diff --git a/.env-example b/.env-example
index 3413ba1..6e3c1cb 100644
--- a/.env-example
+++ b/.env-example
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-API_KEY=xxxxxxx
 PORT=3000
-INSTANCE_DOMAIN=api.topia.io
-INTERACTIVE_KEY=xxxxxxx
-INTERACTIVE_SECRET=xxxxxxx
 INSTANCE_PROTOCOL=https
 NODE_ENV=development
-APP_URL=http://localhost:3000
\ No newline at end of file
+APP_URL=https://your-app.ngrok-free.app/
+INSTANCE_DOMAIN=api.topia.io
+INTERACTIVE_KEY=your_interactive_key
+INTERACTIVE_SECRET=your_interactive_secret
diff --git a/.github/workflows/aws_auto_release.yml b/.github/workflows/aws_auto_release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c265155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/aws_auto_release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+name: Auto Release on Main Merge
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types: [closed]
+    branches:
+      - main
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.event.pull_request.number || github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+        
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+  pull-requests: read
+
+jobs:
+  auto_release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.event.pull_request.merged == true
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+          ref: main
+          token: ${{ secrets.PAT }}
+
+      - name: Check if user is authorized
+        id: auth_check
+        run: |
+          merged_by="${{ github.event.pull_request.merged_by.login }}"
+          echo "PR was merged by: $merged_by"
+                  
+          # Get authorized users from CODEOWNERS file
+          authorized_users=()
+                  
+          # Read CODEOWNERS file if it exists
+          if [[ -f ".github/CODEOWNERS" ]]; then
+            echo "[INFO] Reading CODEOWNERS file..."
+            # Extract usernames from CODEOWNERS (remove @ prefix)
+            codeowners=$(grep -v '^#' .github/CODEOWNERS | grep -o '@[a-zA-Z0-9_-]*' | sed 's/@//' | sort -u)
+            for user in $codeowners; do
+              authorized_users+=("$user")
+              echo "  - CODEOWNER: $user"
+            done
+          else
+            echo "[WARN] No CODEOWNERS file found"
+          fi
+                  
+          # Get repository collaborators with admin/maintain permissions using GitHub API
+          echo "[CHECK] Checking repository permissions..."
+                  
+          # Check if user has admin or maintain permissions
+          user_permission=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: token ${{ secrets.PAT }}" \
+            -H "Accept: application/vnd.github.v3+json" \
+            "https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/collaborators/$merged_by/permission" | \
+            jq -r '.permission // "none"')
+                  
+          echo "User $merged_by has permission level: $user_permission"
+                  
+          # Check if user is authorized
+          is_authorized=false
+                  
+          # Check if user is in CODEOWNERS
+          for user in "${authorized_users[@]}"; do
+            if [[ "$user" == "$merged_by" ]]; then
+              is_authorized=true
+              echo "[OK] User $merged_by is authorized via CODEOWNERS"
+              break
+            fi
+          done
+                  
+          # Check if user has admin or maintain permissions
+          if [[ "$user_permission" == "admin" || "$user_permission" == "maintain" ]]; then
+            is_authorized=true
+            echo "[OK] User $merged_by is authorized via repository permissions ($user_permission)"
+          fi
+                  
+          # Check if user is organization owner (for metaversecloud-com org)
+          org_response=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: token ${{ secrets.PAT }}" \
+            -H "Accept: application/vnd.github.v3+json" \
+            "https://api.github.com/orgs/metaversecloud-com/members/$merged_by" \
+            -w "%{http_code}")
+                  
+          # Extract HTTP status code from the response
+          http_code=${org_response: -3}
+                  
+          if [[ "$http_code" == "200" ]]; then
+            # Check if user is an owner
+            owner_status=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: token ${{ secrets.PAT }}" \
+              -H "Accept: application/vnd.github.v3+json" \
+              "https://api.github.com/orgs/metaversecloud-com/memberships/$merged_by" | \
+              jq -r '.role // "none"')
+                    
+            if [[ "$owner_status" == "admin" ]]; then
+              is_authorized=true
+              echo "[OK] User $merged_by is authorized as organization owner"
+            fi
+          fi
+                  
+          echo "is_authorized=$is_authorized" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+                  
+          if [[ "$is_authorized" == "false" ]]; then
+            echo "[ERROR] User $merged_by is not authorized to trigger releases"
+            echo "[TIP] Authorized users include:"
+            echo "  - CODEOWNERS: ${authorized_users[*]}"
+            echo "  - Repository admins and maintainers"
+            echo "  - Organization owners"
+            exit 0
+          else
+            echo "[SUCCESS] User $merged_by is authorized to trigger releases"
+          fi
+
+      - name: Check for release labels and determine version bumps
+        if: steps.auth_check.outputs.is_authorized == 'true'
+        id: check
+        run: |
+          labels='${{ toJson(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name) }}'
+          echo "PR Labels: $labels"
