diff --git a/docs/mod-option-schema.md b/docs/mod-option-schema.md
index 4df61fa3..d111a856 100644
--- a/docs/mod-option-schema.md
+++ b/docs/mod-option-schema.md
@@ -1,9 +1,26 @@
-# Mod option schema export
+# RFC 0008 — Runtime mod option schema export
 
-`mod_option_schemas.json` is an optional runtime snapshot written beside
-`options.lua` after the mod loader finishes. It gives a native launcher a
-data-only description of mod settings without requiring the launcher to run
-untrusted mod entry code before boot.
+## Status
+
+Proposed. Engine: `src/mods/Loader.lua`. Tests:
+`tests/mod_loader_tests.lua`. This RFC defines an optional filesystem
+contract; it does not require a native launcher or any other consumer.
+
+## Motivation
+
+A native launcher may want to present settings for installed mods before it
+starts the game. Running every mod's entry chunk in that launcher just to
+discover its settings would duplicate engine behavior and give the launcher
+an unnecessary code-execution surface. The engine already has the authoritative
+runtime schemas after mod loading, so it can publish a data-only snapshot for
+platform shells that want one.
+
+## The exact contract
+
+After the mod loader has finished running entry chunks, it may write
+`mod_option_schemas.json` beside `options.lua` in the same filesystem. The
+document is a snapshot of the current boot; it is not a second settings store
+and does not change how option values are read or written.
 
 Version 1 has this shape:
 
@@ -23,14 +40,52 @@ Version 1 has this shape:
 }
 ```
 
-Only enabled, successfully loaded mods are included. A boot with no schemas
-writes `{"schema_version":1,"mods":{}}` when an older snapshot exists, so a
-disabled or failed mod cannot leave stale settings rows behind. A filesystem
-that cannot write is tolerated, and a fresh mod-free boot does not create the
-file.
+`mods` is keyed by mod id. Its rows come from the runtime
+`mod.options:define` schema, or from the legacy manifest `options_schema` file
+when the runtime schema is absent. The supported row types are `toggle`,
+`choice`, `number`, and `text`. Their optional fields retain the meanings
+established by the existing in-game option UI: choices are `[label, value]`
+pairs, numeric rows may provide `min`, `max`, and `step`, and text rows may
+provide `maxLen`.
 
-The supported row types are `toggle`, `choice`, `number`, and `text`. Native
-consumers may ignore unknown future row types. Consumers must accept a
-missing `schema_version` as legacy version 1 and ignore newer versions rather
-than guessing at their shape. Producers must bump the version when changing
-the document shape.
+Only mods that are enabled and successfully loaded in the current boot are
+included. A disabled or failed mod must not contribute rows. If an older
+snapshot exists and the current boot has no schema-bearing mods, the producer
+overwrites it with `{"schema_version":1,"mods":{}}`; this prevents stale
+settings rows from surviving a disable or load failure. A fresh mod-free boot
+does not create the file, and a filesystem without write support is tolerated.
+
+The producer writes the snapshot after entry chunks and the final load set
+have been established. Consumers must treat the file as untrusted input and
+must not execute anything from it.
+
+## Compatibility and versioning
+
+The contract is optional on both sides. A native consumer may be absent, and
+the engine continues normally if the file cannot be written. A native
+consumer is not required to render, validate, or persist every supported row;
+it may ignore an unknown row type or optional field.
+
+For compatibility with files produced by the original unversioned prototype,
+a missing `schema_version` means version 1. Consumers must ignore documents
+with a newer version rather than guessing at their shape. Producers must bump
+the version whenever they change the document shape or the meaning of an
+existing field. Version 1 is therefore the legacy unversioned format as well
+as the explicitly versioned format shown above.
+
+## Migration note
+
+Nothing. Existing mods, option values, and the in-game options UI are
+unchanged. Platforms that do not consume `mod_option_schemas.json` have no
+new integration requirement.
+
+## Parity tests
+
+`tests/mod_loader_tests.lua` verifies the explicit version, runtime and legacy
+row round-tripping, enabled/disabled filtering, failed-mod filtering,
+stale-snapshot clearing, and tolerance of a read-only filesystem.
+
+## Deprecation etiquette
+
+Nothing is deprecated. The unversioned file form remains readable as legacy
+version 1; new producers write the explicit `schema_version` field.
diff --git a/src/mods/Loader.lua b/src/mods/Loader.lua
index a424c85b..fd1a96e9 100644
--- a/src/mods/Loader.lua
+++ b/src/mods/Loader.lua
@@ -202,9 +202,23 @@ function Loader:_writeOptionSchemas()
   if not self.fs.write then return end
 
   local mods = {}
-  for id, schema in pairs(self.optionSchemas) do
-    if self.mods[id] and self.mods[id].enabled and not self.mods[id].failed then
-      mods[id] = schema
+  for id, mod in pairs(self.mods) do
+    if mod.enabled and not mod.failed then
+      local schema = self.optionSchemas[id]
+      -- Keep the legacy manifest options_schema path visible to native
+      -- consumers too. ManagerState loads this same data-only chunk on
+      -- demand; using it here means older mods do not need to migrate to
+      -- mod.options:define just to appear in a launcher settings screen.
+      if schema == nil and mod.manifest.options_schema and self.fs.load then
+        local chunk = self.fs.load(mod.path .. "/" .. mod.manifest.options_schema)
+        if chunk then
+          local ok, rows = pcall(chunk)
+          if ok and type(rows) == "table" then schema = rows end
+        end
+      end
+      if schema ~= nil then
+        mods[id] = schema
+      end
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/tests/mod_loader_tests.lua b/tests/mod_loader_tests.lua
index e1d58a3f..bdbf0784 100644
--- a/tests/mod_loader_tests.lua
+++ b/tests/mod_loader_tests.lua
@@ -329,6 +329,16 @@ end
 return function(mod)
   mod.options:define({ { key = "shh", type = "toggle", default = true } })
 end
+]],
+    ["mods/legacy/manifest.json"] = [[
+{"id":"legacy","name":"legacy","version":"1.0.0","entry":"main.lua",
+ "options_schema":"options.lua"}
+]],
+    ["mods/legacy/main.lua"] = "return function(mod) end",
+    ["mods/legacy/options.lua"] = [[
+return {
+  { key = "legacy_toggle", type = "toggle", label = "Legacy", default = true },
+}
 ]],
   }
   local writes = {}
@@ -350,6 +360,9 @@ end
     "enabled mod schema is exported")
   check(decoded and decoded.mods and decoded.mods.quiet == nil,
     "disabled mod schema is not exported")
+  check(decoded and decoded.mods and decoded.mods.legacy
+    and decoded.mods.legacy[1].key == "legacy_toggle",
+    "manifest options_schema is exported")
   local rows = decoded and decoded.mods.loud or {}
   local byKey = {}
   for _, row in ipairs(rows) do byKey[row.key] = row end
@@ -385,6 +398,7 @@ end
     "a failed mod schema is not exported")
 
   loader:setEnabled("loud", false)
+  loader:setEnabled("legacy", false)
   loader:_writeOptionSchemas()
   local cleared = Json.decode(writes["mod_option_schemas.json"])
   check(cleared and cleared.schema_version == 1 and next(cleared.mods) == nil,