diff --git a/cosmos_client/src/entities/player/mod.rs b/cosmos_client/src/entities/player/mod.rs
index 0f52f2ab..fdb044e9 100644
--- a/cosmos_client/src/entities/player/mod.rs
+++ b/cosmos_client/src/entities/player/mod.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,48 @@
 //! Contains systems and components for the player
 
-use bevy::prelude::App;
+use bevy::{color::palettes::css, prelude::*};
+use bevy_rapier3d::prelude::{ActiveEvents, CoefficientCombineRule, Collider, Friction, LockedAxes, ReadMassProperties, RigidBody};
+use cosmos_core::{entities::player::Player, netty::system_sets::NetworkingSystemsSet, persistence::LoadingDistance, state::GameState};
 
 pub mod player_movement;
 pub mod render_distance;
 
+fn on_add_player(
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    mut materials: ResMut<Assets<StandardMaterial>>,
+    mut meshes: ResMut<Assets<Mesh>>,
+    q_player: Query<(Entity, &Player), Added<Player>>,
+) {
+    for (ent, player) in q_player.iter() {
+        commands.entity(ent).insert((
+            Mesh3d(meshes.add(Capsule3d::default())),
+            MeshMaterial3d(materials.add(StandardMaterial {
+                base_color: css::GREEN.into(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            })),
+            Collider::capsule_y(0.65, 0.25),
+            LockedAxes::ROTATION_LOCKED,
+            Name::new(format!("Player ({})", player.name())),
+            RigidBody::Dynamic,
+            Friction {
+                coefficient: 0.0,
+                combine_rule: CoefficientCombineRule::Min,
+            },
+            LoadingDistance::new(1, 2),
+            ReadMassProperties::default(),
+            ActiveEvents::COLLISION_EVENTS,
+        ));
+    }
+}
+
 pub(super) fn register(app: &mut App) {
+    app.add_systems(
+        Update,
+        on_add_player
+            .in_set(NetworkingSystemsSet::Between)
+            .run_if(in_state(GameState::Playing).or(in_state(GameState::LoadingWorld))),
+    );
+
     render_distance::register(app);
     player_movement::register(app);
 }
diff --git a/cosmos_client/src/netty/gameplay/receiver.rs b/cosmos_client/src/netty/gameplay/receiver.rs
index 3b751969..53bcd548 100644
--- a/cosmos_client/src/netty/gameplay/receiver.rs
+++ b/cosmos_client/src/netty/gameplay/receiver.rs
@@ -10,10 +10,7 @@ use bevy_rapier3d::prelude::*;
 use bevy_renet2::renet2::{transport::NetcodeClientTransport, RenetClient};
 use cosmos_core::{
     block::Block,
-    ecs::{
-        bundles::{BundleStartingRotation, CosmosPbrBundle},
-        NeedsDespawned,
-    },
+    ecs::{bundles::BundleStartingRotation, NeedsDespawned},
     entities::player::{render_distance::RenderDistance, Player},
     events::{
         block_events::{BlockChangedEvent, BlockDataChangedEvent},
@@ -189,8 +186,7 @@ fn lerp_towards(
 /// TODO: super split this up
 pub(crate) fn client_sync_players(
     mut commands: Commands,
-    (mut meshes, mut client, transport, mut lobby, mut network_mapping): (
-        ResMut<Assets<Mesh>>,
+    (mut client, transport, mut lobby, mut network_mapping): (
         ResMut<RenetClient>,
         Res<NetcodeClientTransport>,
         ResMut<ClientLobby>,
@@ -391,7 +387,7 @@ pub(crate) fn client_sync_players(
                     continue;
                 };
 
-                info!("Player {} ({}) connected!", name.as_str(), id);
+                info!("Player {} ({}) connected! {body:?}", name.as_str(), id);
 
                 // The player entity may have already been created if some of their components were already synced.
                 let mut entity_cmds = if let Some(player_entity) = network_mapping.client_from_server(&server_entity) {
@@ -409,31 +405,12 @@ pub(crate) fn client_sync_players(
                     }
                 };
 
-                error!("Player starting loc: {loc:?}");
-
-                // this will avoid any position mismatching
-                // loc.last_transform_loc = Some(loc.local);
-
                 entity_cmds.insert((
                     SetPosition::Location,
-                    CosmosPbrBundle {
-                        location: loc,
-                        rotation: body.rotation.into(),
-                        mesh: Mesh3d(meshes.add(Capsule3d::default())),
-                        ..default()
-                    },
-                    Collider::capsule_y(0.65, 0.25),
-                    LockedAxes::ROTATION_LOCKED,
-                    Name::new(format!("Player ({name})")),
-                    RigidBody::Dynamic,
-                    Friction {
-                        coefficient: 0.0,
-                        combine_rule: CoefficientCombineRule::Min,
-                    },
+                    Transform::from_rotation(body.rotation.into()),
+                    loc,
                     body.create_velocity(),
                     Player::new(name, id),
-                    ReadMassProperties::default(),
-                    ActiveEvents::COLLISION_EVENTS,
                     ServerEntity(server_entity),
                 ));
 
diff --git a/cosmos_core/src/entities/player/mod.rs b/cosmos_core/src/entities/player/mod.rs
index 5e3c0d38..a8fb1adf 100644
--- a/cosmos_core/src/entities/player/mod.rs
+++ b/cosmos_core/src/entities/player/mod.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,11 @@ pub mod render_distance;
 
 use bevy::prelude::{App, Component};
 use bevy_renet2::renet2::ClientId;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
-#[derive(Component, Debug)]
+use crate::netty::sync::{sync_component, IdentifiableComponent, SyncableComponent};
+
+#[derive(Component, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Clone)]
 /// Represents a player
 pub struct Player {
     name: String,
@@ -32,6 +35,20 @@ impl Player {
     }
 }
 
+impl IdentifiableComponent for Player {
+    fn get_component_unlocalized_name() -> &'static str {
+        "cosmos:player"
+    }
+}
+
+impl SyncableComponent for Player {
+    fn get_sync_type() -> crate::netty::sync::SyncType {
+        crate::netty::sync::SyncType::ServerAuthoritative
+    }
+}
+
 pub(super) fn register(app: &mut App) {
+    sync_component::<Player>(app);
+
     creative::register(app);
 }
diff --git a/cosmos_server/src/persistence/loading.rs b/cosmos_server/src/persistence/loading.rs
index 9d97ac56..cd926fda 100644
--- a/cosmos_server/src/persistence/loading.rs
+++ b/cosmos_server/src/persistence/loading.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use std::fs;
 use bevy::{
     ecs::schedule::{IntoSystemConfigs, IntoSystemSetConfigs, SystemSet},
     hierarchy::BuildChildren,
-    log::{error, warn},
+    log::{error, info, warn},
     prelude::{App, Commands, Component, Entity, Quat, Query, Update, With, Without},
     reflect::Reflect,
 };