diff --git a/source/game/StarNetPacketSocket.cpp b/source/game/StarNetPacketSocket.cpp
index f6ebce0..e2bd629 100644
--- a/source/game/StarNetPacketSocket.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarNetPacketSocket.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ Maybe<PacketStats> PacketSocket::outgoingStats() const {
   return {};
 }
 
+void PacketSocket::setLegacy(bool legacy) { m_legacy = legacy; }
+bool PacketSocket::legacy() const { return m_legacy; }
+
 pair<LocalPacketSocketUPtr, LocalPacketSocketUPtr> LocalPacketSocket::openPair() {
   auto lhsIncomingPipe = make_shared<Pipe>();
   auto rhsIncomingPipe = make_shared<Pipe>();
@@ -138,23 +141,32 @@ void TcpPacketSocket::sendPackets(List<PacketPtr> packets) {
 
   while (it.hasNext()) {
     PacketType currentType = it.peekNext()->type();
+    PacketCompressionMode currentCompressionMode = it.peekNext()->compressionMode();
 
     DataStreamBuffer packetBuffer;
-    while (it.hasNext() && it.peekNext()->type() == currentType)
-      it.next()->write(packetBuffer);
+    while (it.hasNext()
+      && it.peekNext()->type() == currentType
+      && it.peekNext()->compressionMode() == currentCompressionMode) {
+      if (legacy())
+        it.next()->writeLegacy(packetBuffer);
+      else
+        it.next()->write(packetBuffer);
+    }
 
     // Packets must read and write actual data, because this is used to
     // determine packet count
     starAssert(!packetBuffer.empty());
 
     ByteArray compressedPackets;
-    if (packetBuffer.size() > 64)
+    bool mustCompress = currentCompressionMode == PacketCompressionMode::Enabled;
+    bool perhapsCompress = currentCompressionMode == PacketCompressionMode::Automatic && packetBuffer.size() > 64;
+    if (mustCompress || perhapsCompress)
       compressedPackets = compressData(packetBuffer.data());
 
     DataStreamBuffer outBuffer;
     outBuffer.write(currentType);
 
-    if (!compressedPackets.empty() && compressedPackets.size() < packetBuffer.size()) {
+    if (!compressedPackets.empty() && (mustCompress || compressedPackets.size() < packetBuffer.size())) {
       outBuffer.writeVlqI(-(int)(compressedPackets.size()));
       outBuffer.writeData(compressedPackets.ptr(), compressedPackets.size());
       m_outgoingStats.mix(currentType, compressedPackets.size());
@@ -208,7 +220,11 @@ List<PacketPtr> TcpPacketSocket::receivePackets() {
       DataStreamBuffer packetStream(move(packetBytes));
       do {
         PacketPtr packet = createPacket(packetType);
-        packet->read(packetStream);
+        packet->setCompressionMode(packetCompressed ? PacketCompressionMode::Enabled : PacketCompressionMode::Disabled);
+        if (legacy())
+          packet->readLegacy(packetStream);
+        else
+          packet->read(packetStream);
         packets.append(move(packet));
       } while (!packetStream.atEnd());
 
@@ -299,23 +315,32 @@ void P2PPacketSocket::sendPackets(List<PacketPtr> packets) {
 
   while (it.hasNext()) {
     PacketType currentType = it.peekNext()->type();
+    PacketCompressionMode currentCompressionMode = it.peekNext()->compressionMode();
 
     DataStreamBuffer packetBuffer;
-    while (it.hasNext() && it.peekNext()->type() == currentType)
-      it.next()->write(packetBuffer);
+    while (it.hasNext()
+      && it.peekNext()->type() == currentType
+      && it.peekNext()->compressionMode() == currentCompressionMode) {
+      if (legacy())
+        it.next()->writeLegacy(packetBuffer);
+      else
+        it.next()->write(packetBuffer);
+    }
 
     // Packets must read and write actual data, because this is used to
     // determine packet count
     starAssert(!packetBuffer.empty());
 
     ByteArray compressedPackets;
-    if (packetBuffer.size() > 64)
+    bool mustCompress = currentCompressionMode == PacketCompressionMode::Enabled;
+    bool perhapsCompress = currentCompressionMode == PacketCompressionMode::Automatic && packetBuffer.size() > 64;
+    if (mustCompress || perhapsCompress)
       compressedPackets = compressData(packetBuffer.data());
 
     DataStreamBuffer outBuffer;
     outBuffer.write(currentType);
 
