diff --git a/tank-frontend/src/PlayerInfo.tsx b/tank-frontend/src/PlayerInfo.tsx
index 0832adc..188c6dd 100644
--- a/tank-frontend/src/PlayerInfo.tsx
+++ b/tank-frontend/src/PlayerInfo.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import {useQuery} from '@tanstack/react-query'
-import {makeApiUrl, Player} from './serverCalls';
-import {Guid} from "./Guid.ts";
-import Column from "./components/Column.tsx";
+import {makeApiUrl, Scores} from './serverCalls';
+import {Guid} from './Guid.ts';
+import Column from './components/Column.tsx';
+import useWebSocket, {ReadyState} from 'react-use-websocket';
+import {useEffect, useState} from 'react';
 
 function ScoreRow({name, value}: {
     name: string;
@@ -13,33 +14,66 @@ function ScoreRow({name, value}: {
     </tr>;
 }
 
-export default function PlayerInfo({playerId}: { playerId: Guid }) {
-    const query = useQuery({
-        queryKey: ['player'],
-        refetchInterval: 1000,
-        queryFn: async () => {
-            const url = makeApiUrl('/player');
-            url.searchParams.set('id', playerId);
+type Controls = {
+    readonly forward: boolean;
+    readonly backward: boolean;
+    readonly turnLeft: boolean;
+    readonly turnRight: boolean;
+    readonly shoot: boolean;
+}
 
-            const response = await fetch(url, {method: 'GET'});
-            if (!response.ok)
-                throw new Error(`response failed with code ${response.status} (${response.status})${await response.text()}`)
-            return await response.json() as Player;
-        }
+type PlayerInfoMessage = {
+    readonly name: string;
+    readonly scores: Scores;
+    readonly controls: Controls;
+}
+
+function controlsString(controls: Controls) {
+    let str = "";
+    if (controls.forward)
+        str += "▲";
+    if (controls.backward)
+        str += "▼";
+    if (controls.turnLeft)
+        str += "◄";
+    if (controls.turnRight)
+        str += "►";
+    if (controls.shoot)
+        str += "•";
+    return str;
+}
+
+export default function PlayerInfo({playerId}: { playerId: Guid }) {
+    const [shouldSendMessage, setShouldSendMessage] = useState(true);
+
+    const url = makeApiUrl('/player');
+    url.searchParams.set('id', playerId);
+
+    const {lastJsonMessage, readyState, sendMessage} = useWebSocket<PlayerInfoMessage>(url.toString(), {
+        onMessage: () => setShouldSendMessage(true)
     });
 
-    return <Column className='PlayerInfo'>
+    useEffect(() => {
+        if (!shouldSendMessage || readyState !== ReadyState.OPEN)
+            return;
+        setShouldSendMessage(false);
+        sendMessage('');
+    }, [readyState, shouldSendMessage]);
+
+    if (!lastJsonMessage)
+        return <></>;
+
+    return <Column className="PlayerInfo">
         <h3>
-            {query.isPending && 'loading...'}
-            {query.isSuccess && `Playing as ${query.data.name}`}
+            Playing as {lastJsonMessage.name}
         </h3>
-        {query.isError && <p>{query.error.message}</p>}
-        {query.isSuccess && <table>
+        <table>
             <tbody>
-            <ScoreRow name='kills' value={query.data?.scores?.kills}/>
-            <ScoreRow name='deaths' value={query.data?.scores?.deaths}/>
-            <ScoreRow name='walls' value={query.data?.scores?.wallsDestroyed}/>
+            <ScoreRow name="controls" value={controlsString(lastJsonMessage.controls)}/>
+            <ScoreRow name="kills" value={lastJsonMessage.scores.kills}/>
+            <ScoreRow name="deaths" value={lastJsonMessage.scores.deaths}/>
+            <ScoreRow name="walls" value={lastJsonMessage.scores.wallsDestroyed}/>
             </tbody>
-        </table>}
+        </table>
     </Column>;
 }
diff --git a/tank-frontend/src/serverCalls.tsx b/tank-frontend/src/serverCalls.tsx
index 9a03ded..7281471 100644
--- a/tank-frontend/src/serverCalls.tsx
+++ b/tank-frontend/src/serverCalls.tsx
@@ -12,14 +12,16 @@ export type ServerResponse<T> = {
     successResult?: T;
 }
 