+                  
+          has_release_label=false
+          has_major=false
+          has_minor=false
+          has_patch=false
+                  
+          # Check if release label exists
+          if echo "$labels" | grep -q "release"; then
+            has_release_label=true
+                    
+            # Check for each type of version bump
+            if echo "$labels" | grep -q "major"; then
+              has_major=true
+            fi
+            if echo "$labels" | grep -q "minor"; then
+              has_minor=true
+            fi
+            if echo "$labels" | grep -q "patch"; then
+              has_patch=true
+            fi
+                    
+            # If no specific version type is specified, default to patch
+            if [[ "$has_major" == "false" && "$has_minor" == "false" && "$has_patch" == "false" ]]; then
+              has_patch=true
+            fi
+          fi
+                  
+          echo "should_release=$has_release_label" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "has_major=$has_major" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "has_minor=$has_minor" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "has_patch=$has_patch" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "Should release: $has_release_label"
+          echo "Has major: $has_major, minor: $has_minor, patch: $has_patch"
+
+      - name: Setup Node.js
+        if: steps.auth_check.outputs.is_authorized == 'true' && steps.check.outputs.should_release == 'true'
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: 20.10
+
+      - name: Calculate new version with cumulative bumps
+        if: steps.auth_check.outputs.is_authorized == 'true' && steps.check.outputs.should_release == 'true'
+        id: version
+        run: |
+          git config --global user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+          git config --global user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+                  
+          # Get the latest tag from git
+          latest_tag=$(git describe --tags --abbrev=0 2>/dev/null || echo "v0.0.0")
+          echo "Latest git tag: $latest_tag"
+                  
+          # Remove 'v' prefix if present
+          current_version=${latest_tag#v}
+          echo "Current version: $current_version"
+                  
+          # Parse current version
+          IFS='.' read -r major minor patch <<< "$current_version"
+          echo "Parsed version - Major: $major, Minor: $minor, Patch: $patch"
+                  
+          # Apply cumulative version bumps
+          if [[ "${{ steps.check.outputs.has_major }}" == "true" ]]; then
+            major=$((major + 1))
+            minor=0  # Reset minor when major is bumped
+            patch=0  # Reset patch when major is bumped
+            echo "Applied major bump: $major.0.0"
+          fi
+                  
+          if [[ "${{ steps.check.outputs.has_minor }}" == "true" ]]; then
+            minor=$((minor + 1))
+            if [[ "${{ steps.check.outputs.has_major }}" != "true" ]]; then
+              patch=0  # Reset patch when minor is bumped (only if major wasn't bumped)
+            fi
+            echo "Applied minor bump: $major.$minor.$patch"
+          fi
+                  
+          if [[ "${{ steps.check.outputs.has_patch }}" == "true" ]]; then
+            patch=$((patch + 1))
+            echo "Applied patch bump: $major.$minor.$patch"
+          fi
+                  
+          new_version="$major.$minor.$patch"
+          echo "Final calculated version: $new_version"
+                  
+          # Create package.json if it doesn't exist
+          if [[ ! -f "package.json" ]]; then
+            echo '{"version": "0.0.0"}' > package.json
+          fi
+                  
+          # Update package.json with new version
+          npm version $new_version --no-git-tag-version --allow-same-version
+                  
+          echo "NEW_VERSION=v$new_version" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "New version will be: v$new_version"
+
+      - name: Create Release
+        if: steps.auth_check.outputs.is_authorized == 'true' && steps.check.outputs.should_release == 'true'
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.PAT }}  # Use PAT to trigger other workflows
+          tag_name: ${{ env.NEW_VERSION }}
+          name: "Release ${{ env.NEW_VERSION }}"
+          generate_release_notes: true
+          make_latest: true
+          body: |
+            ## ? Release ${{ env.NEW_VERSION }}
+                    
+            **Version Bumps Applied:**
+            - Major: ${{ steps.check.outputs.has_major }}
+            - Minor: ${{ steps.check.outputs.has_minor }}
+            - Patch: ${{ steps.check.outputs.has_patch }}
+                    
+            **Triggered by:** PR #${{ github.event.pull_request.number }} - ${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}
+            **Merged by:** @${{ github.event.pull_request.merged_by.login }}
+                    
+            ### Changes in this PR
+            ${{ github.event.pull_request.body }}
+                    
+            ---
+            *This release was automatically created by the Auto Release workflow*
+
diff --git a/.github/workflows/aws_dev_release.yml b/.github/workflows/aws_dev_release.yml
index 9674563..46ddb74 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/aws_dev_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/aws_dev_release.yml
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Login to Amazon ECR
         id: login-ecr
         uses: aws-actions/amazon-ecr-login@v2
-        with:
-          mask-password: 'false'
 