-    if (!compressedPackets.empty() && compressedPackets.size() < packetBuffer.size()) {
+    if (!compressedPackets.empty() && (mustCompress || compressedPackets.size() < packetBuffer.size())) {
       outBuffer.write<bool>(true);
       outBuffer.writeData(compressedPackets.ptr(), compressedPackets.size());
       m_outgoingStats.mix(currentType, compressedPackets.size());
@@ -347,7 +372,11 @@ List<PacketPtr> P2PPacketSocket::receivePackets() {
       DataStreamBuffer packetStream(move(packetBytes));
       do {
         PacketPtr packet = createPacket(packetType);
-        packet->read(packetStream);
+        packet->setCompressionMode(packetCompressed ? PacketCompressionMode::Enabled : PacketCompressionMode::Disabled);
+        if (legacy())
+          packet->readLegacy(packetStream);
+        else
+          packet->read(packetStream);
         packets.append(move(packet));
       } while (!packetStream.atEnd());
     }
diff --git a/source/game/StarNetPacketSocket.hpp b/source/game/StarNetPacketSocket.hpp
index da90386..bfdd20c 100644
--- a/source/game/StarNetPacketSocket.hpp
+++ b/source/game/StarNetPacketSocket.hpp
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@ public:
   // Default implementations return nothing.
   virtual Maybe<PacketStats> incomingStats() const;
   virtual Maybe<PacketStats> outgoingStats() const;
+
+  void setLegacy(bool legacy);
+  bool legacy() const;
+private:
+  bool m_legacy = false;
 };
 
 // PacketSocket for local communication.
diff --git a/source/game/StarNetPackets.cpp b/source/game/StarNetPackets.cpp
index edd1a14..0ccb66e 100644
--- a/source/game/StarNetPackets.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarNetPackets.cpp
@@ -79,6 +79,18 @@ EnumMap<PacketType> const PacketTypeNames{
 
 Packet::~Packet() {}
 
+void Packet::readLegacy(DataStream& ds) {
+  read(ds);
+}
+void Packet::writeLegacy(DataStream& ds) const {
+  write(ds);
+}
+
+PacketCompressionMode Packet::compressionMode() const
+  { return m_compressionMode; }
+void Packet::setCompressionMode(PacketCompressionMode compressionMode)
+  { m_compressionMode = compressionMode; }
+
 PacketPtr createPacket(PacketType type) {
   switch (type) {
     case PacketType::ProtocolRequest: return make_shared<ProtocolRequestPacket>();
diff --git a/source/game/StarNetPackets.hpp b/source/game/StarNetPackets.hpp
index b97d53e..a02f9bc 100644
--- a/source/game/StarNetPackets.hpp
+++ b/source/game/StarNetPackets.hpp
@@ -117,6 +117,12 @@ enum class PacketType : uint8_t {
 };
 extern EnumMap<PacketType> const PacketTypeNames;
 
+enum class PacketCompressionMode : uint8_t {
+  Disabled,
+  Enabled,
+  Automatic
+};
+
 struct Packet {
   virtual ~Packet();
 
@@ -124,6 +130,14 @@ struct Packet {
 
   virtual void read(DataStream& ds) = 0;
   virtual void write(DataStream& ds) const = 0;
+
+  virtual void readLegacy(DataStream& ds);
+  virtual void writeLegacy(DataStream& ds) const;
+
+  PacketCompressionMode compressionMode() const;
+  void setCompressionMode(PacketCompressionMode compressionMode);
+
+  PacketCompressionMode m_compressionMode = PacketCompressionMode::Automatic;
 };
 
 PacketPtr createPacket(PacketType type);
@@ -132,9 +146,7 @@ template <PacketType PacketT>
 struct PacketBase : public Packet {
   static PacketType const Type = PacketT;
 
-  PacketType type() const override {
-    return Type;
-  }
+  PacketType type() const override { return Type; }
 };
 
 struct ProtocolRequestPacket : PacketBase<PacketType::ProtocolRequest> {
diff --git a/source/game/StarUniverseClient.cpp b/source/game/StarUniverseClient.cpp
index c17f8bc..79ddd97 100644
--- a/source/game/StarUniverseClient.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarUniverseClient.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,13 @@ Maybe<String> UniverseClient::connect(UniverseConnection connection, bool allowA
 
   unsigned timeout = assets->json("/client.config:serverConnectTimeout").toUInt();
 
-  connection.pushSingle(make_shared<ProtocolRequestPacket>(StarProtocolVersion));
+  {
+    auto protocolRequest = make_shared<ProtocolRequestPacket>(StarProtocolVersion);
+    protocolRequest->setCompressionMode(PacketCompressionMode::Enabled);
+    // Signal that we're OpenStarbound. Vanilla Starbound only compresses packets above 64 bytes - by forcing it we can communicate this.
+    // If you know a less cursed way, please let me know.
+    connection.pushSingle(protocolRequest);
+  }
   connection.sendAll(timeout);
   connection.receiveAny(timeout);
 
@@ -87,6 +93,8 @@ Maybe<String> UniverseClient::connect(UniverseConnection connection, bool allowA
   else if (!protocolResponsePacket->allowed)
     return String(strf("Join failed! Server does not support connections with protocol version {}", StarProtocolVersion));
 