+export type Scores = {
+    readonly kills: number;
+    readonly deaths: number;
+    readonly wallsDestroyed: number;
+};
+
 export type Player = {
     readonly name: string;
     readonly id: Guid;
-    readonly scores: {
-        readonly kills: number;
-        readonly deaths: number;
-        readonly wallsDestroyed: number;
-    };
+    readonly scores: Scores;
 };
 
 export type NameId = {
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Endpoints.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Endpoints.cs
index a002cdd..957d830 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Endpoints.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Endpoints.cs
@@ -33,11 +33,18 @@ internal static class Endpoints
                 : Results.Unauthorized();
         });
 
-        app.MapGet("/player", ([FromQuery] Guid id) =>
-            playerService.TryGet(id, out var foundPlayer)
-                ? Results.Ok((object?)foundPlayer)
-                : Results.NotFound()
-        );
+        app.MapGet("/player", async (HttpContext context, [FromQuery] Guid id) =>
+        {
+            if (!playerService.TryGet(id, out var foundPlayer))
+                return Results.NotFound();
+
+            if (!context.WebSockets.IsWebSocketRequest)
+                return Results.Ok((object?)foundPlayer);
+
+            using var ws = await context.WebSockets.AcceptWebSocketAsync();
+            await playerService.HandleClientAsync(ws, foundPlayer);
+            return Results.Empty;
+        });
 
         app.MapGet("/scores", () => playerService.GetAll());
 
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/AppSerializerContext.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/AppSerializerContext.cs
index da1cbbd..e5acef1 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/AppSerializerContext.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/AppSerializerContext.cs
@@ -7,4 +7,5 @@ namespace TanksServer.Interactivity;
 [JsonSerializable(typeof(Guid))]
 [JsonSerializable(typeof(NameId))]
 [JsonSerializable(typeof(IEnumerable<string>))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(PlayerInfo))]
 internal sealed partial class AppSerializerContext : JsonSerializerContext;
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ByteChannelWebSocket.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ByteChannelWebSocket.cs
index 8a1ec11..78efb6d 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ByteChannelWebSocket.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ByteChannelWebSocket.cs
@@ -7,9 +7,12 @@ internal sealed class ByteChannelWebSocket(WebSocket socket, ILogger logger, int
 {
     private readonly byte[] _buffer = new byte[messageSize];
 
-    public ValueTask SendAsync(ReadOnlyMemory<byte> data, bool endOfMessage = true) =>
+    public ValueTask SendBinaryAsync(ReadOnlyMemory<byte> data, bool endOfMessage = true) =>
         socket.SendAsync(data, WebSocketMessageType.Binary, endOfMessage, CancellationToken.None);
 
+    public ValueTask SendTextAsync(ReadOnlyMemory<byte> data, bool endOfMessage = true) =>
+        socket.SendAsync(data, WebSocketMessageType.Text, endOfMessage, CancellationToken.None);
+
     public async IAsyncEnumerable<Memory<byte>> ReadAllAsync()
     {
         while (socket.State is WebSocketState.Open or WebSocketState.CloseSent)
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ClientScreenServerConnection.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ClientScreenServerConnection.cs
index 588ef57..c84d3f5 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ClientScreenServerConnection.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ClientScreenServerConnection.cs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ internal sealed class ClientScreenServerConnection(
 
         if (!await _wantedFrames.WaitAsync(TimeSpan.Zero))
         {
-            logger.LogTrace("client does not want a frame yet");
+            Logger.LogTrace("client does not want a frame yet");
             return;
         }
 
@@ -35,17 +35,17 @@ internal sealed class ClientScreenServerConnection(
         if (_playerScreenData != null)
             RefreshPlayerSpecificData(gamePixelGrid);
 
-        logger.LogTrace("sending");
+        Logger.LogTrace("sending");
         try
         {
-            logger.LogTrace("sending {} bytes of pixel data", pixels.Data.Length);
-            await Socket.SendAsync(pixels.Data, _playerScreenData == null);
+            Logger.LogTrace("sending {} bytes of pixel data", pixels.Data.Length);
+            await Socket.SendBinaryAsync(pixels.Data, _playerScreenData == null);
             if (_playerScreenData != null)
-                await Socket.SendAsync(_playerScreenData.GetPacket());
+                await Socket.SendBinaryAsync(_playerScreenData.GetPacket());
         }
         catch (WebSocketException ex)
         {
-            logger.LogWarning(ex, "send failed");
+            Logger.LogWarning(ex, "send failed");
         }
     }
 
@@ -61,5 +61,9 @@ internal sealed class ClientScreenServerConnection(
         }
     }
 
