diff --git a/docs/modding.md b/docs/modding.md
index 2d9a348b..fb5b6e25 100644
--- a/docs/modding.md
+++ b/docs/modding.md
@@ -449,3 +449,23 @@ platform-bridge mod bundled only with that build's launcher, for example).
 Neither hook needs a `Runtime.wantsHook` guard before calling it: `Hooks:call`
 already falls straight through to the vanilla function when no mod has
 wrapped the name, at negligible cost.
+
+## Shared date and time presentation
+
+The global Options menu owns `DATE FORMAT` (`DEVICE`, `DD-MM-YYYY`,
+`MM-DD-YYYY`, `YYYY-MM-DD`) and `TIME FORMAT` (`DEVICE`, `24 HOUR`, `12 HOUR`).
+These preferences live in `options.lua`, so checkpoint restore never rewinds
+them. `DEVICE` uses the process time locale when the platform provides one;
+the portable fallback is `DD-MM-YYYY` plus 24-hour time.
+
+Mods format captured timestamps through the read-only public facade:
+
+```lua
+local date = mod.datetime:date(game, createdAt)
+local time = mod.datetime:time(game, createdAt)
+local both = mod.datetime:dateTime(game, createdAt)
+```
+
+The live `game` supplies only the current option context. Formatting never
+mutates the save, options, or timestamp, and invalid timestamps return
+`"----"`.
diff --git a/src/core/DateTime.lua b/src/core/DateTime.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..576f4033
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/DateTime.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+-- Shared local date/time presentation for engine UI and mods. Preferences
+-- live in options.lua, never checkpoint progress. "device" uses the process
+-- time locale when the platform supplies one and otherwise falls back to the
+-- deterministic DD-MM-YYYY / 24-hour convention.
+
+local DateTime = {}
+
+local DATE_FORMATS = {
+  dmy = "%d-%m-%Y",
+  mdy = "%m-%d-%Y",
+  ymd = "%Y-%m-%d",
+}
+local TIME_FORMATS = {
+  ["24h"] = "%H:%M",
+  ["12h"] = "%I:%M %p",
+}
+
+local function validTimestamp(value)
+  return type(value) == "number" and value == value and value >= 0
+    and value ~= math.huge and value ~= -math.huge
+end
+
+local function render(timestamp, pattern)
+  local ok, value = pcall(os.date, pattern, math.floor(timestamp))
+  if not ok or type(value) ~= "string" or value == "" then return nil end
+  return value
+end
+
+local function currentLocale()
+  if not os.setlocale then return nil end
+  local ok, value = pcall(os.setlocale, nil, "time")
+  if not ok or type(value) ~= "string" then return nil end
+  return value
+end
+
+local function deviceAvailable(localeName)
+  return type(localeName) == "string" and localeName ~= ""
+    and localeName ~= "C" and localeName ~= "POSIX"
+end
+
+function DateTime.formatWithLocale(timestamp, datePreference, timePreference, localeName)
+  if not validTimestamp(timestamp) then return { date = "----", time = "----" } end
+  local datePattern = DATE_FORMATS[datePreference]
+  local timePattern = TIME_FORMATS[timePreference]
+  if not datePattern then
+    datePattern = deviceAvailable(localeName) and "%x" or DATE_FORMATS.dmy
+  end
+  if not timePattern then
+    if deviceAvailable(localeName) then
+      local sample = render(timestamp, "%X") or ""
+      local marker = render(timestamp, "%p") or ""
+      timePattern = marker ~= "" and sample:find(marker, 1, true)
+        and TIME_FORMATS["12h"] or TIME_FORMATS["24h"]
+    else
+      timePattern = TIME_FORMATS["24h"]
+    end
+  end
+  return {
+    date = render(timestamp, datePattern) or "----",
+    time = render(timestamp, timePattern) or "----",
+  }
+end
+
+local function preferences(game)
+  local options = game and game.save and game.save.options
+  options = type(options) == "table" and options or {}
+  return options.dateFormat or "device", options.timeFormat or "device"
+end
+
+function DateTime.date(game, timestamp)
+  local datePreference, timePreference = preferences(game)
+  return DateTime.formatWithLocale(timestamp, datePreference, timePreference,
+    currentLocale()).date
+end
+
+function DateTime.time(game, timestamp)
+  local datePreference, timePreference = preferences(game)
+  return DateTime.formatWithLocale(timestamp, datePreference, timePreference,
+    currentLocale()).time
+end
+
+function DateTime.dateTime(game, timestamp)
+  local datePreference, timePreference = preferences(game)
+  local value = DateTime.formatWithLocale(timestamp, datePreference, timePreference,
+    currentLocale())
+  if value.date == "----" or value.time == "----" then return "----" end
+  return value.date .. " " .. value.time
+end
+
+return DateTime
diff --git a/src/core/SaveData.lua b/src/core/SaveData.lua
index 7bdfcb93..f5bd53cd 100644
--- a/src/core/SaveData.lua
+++ b/src/core/SaveData.lua
@@ -341,6 +341,12 @@ function SaveData.defaultOptions()
     -- gets the tick without going looking for the row.  Inert wherever the
     -- overlay never appears (desktop) or LOVE has no vibrator.