       - name: Image Metadata
         id: metadata
diff --git a/.github/workflows/aws_prod_release.yml b/.github/workflows/aws_prod_release.yml
index 4b375da..3550e1a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/aws_prod_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/aws_prod_release.yml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ jobs:
           cache: 'npm'
       - run: git config --global user.email devops@topia.io
       - run: git config --global user.name Devops
-      - run: npm version --workspaces --include-workspace-root true ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
+      - run: npm version --no-git-tag-version --workspaces --include-workspace-root true ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
       - run: npm i
       - run: CI=false npm run build
                 
@@ -66,8 +66,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Login to Amazon ECR
         id: login-ecr
         uses: aws-actions/amazon-ecr-login@v2
-        with:
-          mask-password: 'false'
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bf2b561..b615f03 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,6 +4,20 @@
 
 Breakout is a fun speed networking experience.
 
+## Built With
+
+### Client
+
+![React](https://img.shields.io/badge/react-%2320232a.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=react&logoColor=%2361DAFB)
+![Vite](https://img.shields.io/badge/vite-%23646CFF.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=vite&logoColor=white)
+![TypeScript](https://img.shields.io/badge/typescript-%23007ACC.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=typescript&logoColor=white)
+![Tailwind CSS](https://img.shields.io/badge/tailwindcss-%2338B2AC.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=tailwind-css&logoColor=white)
+
+### Server
+
+![Node.js](https://img.shields.io/badge/node.js-%2343853D.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=node.js&logoColor=white)
+![Express](https://img.shields.io/badge/express-%23000000.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=express&logoColor=white)
+
 ## Key Features
 
 - Be assigned into groups which will switch in timed intervals
@@ -25,11 +39,8 @@ Breakout is a fun speed networking experience.
 - Access: Click on the key asset to open the drawer and then select the Admin tab. Any changes you make here will only affect this instance of the application and will not impact other instances dropped in this or other worlds.
 
 - Admins can configure and start a breakout session. Anyone who is in the breakout area at the start of a round will be included in the experience.
--  The number of groups may be adjusted at the start of a round to account for the increase or decrease in the number of participants.
--  The Admin who started the breakout session cannot leave the world while the session is in progress, otherwise it will be halted.
-
-
-
+- The number of groups may be adjusted at the start of a round to account for the increase or decrease in the number of participants.
+- The Admin who started the breakout session cannot leave the world while the session is in progress, otherwise it will be halted.
 
 ### Data objects
 
@@ -48,6 +59,20 @@ _We use data objects to store information about each implementation of the app p
   - totalGamesResetCount (`keyAssets.${assetId}.totalGamesResetCount`)
   - totalGamesWonCount (`keyAssets.${assetId}.totalGamesWonCount`)
 
+## Environment Variables
+
+Create a `.env` file in the root directory. See `.env-example` for a template.
+
+| Variable             | Description                                                                        | Required |
+| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- |
+| `PORT`               | Server port                                                                        | Yes      |
+| `INSTANCE_PROTOCOL`  | Protocol for Topia API (`https` for production)                                    | Yes      |
+| `NODE_ENV`           | Node environment                                                                   | No       |
+| `APP_URL`            | Public URL for the app, used for webhook callbacks                                 | Yes      |
+| `INSTANCE_DOMAIN`    | Topia API domain (`api.topia.io` for production, `api-stage.topia.io` for staging) | Yes      |
+| `INTERACTIVE_KEY`    | Topia interactive app key                                                          | Yes      |
+| `INTERACTIVE_SECRET` | Topia interactive app secret                                                       | Yes      |
+
 ## Developers:
 
 ### Getting Started
@@ -62,15 +87,9 @@ _We use data objects to store information about each implementation of the app p
 
 ### Add your .env environmental variables
 
-```json
-API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-INSTANCE_DOMAIN=api.topia.io
-INSTANCE_PROTOCOL=https
-INTERACTIVE_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-INTERACTIVE_SECRET=xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-```
+See [Environment Variables](#environment-variables) above.
 
-### Where to find API_KEY, INTERACTIVE_KEY and INTERACTIVE_SECRET
+### Where to find INTERACTIVE_KEY and INTERACTIVE_SECRET
 
 [Topia Dev Account Dashboard](https://dev.topia.io/t/dashboard/integrations)