-    protected override void HandleMessage(Memory<byte> _) => _wantedFrames.Release();
+    protected override ValueTask HandleMessageAsync(Memory<byte> _)
+    {
+        _wantedFrames.Release();
+        return ValueTask.CompletedTask;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ControlsServer.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ControlsServer.cs
index 78c88bd..429eedf 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ControlsServer.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ControlsServer.cs
@@ -7,13 +7,11 @@ internal sealed class ControlsServer(
     ILoggerFactory loggerFactory
 ) : WebsocketServer<ControlsServerConnection>(logger)
 {
-    public async Task HandleClientAsync(WebSocket ws, Player player)
+    public Task HandleClientAsync(WebSocket ws, Player player)
     {
         logger.LogDebug("control client connected {}", player.Id);
         var clientLogger = loggerFactory.CreateLogger<ControlsServerConnection>();
         var sock = new ControlsServerConnection(ws, clientLogger, player);
-        await AddConnection(sock);
-        await sock.ReceiveAsync();
-        await RemoveConnection(sock);
+        return HandleClientAsync(sock);
     }
 }
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ControlsServerConnection.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ControlsServerConnection.cs
index 8a178b1..08d21a1 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ControlsServerConnection.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/ControlsServerConnection.cs
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ internal sealed class ControlsServerConnection(
         Shoot = 0x05
     }
 
-    protected override void HandleMessage(Memory<byte> buffer)
+    protected override ValueTask HandleMessageAsync(Memory<byte> buffer)
     {
         var type = (MessageType)buffer.Span[0];
         var control = (InputType)buffer.Span[1];
 
-        logger.LogTrace("player input {} {} {}", player.Id, type, control);
+        Logger.LogTrace("player input {} {} {}", player.Id, type, control);
 
         var isEnable = type switch
         {
@@ -59,5 +59,7 @@ internal sealed class ControlsServerConnection(
             default:
                 throw new ArgumentException("invalid control type");
         }
+
+        return ValueTask.CompletedTask;
     }
 }
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/PlayerInfoConnection.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/PlayerInfoConnection.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6acd67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/PlayerInfoConnection.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+using System.Net.WebSockets;
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace TanksServer.Interactivity;
+
+internal sealed class PlayerInfoConnection(
+    Player player,
+    ILogger logger,
+    WebSocket rawSocket
+) : WebsocketServerConnection(logger, new ByteChannelWebSocket(rawSocket, logger, 0)), IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly SemaphoreSlim _wantedFrames = new(1);
+    private readonly AppSerializerContext _context = new(new JsonSerializerOptions(JsonSerializerDefaults.Web));
+    private byte[] _lastMessage = [];
+
+    protected override ValueTask HandleMessageAsync(Memory<byte> buffer)
+    {
+        var response = GetMessageToSend();
+        if (response == null)
+        {
+            Logger.LogTrace("cannot respond directly, increasing wanted frames");
+            _wantedFrames.Release();
+            return ValueTask.CompletedTask;
+        }
+
+        Logger.LogTrace("responding directly");
+        return Socket.SendTextAsync(response);
+    }
+
+    public async Task OnGameTickAsync()
+    {
+        if (!await _wantedFrames.WaitAsync(TimeSpan.Zero))
+            return;
+
+        var response = GetMessageToSend();
+        if (response == null)
+        {
+            _wantedFrames.Release();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Logger.LogTrace("responding indirectly");
+        await Socket.SendTextAsync(response);
+    }
+
+    private byte[]? GetMessageToSend()
+    {
+        var info = new PlayerInfo(player.Name, player.Scores, player.Controls);
+        var response = JsonSerializer.SerializeToUtf8Bytes(info, _context.PlayerInfo);
+
+        if (response.SequenceEqual(_lastMessage))
+            return null;
+
+        return _lastMessage = response;
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose() => _wantedFrames.Dispose();
+}
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/PlayerServer.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/PlayerServer.cs
index e1d7c80..03546a3 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/PlayerServer.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/PlayerServer.cs
@@ -1,30 +1,32 @@
 using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+using System.Net.WebSockets;
 using TanksServer.GameLogic;
 
 namespace TanksServer.Interactivity;
 
 internal sealed class PlayerServer(
     ILogger<PlayerServer> logger,
+    ILogger<PlayerInfoConnection> connectionLogger,
     TankSpawnQueue tankSpawnQueue
-)
+) : WebsocketServer<PlayerInfoConnection>(logger), ITickStep
 {
     private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<string, Player> _players = new();
 
     public Player? GetOrAdd(string name, Guid id)
     {
-        Player AddAndSpawn()
-        {
-            var player = new Player(name, id);
-            tankSpawnQueue.EnqueueForImmediateSpawn(player);
-            return player;
-        }
-
-        var player = _players.GetOrAdd(name, _ => AddAndSpawn());
-        if (player.Id != id)
+        var existingOrAddedPlayer = _players.GetOrAdd(name, _ => AddAndSpawn());
+        if (existingOrAddedPlayer.Id != id)
             return null;
 
