@ void GameInterface::PlayHudSound()
 	S_PlaySound(isRR() ? 341 : THUD, CHAN_AUTO, CHANF_UI);
 }
 
-void GameInterface::set_hud_scale(int scale)
-{
-    ud.statusbarscale = clamp(scale, 36, 100);
-	if (xdim > 0 && ydim > 0) updateviewport();
-}
-
 void GameInterface::UpdateScreenSize()
 {
 	updateviewport();
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/sbar_d.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/sbar_d.cpp
index 80ca0334f..dabca3685 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/sbar_d.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/sbar_d.cpp
@@ -407,9 +407,9 @@ void PrintLevelName_d(double alpha);
 void drawstatusbar_d(int snum)
 {
 	DDukeStatusBar dsb;
-	if (ud.screen_size <= 4)
+	if (hud_size >= 9)
 	{
-		dsb.DrawHud(snum, ud.screen_size < 4 ? 0 : ud.althud ? 1 : 2);
+		dsb.DrawHud(snum, hud_size == 11 ? 0 : hud_size == 10 ? 1 : 2);
 	}
 	else
 	{
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/sbar_r.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/sbar_r.cpp
index 838a96954..e33425fe4 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/sbar_r.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/sbar_r.cpp
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ public:
 		BeginStatusBar(320, 200, h, true);
 		DrawInventory(p, 160, 154, 0);
 
-		if (ud.screen_size > 8)
+		if (hud_size < 7)
 			DrawWeaponBar(p, top);
 
 		DrawGraphic(tileGetTexture(BOTTOMSTATUSBAR), 0, top, DI_ITEM_LEFT_TOP, 1, -1, -1, scale, scale);
@@ -391,9 +391,9 @@ void PrintLevelName_r(double alpha);
 void drawstatusbar_r(int snum)
 {
 	DRedneckStatusBar dsb;
-	if (ud.screen_size <= 4)
+	if (hud_size >= 9)
 	{
-		dsb.DrawHud(snum, ud.screen_size < 4 ? 0 : ud.althud ? 1 : 2);
+		dsb.DrawHud(snum, hud_size == 11 ? 0 : hud_size == 10 ? 1 : 2);
 	}
 	else
 	{
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/types.h b/source/games/duke/src/types.h
index 1e764ded3..d15b351a5 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/types.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/types.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ struct input_t  // original name was input which is too generic for a type name.
 
 struct user_defs
 {
-	unsigned char god, cashman, eog, showallmap;
+	unsigned char god, cashman, eog;
 	unsigned char show_help, scrollmode, clipping;
 	char user_name[MAXPLAYERS][32];
 	unsigned char overhead_on, last_overhead, showweapons;
@@ -69,17 +69,16 @@ struct user_defs
 	int folfvel, folavel, folx, foly, fola;
 	int reccnt;
 
-	int runkey_mode, statusbarscale, weaponswitch;
+	int runkey_mode, weaponswitch;
 
 	int entered_name, shadows, executions, auto_run;
-	int coords, tickrate, levelstats, m_coop, coop, screen_size;
+	int coords, tickrate, levelstats, m_coop, coop;
 	int wchoice[MAXPLAYERS][MAX_WEAPONS], playerai;
 
 	int respawn_monsters, respawn_items, respawn_inventory, recstat, monsters_off, brightness;
 	int m_respawn_items, m_respawn_monsters, m_respawn_inventory, m_recstat, m_monsters_off, detail;
 	int m_ffire, ffire, m_player_skill, multimode;
 	int player_skill, marker;
-	int statusbarmode, althud;
 	MapRecord* nextLevel;
 
 };
diff --git a/source/sw/src/game.cpp b/source/sw/src/game.cpp
index 40e840a8c..ddfaf371e 100644
--- a/source/sw/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/sw/src/game.cpp
@@ -3806,8 +3806,6 @@ void GameInterface::set_hud_layout(int requested_size)
     SetBorder(Player + myconnectindex, gs.BorderNum);
     SetRedrawScreen(Player + myconnectindex);
 }
-/*extern*/ void GameInterface::set_hud_scale(int requested_size) {  }
-
 ::GameInterface* CreateInterface()
 {
 	return new GameInterface;
diff --git a/source/sw/src/game.h b/source/sw/src/game.h
index f81ef824b..076406438 100644
--- a/source/sw/src/game.h
+++ b/source/sw/src/game.h
@@ -2538,7 +2538,6 @@ struct GameInterface : ::GameInterface
     void FreeGameData() override;
     bool GenerateSavePic() override;
 	void set_hud_layout(int size) override;
-	void set_hud_scale(int size) override;
 	void DrawNativeMenuText(int fontnum, int state, double xpos, double ypos, float fontscale, const char* text, int flags) override;
 	void MenuOpened() override;
 	void MenuSound(EMenuSounds snd) override;