diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
index c59f2662..b1061c67 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ var _seed_set: bool = false
 var _start_time: float = 0.0
 var _victory_winner: int = -1
 var _victory_type: String = ""
-var _result_written: bool = false
+var _outcome: String = "in_progress"
 var _stats: Dictionary = {}  # player_index → {combats:int, units_lost:int}
 var _prev_turn_stats: Dictionary = {}  # player_index → {pop:int, gold:int, mil:int}
 var _starved_this_turn: Dictionary = {}  # player_index → bool
@@ -93,9 +93,10 @@ func _on_victory(player_index: int, victory_type: String) -> void:
 	_victory = true
 	_victory_winner = player_index
 	_victory_type = victory_type
+	_outcome = "victory"
 	print("AutoPlay: VICTORY! Player %d wins via %s on turn %d" % [player_index, victory_type, _turn_count])
 	_screenshot("victory_turn_%03d" % _turn_count)
-	_write_result("victory")
+	_write_result()
 	get_tree().quit(0)
 
 
@@ -174,8 +175,8 @@ func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
 			if _frame == 5:
 				_screenshot("final_turn_%03d" % _turn_count)
 				print("AutoPlay: finished — %d turns, victory=%s" % [_turn_count, _victory])
-				var outcome: String = "victory" if _victory else "max_turns"
-				_write_result(outcome)
+				_outcome = "victory" if _victory else "max_turns"
+				_write_result()
 				get_tree().quit(0 if _victory else 1)
 
 	if _turn_count >= _max_turns and _state != "done":
@@ -411,6 +412,9 @@ func _play_turn() -> void:
 					u.is_fortified = true
 					u.fortified_turns = 1
 
+	# Incremental JSON snapshot — file always reflects current live state.
+	_write_result()
+
 
 func _pick_research(player: RefCounted) -> void:
 	## Pick the cheapest available tech with all prerequisites met.
@@ -1003,7 +1007,8 @@ func _find_node_by_name(node: Node, target_name: String) -> Node:
 func _fail(msg: String) -> void:
 	push_error("AutoPlay: FAIL — %s" % msg)
 	_screenshot("error")
-	_write_result("defeat")
+	_outcome = "defeat"
+	_write_result()
 	get_tree().quit(1)
 
 
@@ -1070,18 +1075,16 @@ func _build_final_stats() -> Dictionary:
 	return out
 
 
-func _write_result(outcome: String) -> void:
-	## Write structured result JSON. Idempotent — subsequent calls no-op.
-	if _result_written:
-		return
+func _write_result() -> void:
+	## Write structured result JSON. Called every turn + at exit — file is
+	## always up-to-date mid-game. Only writes when AUTO_PLAY_SEED is set.
 	if not _seed_set:
 		return
-	_result_written = true
 	var wall_clock: float = Time.get_unix_time_from_system() - _start_time
 	var result: Dictionary = {
 		"seed": _seed,
 		"turns_played": _turn_count,
-		"outcome": outcome,
+		"outcome": _outcome,
 		"winner_index": _victory_winner,
 		"victory_type": _victory_type,
 		"wall_clock_sec": wall_clock,
@@ -1096,4 +1099,3 @@ func _write_result(outcome: String) -> void:
 		return
 	file.store_string(JSON.stringify(result, "  "))
 	file.close()
-	print("AutoPlay: result written — %s" % path)