-        logger.LogInformation("player {} (re)joined", player.Id);
-        return player;
+        logger.LogInformation("player {} (re)joined", existingOrAddedPlayer.Id);
+        return existingOrAddedPlayer;
+
+        Player AddAndSpawn()
+        {
+            var newPlayer = new Player(name, id);
+            tankSpawnQueue.EnqueueForImmediateSpawn(newPlayer);
+            return newPlayer;
+        }
     }
 
     public bool TryGet(Guid? playerId, [MaybeNullWhen(false)] out Player foundPlayer)
@@ -42,4 +44,10 @@ internal sealed class PlayerServer(
     }
 
     public IEnumerable<Player> GetAll() => _players.Values;
+
+    public Task HandleClientAsync(WebSocket webSocket, Player player)
+        => HandleClientAsync(new PlayerInfoConnection(player, connectionLogger, webSocket));
+
+    public Task TickAsync(TimeSpan delta)
+        => ParallelForEachConnectionAsync(connection => connection.OnGameTickAsync());
 }
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/WebsocketServer.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/WebsocketServer.cs
index e86f0b0..d5678a2 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/WebsocketServer.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/WebsocketServer.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ internal abstract class WebsocketServer<T>(
         }
     }
 
-    protected Task AddConnection(T connection) => Locked(() =>
+    private Task AddConnectionAsync(T connection) => Locked(() =>
     {
         if (_closing)
         {
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ internal abstract class WebsocketServer<T>(
         return Task.CompletedTask;
     }, CancellationToken.None);
 
-    protected Task RemoveConnection(T connection) => Locked(() =>
+    private Task RemoveConnectionAsync(T connection) => Locked(() =>
     {
         _connections.Remove(connection);
         return Task.CompletedTask;
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ internal abstract class WebsocketServer<T>(
 
     protected async Task HandleClientAsync(T connection)
     {
-        await AddConnection(connection);
+        await AddConnectionAsync(connection);
         await connection.ReceiveAsync();
-        await RemoveConnection(connection);
+        await RemoveConnectionAsync(connection);
     }
 
     private async Task Locked(Func<Task> action, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/WebsocketServerConnection.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/WebsocketServerConnection.cs
index 891b1ba..629c44b 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/WebsocketServerConnection.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Interactivity/WebsocketServerConnection.cs
@@ -2,22 +2,24 @@ namespace TanksServer.Interactivity;
 
 internal abstract class WebsocketServerConnection(
     ILogger logger,
-    ByteChannelWebSocket socket)
+    ByteChannelWebSocket socket
+)
 {
     protected readonly ByteChannelWebSocket Socket = socket;
+    protected readonly ILogger Logger = logger;
 
     public Task CloseAsync()
     {
-        logger.LogDebug("closing connection");
+        Logger.LogDebug("closing connection");
         return Socket.CloseAsync();
     }
 
     public async Task ReceiveAsync()
     {
         await foreach (var buffer in Socket.ReadAllAsync())
-            HandleMessage(buffer);
-        logger.LogTrace("done receiving");
+            await HandleMessageAsync(buffer);
+        Logger.LogTrace("done receiving");
     }
 
-    protected abstract void HandleMessage(Memory<byte> buffer);
+    protected abstract ValueTask HandleMessageAsync(Memory<byte> buffer);
 }
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Models/PlayerInfo.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Models/PlayerInfo.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5cd3f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Models/PlayerInfo.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+namespace TanksServer.Models;
+
+internal sealed record class PlayerInfo(string Name, Scores Scores, PlayerControls Controls);
diff --git a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Program.cs b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Program.cs
index 42782bf..49b3b44 100644
--- a/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Program.cs
+++ b/tanks-backend/TanksServer/Program.cs
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ public static class Program
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<ITickStep>(sp => sp.GetRequiredService<TankSpawnQueue>());
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<ITickStep, SpawnPowerUp>();
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<ITickStep, GeneratePixelsTickStep>();
+        builder.Services.AddSingleton<ITickStep, PlayerServer>(sp => sp.GetRequiredService<PlayerServer>());
 
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<IDrawStep, DrawMapStep>();
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<IDrawStep, DrawPowerUpsStep>();