diff --git a/SPEC.md b/SPEC.md
index 880c162..5e2b7b7 100644
--- a/SPEC.md
+++ b/SPEC.md
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ Flow: search box → results grid (poster + title, click) → detail view
 
 - Default play: opening an anime resumes the last watched episode of
   the season (seeking to the saved position unless ≥95% through),
-  else autoplays episode 1. If the browser blocks autoplay, a
-  "click to play" overlay appears.
+  else autoplays episode 1. If the browser blocks autoplay, the native
+  play button on the video is the way to start.
 - Watch position saved to `/api/history` every ~10s + on pause/unload;
   home page lists the 5 most recent entries with timecode.
 
diff --git a/static/app.js b/static/app.js
index 7e2d87f..fa79222 100644
--- a/static/app.js
+++ b/static/app.js
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ async function play(ep_id, ep_no) {
       if (currentEp && !playerBroken && !v.ended) playerOverlay("Buffering\u2026");
     });
     v.addEventListener("ended", onEnded);
-    v.play().catch(() => showPlayOverlay(v)); // autoplay blocked (no user gesture) -> visible prompt
+    v.play().catch(() => {});  // autoplay blocked -> user uses the native play button
     watchPos(v);
     postHistory({...meta(v), title: detail.name, slug_id: detail.slug_id, season_id: seasonId,
                  ep_id, lang, ep: ep_no, pos: saved?.pos || 0});
@@ -489,14 +489,6 @@ function watchPos(v) {
   window.addEventListener("pagehide", save);
 }
 
-function showPlayOverlay(v) {
-  if (playerBroken) return;  // failure overlay (with Retry) takes precedence
-  playerHideOverlay();
-  const o = el("button", "play-overlay", "▶ click to play");
-  o.onclick = () => { v.play(); o.remove(); };
-  v.parentElement.append(o);
-}
-
 // ---------- boot ----------
 (async () => {
   document.querySelector(".logo").href = BASE;
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index a27428b..02797af 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -63,8 +63,6 @@ h2 { margin: 0.4rem 0; }
 
 .player { position: relative; }
 .player video { width: 100%; max-height: 70vh; background: #000; border-radius: 10px; aspect-ratio: 16/9; }
-.play-overlay { position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
-  font-size: 1.1rem; padding: 0.8rem 1.4rem; background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); }
 .controls { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.4rem; margin: 0.6rem 0; flex-wrap: wrap; }
 button { background: var(--card); color: var(--fg); border: 1px solid var(--bd);
   border-radius: 8px; padding: 0.4rem 0.7rem; cursor: pointer; }