diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index 0303987..b2f2141 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -233,6 +233,26 @@ root.go = function(nextId) {
 function initializeGame() {
     const urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
     const screenParam = urlParams.get('screen');
+    const dev = urlParams.get('dev');
+    
+    // Check if it's ThePrimeagen's birthday yet (September 9, 2025)
+    // Skip countdown if ?dev=true is in URL
+    const now = new Date();
+    const birthday = new Date('2025-09-09T00:00:00');
+    
+    console.log('Current date:', now);
+    console.log('Birthday date:', birthday);
+    console.log('Before birthday?', now < birthday);
+    console.log('Dev mode?', dev);
+    
+    if (now < birthday && dev !== 'true') {
+        console.log('Showing countdown!');
+        showCountdown(birthday);
+        return;
+    } else {
+        console.log('Showing game - either past birthday or dev mode');
+    }
+    
     if (screenParam) {
         setupMockData();
         
@@ -302,6 +322,65 @@ function setupMockData() {
     ];
 }
 
+function showCountdown(birthday) {
+    document.body.innerHTML = `
+        <div class="countdown-screen">
+            <div class="countdown-content">
+                <div class="countdown-timer">
+                    <div class="countdown-message">
+                        <p>Your epic birthday surprise launches in:</p>
+                    </div>
+                    
+                    <div class="countdown-display">
+                        <div class="time-unit">
+                            <div class="time-number" id="days">--</div>
+                            <div class="time-label">Days</div>
+                        </div>
+                        <div class="time-separator">:</div>
+                        <div class="time-unit">
+                            <div class="time-number" id="hours">--</div>
+                            <div class="time-label">Hours</div>
+                        </div>
+                        <div class="time-separator">:</div>
+                        <div class="time-unit">
+                            <div class="time-number" id="minutes">--</div>
+                            <div class="time-label">Minutes</div>
+                        </div>
+                        <div class="time-separator">:</div>
+                        <div class="time-unit">
+                            <div class="time-number" id="seconds">--</div>
+                            <div class="time-label">Seconds</div>
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    `;
+    
+    // Start the countdown timer
+    const timer = setInterval(() => {
+        const now = new Date();
+        const timeLeft = birthday - now;
+        
+        if (timeLeft <= 0) {
+            clearInterval(timer);
+            // Birthday reached! Reload to show the game
+            window.location.reload();
+            return;
+        }
+        
+        const days = Math.floor(timeLeft / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24));
+        const hours = Math.floor((timeLeft % (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24)) / (1000 * 60 * 60));
+        const minutes = Math.floor((timeLeft % (1000 * 60 * 60)) / (1000 * 60));
+        const seconds = Math.floor((timeLeft % (1000 * 60)) / 1000);
+        
+        document.getElementById('days').textContent = days.toString().padStart(2, '0');
+        document.getElementById('hours').textContent = hours.toString().padStart(2, '0');
+        document.getElementById('minutes').textContent = minutes.toString().padStart(2, '0');
+        document.getElementById('seconds').textContent = seconds.toString().padStart(2, '0');
+    }, 1000);
+}
+
 function loadNormalGame() {
     // Clear old saves to prevent card ID conflicts after refactoring
     root.clearOldSaves();
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 96151eb..68a34fd 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -5182,3 +5182,144 @@ h3 {
     transform: translateY(-2px);
     box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
 }
+
+/* Birthday Countdown Styles */
+.countdown-screen {
+    position: fixed;
+    top: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    width: 100vw;
+    height: 100vh;
+    background: #000;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    z-index: 9999;
+}
+
+.countdown-content {
+    text-align: center;
+    max-width: 900px;
+    padding: 40px;
+}
+
+.countdown-timer {
+    margin-top: 40px;
+}
+
+.countdown-message h2 {
+    color: #ffd700;
+    font-size: 2.5em;
+    margin-bottom: 20px;
+    text-shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(255, 215, 0, 0.5);
+}
+
+.countdown-message p {
+    color: #d0d0d0;
+    font-size: 1.3em;
+    margin-bottom: 40px;
+}
+
+.countdown-display {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: center;
+    gap: 20px;
+    margin: 40px 0;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+
+.time-unit {
+    background: #000;
+    border: 2px solid #fff;
+    border-radius: 15px;
+    padding: 20px;
+    min-width: 100px;
+}
+
+.time-number {
+    font-size: 3em;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    color: #ffd700;
+    text-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(255, 215, 0, 0.8);
+}
+
+.time-label {
+    font-size: 1.1em;
+    color: #d0d0d0;
+    margin-top: 10px;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: 1px;
+}
+
+.time-separator {
+    font-size: 3em;
+    color: #ffd700;
+    align-self: center;
+    animation: blink 2s infinite;
+}
+
+.birthday-preview {
+    margin-top: 50px;
+    padding: 30px;
+    background: rgba(58, 47, 31, 0.6);
+    border-radius: 15px;
+    border: 1px solid #5a4a2a;
+}
+
+.birthday-preview p {
+    color: #d0d0d0;
+    font-size: 1.2em;
+    margin-bottom: 20px;
+}
+
+.preview-icons {
+    font-size: 2em;
+    letter-spacing: 15px;
+    animation: float 3s ease-in-out infinite;
+    margin-bottom: 20px;
+}
+
+.dev-hint {
+    color: #888;
+    font-size: 0.9em;
+}
+
+.dev-hint code {
+    background: rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
+    padding: 2px 6px;
+    border-radius: 4px;
+    font-family: 'JetBrains Mono', monospace;
+}
+
+@keyframes blink {
+    0%, 50% { opacity: 1; }
+    51%, 100% { opacity: 0.3; }
+}
+
+@keyframes float {
+    0%, 100% { transform: translateY(0px); }
+    50% { transform: translateY(-10px); }
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 768px) {
+    .countdown-display {
+        gap: 10px;
+    }
+    
+    .time-unit {
+        min-width: 80px;
+        padding: 15px;
+    }
+    
+    .time-number {
+        font-size: 2em;
+    }
+    
+    .countdown-message h2 {
+        font-size: 1.8em;
+    }
+    
+    .preview-icons {
+        letter-spacing: 10px;
+    }
+}