diff --git a/source/blood/src/blood.cpp b/source/blood/src/blood.cpp
index 019e48fc6..d30d880d6 100644
--- a/source/blood/src/blood.cpp
+++ b/source/blood/src/blood.cpp
@@ -1357,7 +1357,6 @@ RESTART:
         //}
 		if (gStartNewGame)
 		{
-			STAT_StartNewGame(gVolumeNames[gGameOptions.nEpisode], gGameOptions.nDifficulty);
 			StartLevel(&gGameOptions);
 		}
     }
diff --git a/source/common/menu/menu.cpp b/source/common/menu/menu.cpp
index 8f6dccb04..46791ad54 100644
--- a/source/common/menu/menu.cpp
+++ b/source/common/menu/menu.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 #include "pragmas.h"
 #include "build.h"
 #include "baselayer.h"
+#include "statistics.h"
 
 void RegisterDukeMenus();
 void RegisterRedneckMenus();
@@ -463,6 +464,7 @@ bool M_SetMenu(FName menu, int param, FName caller)
 	{
 	case NAME_StartGame:
 		M_ClearMenus();	// must be done before starting the level.
+		STAT_StartNewGame(gVolumeNames[GameStartupInfo.Episode], GameStartupInfo.Skill);
 		gi->StartGame(GameStartupInfo);
 		return false;
 
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
index 7a4c10dd6..0043a2659 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
 #include "duke3d.h"
 #include "menus.h"
 #include "savegame.h"
-#include "statistics.h"
 #include "menu/menu.h"
 BEGIN_DUKE_NS
 
@@ -1340,7 +1339,6 @@ void G_NewGame(int volumeNum, int levelNum, int skillNum)
     ud.secretlevel   = 0;
     ud.skill_voice   = -1;
     ud.volume_number = volumeNum;
-	STAT_StartNewGame(gVolumeNames[volumeNum], skillNum);
 
     // we don't want the intro to play after the multiplayer setup screen
     if ((!g_netServer && ud.multimode < 2) && !Menu_HaveUserMap()
diff --git a/source/rr/src/premap.cpp b/source/rr/src/premap.cpp
index d1117295c..43bacd77b 100644
--- a/source/rr/src/premap.cpp
+++ b/source/rr/src/premap.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
 #include "demo.h"
 #include "savegame.h"
 #include "cmdline.h"
-#include "statistics.h"
 #include "menu/menu.h"
 
 BEGIN_RR_NS
@@ -1901,7 +1900,6 @@ void G_NewGame(int volumeNum, int levelNum, int skillNum)
     ud.player_skill = skillNum;
     ud.secretlevel = 0;
     ud.from_bonus = 0;
-	STAT_StartNewGame(gVolumeNames[volumeNum], skillNum);
 
     ud.last_level = -1;