diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 3071562..b33aa74 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ The implementation is split into focused modules (files) under the `src/MarcerGa
 - MarcerGameDvdLauncher/NavigationController.cs: Encapsulates selection, scrolling and relative-path navigation logic (cursor, page up/down, per-directory remembered selection/state); uses named scroll-fraction constants.
 - MarcerGameDvdLauncher/MenuRenderer.cs: Console rendering logic — efficient per-line redraw, double-buffering, configurable color selection via injected `AppColorConfig`, and the help box overlay.
 - MarcerGameDvdLauncher/InputController.cs: Handles key events (arrow keys, Enter, Backspace, PageUp/Down, `*`, `?`, ESC) and the associated navigation/drawing logic; owns `ReloadGameEntries` and the virtual `Favorites` folder integration.
-- MarcerGameDvdLauncher/HatariLauncher.cs: Responsible for validating the Hatari executable and starting Hatari with the configured argument template (replaces `{cfg}` and `{zip}`).
+- MarcerGameDvdLauncher/HatariLauncher.cs: Responsible for validating the Hatari executable and starting Hatari with the configured argument template (replaces `{cfg}` and `{zip}`). Exposes `DefaultConfigFile` constant (`MarcerGameDvd-Hatari.cfg`); when `Hatari.ConfigFile` is empty in `launcher.config.json`, the bundled config from the executable directory is used automatically.
 - MarcerGameDvdLauncher/FavoritesService.cs: Manages the favorites/bookmark system — toggling favorites on ZIPs, persisting them to `favorites.txt` (via `DefaultFileName` constant), and providing the virtual `Favorites` folder view (via `FavoritesRootName` constant).
 - MarcerGameDvdLauncher/UIErrorService.cs: Centralized UI error presentation using the console message helper.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8f810bd..d7b9bd0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,9 +46,7 @@ Download the ZIP for your platform from the [Releases](https://github.com/anomal
 ### 💻 System Requirements
 
 - **.NET Runtime 10** or later ([download](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/10.0))
-- **Hatari Emulator** with a working configuration file
-  - Windows: native Hatari
-  - Linux / macOS: Hatari via Wine or native build
+- **Hatari Emulator** (Windows native, or Linux/macOS via Wine or native build) — a Hatari configuration file (`MarcerGameDvd-Hatari.cfg`) is bundled with the launcher and used automatically when `Hatari.ConfigFile` is empty.
 
 ### ⚡ Quick Start
 
@@ -71,7 +69,7 @@ The launcher reads `launcher.config.json` from the same directory as the executa
   "PatchDirectory": "C:\\Games\\Hatari\\PATCH",
   "Hatari": {
     "Executable": "C:\\Tools\\hatari\\hatari.exe",
-    "ConfigFile": "C:\\Tools\\hatari\\hatari-st.cfg",
+    "ConfigFile": "",
     "ArgsTemplate": "-c \"{cfg}\" --disk-a \"{zip}\""
   },
   "Colors": {
@@ -93,7 +91,7 @@ The launcher reads `launcher.config.json` from the same directory as the executa
 | `RootDirectory` | ✅ | Game root folder. Navigation never leaves this directory. |
 | `PatchDirectory` | ❌ | Optional overlay/patch directory merged at runtime. |
 | `Hatari.Executable` | ✅ | Path to the Hatari executable. Validated at startup. |
-| `Hatari.ConfigFile` | ✅ | Path to the Hatari configuration file. |
+| `Hatari.ConfigFile` | ❌ | Path to a Hatari configuration file. If empty, the bundled `MarcerGameDvd-Hatari.cfg` (shipped with the launcher) is used automatically. |
 | `Hatari.ArgsTemplate` | ✅ | Argument template. Must contain `{zip}`, optionally `{cfg}`. |
 | `Colors` | ❌ | Optional color overrides. See [Color Scheme](#-color-scheme) below. Missing or invalid values fall back to defaults. |
 
diff --git a/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/HatariLauncher.cs b/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/HatariLauncher.cs
index 8859025..fc5ee6a 100644
--- a/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/HatariLauncher.cs
+++ b/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/HatariLauncher.cs
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ namespace MarcerGameDvdLauncher
 {
     public class HatariLauncher
     {
+        // The Hatari configuration file that is shipped with the launcher.
+        // When Hatari.ConfigFile is not set in launcher.config.json, this file
+        // (resolved relative to the executable directory) is used automatically.
+        public const string DefaultConfigFile = "MarcerGameDvd-Hatari.cfg";
+
         private readonly string _exePath;
         private readonly string _cfgPath;
         private readonly string _argsTemplate;
diff --git a/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/LauncherApp.cs b/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/LauncherApp.cs
index 4cffe86..44744d1 100644
--- a/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/LauncherApp.cs
+++ b/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/LauncherApp.cs
@@ -63,8 +63,15 @@ namespace MarcerGameDvdLauncher
             if (!File.Exists(cfg.Hatari.Executable))
                 throw new InvalidOperationException($"Hatari executable not found: {cfg.Hatari.Executable}");
 
-            // Also validate the Hatari config file (if provided)
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(cfg.Hatari.ConfigFile) && !File.Exists(cfg.Hatari.ConfigFile))
+            // If no Hatari config file was specified, fall back to the bundled
+            // MarcerGameDvd-Hatari.cfg that ships with the launcher.
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(cfg.Hatari.ConfigFile))
+            {
+                cfg.Hatari.ConfigFile = Path.Combine(exeDir, HatariLauncher.DefaultConfigFile);
+            }
+
+            // Validate the Hatari config file (either user-specified or bundled fallback)
+            if (!File.Exists(cfg.Hatari.ConfigFile))
                 throw new InvalidOperationException($"Hatari configuration file not found: {cfg.Hatari.ConfigFile}");
             if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(cfg.Hatari.ArgsTemplate) || !cfg.Hatari.ArgsTemplate.Contains("{zip}"))
                 throw new InvalidOperationException("Hatari.ArgsTemplate must contain the {zip} placeholder.");
diff --git a/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/launcher.config.example.json b/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/launcher.config.example.json
index 2c8e2c8..a211056 100644
--- a/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/launcher.config.example.json
+++ b/src/MarcerGameDvdLauncher/launcher.config.example.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "PatchDirectory": "C:\\Games\\Hatari\\PATCH",
   "Hatari": {
     "Executable": "C:\\Tools\\hatari\\hatari.exe",
-    "ConfigFile": "C:\\Tools\\hatari\\hatari-st.cfg",
+    "ConfigFile": "",
     "ArgsTemplate": "-c \"{cfg}\" --disk-a \"{zip}\""
   },
   "Colors": {