+  m_legacyServer = protocolResponsePacket->compressionMode() != PacketCompressionMode::Enabled; // True if server is vanilla
+  connection.setLegacy(m_legacyServer);
   connection.pushSingle(make_shared<ClientConnectPacket>(Root::singleton().assets()->digest(), allowAssetsMismatch, m_mainPlayer->uuid(), m_mainPlayer->name(),
       m_mainPlayer->species(), m_playerStorage->loadShipData(m_mainPlayer->uuid()), m_mainPlayer->shipUpgrades(),
       m_mainPlayer->log()->introComplete(), account));
@@ -121,7 +129,7 @@ Maybe<String> UniverseClient::connect(UniverseConnection connection, bool allowA
     m_celestialDatabase = make_shared<CelestialSlaveDatabase>(move(success->celestialInformation));
     m_systemWorldClient = make_shared<SystemWorldClient>(m_universeClock, m_celestialDatabase, m_mainPlayer->universeMap());
 
-    Logger::info("UniverseClient: Joined server as client {}", success->clientId);
+    Logger::info("UniverseClient: Joined {} server as client {}", m_legacyServer ? "Starbound" : "OpenStarbound", success->clientId);
     return {};
   } else if (auto failure = as<ConnectFailurePacket>(packet)) {
     Logger::error("UniverseClient: Join failed: {}", failure->reason);
diff --git a/source/game/StarUniverseClient.hpp b/source/game/StarUniverseClient.hpp
index 89c9c39..00fe729 100644
--- a/source/game/StarUniverseClient.hpp
+++ b/source/game/StarUniverseClient.hpp
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ private:
   StatisticsPtr m_statistics;
   PlayerPtr m_mainPlayer;
 
+  bool m_legacyServer;
   bool m_pause;
   ClockPtr m_universeClock;
   WorldClientPtr m_worldClient;
diff --git a/source/game/StarUniverseConnection.cpp b/source/game/StarUniverseConnection.cpp
index e8230bb..f3c2b28 100644
--- a/source/game/StarUniverseConnection.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarUniverseConnection.cpp
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ bool UniverseConnection::receiveAny(unsigned timeout) {
   }
 }
 
+void UniverseConnection::setLegacy(bool legacy) {
+  m_packetSocket->setLegacy(legacy);
+}
+
 Maybe<PacketStats> UniverseConnection::incomingStats() const {
   MutexLocker locker(m_mutex);
   return m_packetSocket->incomingStats();
diff --git a/source/game/StarUniverseConnection.hpp b/source/game/StarUniverseConnection.hpp
index 679b023..12b3aa5 100644
--- a/source/game/StarUniverseConnection.hpp
+++ b/source/game/StarUniverseConnection.hpp
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ public:
   // false if the timeout was reached with no packets receivable.
   bool receiveAny(unsigned timeout);
 
+  void setLegacy(bool legacy);
+
   // Packet stats for the most recent one second window of activity incoming
   // and outgoing.  Will only return valid stats if the underlying PacketSocket
   // implements stat collection.
diff --git a/source/game/StarUniverseServer.cpp b/source/game/StarUniverseServer.cpp
index 321cbcc..3b04358 100644
--- a/source/game/StarUniverseServer.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarUniverseServer.cpp
@@ -1520,20 +1520,30 @@ void UniverseServer::acceptConnection(UniverseConnection connection, Maybe<HostA
     Logger::warn("UniverseServer: client connection aborted, expected ProtocolRequestPacket");
     return;
   }
+  
+  bool legacyClient = protocolRequest->compressionMode() != PacketCompressionMode::Enabled;
+  connection.setLegacy(legacyClient);
 
+  auto protocolResponse = make_shared<ProtocolResponsePacket>();
+  protocolResponse->setCompressionMode(PacketCompressionMode::Enabled); // Signal that we're OpenStarbound
   if (protocolRequest->requestProtocolVersion != StarProtocolVersion) {
     Logger::warn("UniverseServer: client connection aborted, unsupported protocol version {}, supported version {}",
         protocolRequest->requestProtocolVersion, StarProtocolVersion);
-    connection.pushSingle(make_shared<ProtocolResponsePacket>(false));
+    protocolResponse->allowed = false;
+    connection.pushSingle(protocolResponse);
     connection.sendAll(clientWaitLimit);
     mainLocker.lock();
     m_deadConnections.append({move(connection), Time::monotonicMilliseconds()});
     return;
   }
 
-  connection.pushSingle(make_shared<ProtocolResponsePacket>(true));
+  protocolResponse->allowed = true;
+  connection.pushSingle(protocolResponse);
   connection.sendAll(clientWaitLimit);
 
+  String remoteAddressString = remoteAddress ? toString(*remoteAddress) : "local";
+  Logger::info("UniverseServer: Awaiting connection info from {}, {} client", remoteAddressString, legacyClient ? "Starbound" : "OpenStarbound");
+
   connection.receiveAny(clientWaitLimit);
   auto clientConnect = as<ClientConnectPacket>(connection.pullSingle());
   if (!clientConnect) {
@@ -1547,7 +1557,6 @@ void UniverseServer::acceptConnection(UniverseConnection connection, Maybe<HostA
   bool administrator = false;
 
   String accountString = !clientConnect->account.empty() ? strf("'{}'", clientConnect->account) : "<anonymous>";
-  String remoteAddressString = remoteAddress ? toString(*remoteAddress) : "local";
 
   auto connectionFail = [&](String message) {
     Logger::warn("UniverseServer: Login attempt failed with account '{}' as player '{}' from address {}, error: {}",