diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/menus/loading_screen.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/menus/loading_screen.gd
index b3f15614..322c5309 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/menus/loading_screen.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/menus/loading_screen.gd
@@ -49,11 +49,12 @@ func _run_generation() -> void:
 	if not race_list.is_empty():
 		default_race = race_list[0].get("id", "dwarf")
 
+	var arena_mode: bool = EnvConfig.get_bool("AI_ARENA")
 	for i: int in range(num_players):
 		var player: PlayerScript = PlayerScript.new()
 		player.index = i
-		player.is_human = (i == 0)
-		player.player_name = "Player %d" % (i + 1)
+		player.is_human = (i == 0) and not arena_mode
+		player.player_name = _arena_player_name(i, arena_mode)
 		player.race_id = default_race
 		player.color = _player_color(i)
 		GameState.players.append(player)
@@ -95,6 +96,13 @@ func _transition_to_world_map() -> void:
 		get_tree().change_scene_to_file(WORLD_MAP_SCENE)
 
 
+func _arena_player_name(index: int, arena_mode: bool) -> String:
+	if not arena_mode:
+		return "Player %d" % (index + 1)
+	var key: String = "AI_ARENA_P%d_NAME" % (index + 1)
+	return EnvConfig.get_var(key, "Player %d" % (index + 1))
+
+
 func _player_color(index: int) -> Color:
 	var colors: Array[Color] = [
 		Color(0.85, 0.65, 0.20),