     haptics = "light",
+    -- Shared UI/mod timestamp presentation. DEVICE follows the process time
+    -- locale where the platform exposes one; otherwise DateTime falls back to
+    -- DD-MM-YYYY and 24-hour time. Kept in options.lua so checkpoints never
+    -- rewind presentation preferences.
+    dateFormat = "device", -- device | dmy | mdy | ymd
+    timeFormat = "device", -- device | 24h | 12h
   }
 end
 
diff --git a/src/mods/Loader.lua b/src/mods/Loader.lua
index 3d833f46..66a920bb 100644
--- a/src/mods/Loader.lua
+++ b/src/mods/Loader.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ local GameVersion = require("src.core.GameVersion")
 local Version = require("src.core.Version")
 local Assets = require("src.render.Assets")
 local ModUI = require("src.ui.ModUI")
+local DateTime = require("src.core.DateTime")
 local AssetTransform = require("src.mods.AssetTransform")
 local Manifest = require("src.mods.Manifest")
 local Merge = require("src.mods.Merge")
@@ -917,6 +918,16 @@ function Loader:_api(mod)
     -- the widget toolkit facade (12 4.5) is one shared surface, not
     -- per-mod state; each widget inside it loads on first touch
     ui = ModUI,
+    -- Read-only shared timestamp presentation using current options.lua
+    -- preferences. The live game supplies only the current option context;
+    -- checkpoint/save data never changes as a side effect.
+    datetime = {
+      date = function(_, game, timestamp) return DateTime.date(game, timestamp) end,
+      time = function(_, game, timestamp) return DateTime.time(game, timestamp) end,
+      dateTime = function(_, game, timestamp)
+        return DateTime.dateTime(game, timestamp)
+      end,
+    },
     -- namespaced per mod; M11 backs these with save.modData /
     -- options.modOptions, the shape mods compile against is already final
     save = {
diff --git a/src/ui/OptionsMenu.lua b/src/ui/OptionsMenu.lua
index cca24cd9..ef21f209 100644
--- a/src/ui/OptionsMenu.lua
+++ b/src/ui/OptionsMenu.lua
@@ -49,6 +49,30 @@ local Rulesets = {
   modern_clean = require("src.battle.rulesets.modern_clean"),
 }
 local FILTERS = { "OFF", "1X", "2X", "3X" }
+local DATE_FORMATS = {
+  { "device", "DEVICE" }, { "dmy", "DD-MM-YYYY" },
+  { "mdy", "MM-DD-YYYY" }, { "ymd", "YYYY-MM-DD" },
+}
+local TIME_FORMATS = {
+  { "device", "DEVICE" }, { "24h", "24 HOUR" }, { "12h", "12 HOUR" },
+}
+
+local function preferenceIndex(rows, value)
+  for index, row in ipairs(rows) do
+    if row[1] == value then return index end
+  end
+  return 1
+end
+
+local function preferenceStep(rows, value, direction)
+  local index = preferenceIndex(rows, value)
+  direction = direction and direction < 0 and -1 or 1
+  return rows[((index - 1 + direction) % #rows) + 1][1]
+end
+
+local function preferenceLabel(rows, value)
+  return rows[preferenceIndex(rows, value)][2]
+end
 
 local function speedIndex(game)
   -- default matches InitOptions' TEXT_DELAY_MEDIUM in wOptions
@@ -439,6 +463,24 @@ local function buildRows(game)
       activate = function(g)
         require("src.ui.Screens").push(g, "BindingsMenu")
       end },
+    { id = "dateFormat", label = Strings("DATE FORMAT"),
+      value = function(g)
+        return Strings(preferenceLabel(DATE_FORMATS, g.save.options.dateFormat))
+      end,
+      step = function(g, dir)
+        g.save.options.dateFormat = preferenceStep(
+          DATE_FORMATS, g.save.options.dateFormat, dir)
+        return true
+      end },
+    { id = "timeFormat", label = Strings("TIME FORMAT"),
+      value = function(g)
+        return Strings(preferenceLabel(TIME_FORMATS, g.save.options.timeFormat))
+      end,
+      step = function(g, dir)
+        g.save.options.timeFormat = preferenceStep(
+          TIME_FORMATS, g.save.options.timeFormat, dir)
+        return true
+      end },
     -- permanent on-screen pad toggle (#327); layout editing stays in the
     -- launcher.  Hidden where the overlay never appears (desktop without
     -- POKEPORT_TOUCH), so the row costs a non-mobile install nothing.
diff --git a/tests/engine/date_time.lua b/tests/engine/date_time.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f97bf18d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/engine/date_time.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+
+local T = require("tests.harness")
+local DateTime = require("src.core.DateTime")
+local SaveData = require("src.core.SaveData")
+
+local stamp = os.time({ year = 2026, month = 8, day = 11, hour = 17, min = 5, sec = 0 })
+
+local defaults = SaveData.defaultOptions()
+T.eq(defaults.dateFormat, "device", "date format defaults to device locale")
+T.eq(defaults.timeFormat, "device", "time format defaults to device locale")
+
+local game = { save = { options = { dateFormat = "dmy", timeFormat = "24h" } } }
+T.eq(DateTime.date(game, stamp), os.date("%d-%m-%Y", stamp),
+  "explicit DMY uses day-month-year")
+T.eq(DateTime.time(game, stamp), os.date("%H:%M", stamp),
+  "explicit 24-hour time omits seconds")
+T.eq(DateTime.dateTime(game, stamp),
+  os.date("%d-%m-%Y %H:%M", stamp),
+  "combined formatter composes exact date and time preferences")
+
+game.save.options.dateFormat = "mdy"
+T.eq(DateTime.date(game, stamp), os.date("%m-%d-%Y", stamp),
+  "explicit MDY is available")
+game.save.options.dateFormat = "ymd"
+T.eq(DateTime.date(game, stamp), os.date("%Y-%m-%d", stamp),
+  "explicit YMD is available")
+game.save.options.timeFormat = "12h"
+T.eq(DateTime.time(game, stamp), os.date("%I:%M %p", stamp),
+  "explicit 12-hour time is available")
+
+local fallback = DateTime.formatWithLocale(stamp, "device", "device", "C")
+T.eq(fallback.date, os.date("%d-%m-%Y", stamp),
+  "missing device locale falls back to requested DMY")
+T.eq(fallback.time, os.date("%H:%M", stamp),
+  "missing device locale falls back to requested 24-hour time")
+
+local invalid = DateTime.date({}, -1)
+T.eq(invalid, "----", "invalid timestamps fail closed")
+
+T.finish("date_time")
diff --git a/tests/mod_ui_tests.lua b/tests/mod_ui_tests.lua
index 51bde011..86be2093 100644
--- a/tests/mod_ui_tests.lua
+++ b/tests/mod_ui_tests.lua
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ local WANT_IDS = { "textSpeed", "animations", "battleStyle", "battleLayout",
                    "tilt", "gbcfx", "zoom", "voidFill", "videoMode",
                    "faithfulRes", "fpsCap",
                    "speedOverworld", "speedBattle", "speedMenu",
-                   "mods", "controls" }
+                   "mods", "controls", "dateFormat", "timeFormat" }
 check(#om.rows == #WANT_IDS, "vanilla options row count (plus MODS/CONTROLS)")
 for i, id in ipairs(WANT_IDS) do
   check(om.rows[i].id == id, "options row order: " .. id)
@@ -408,6 +408,23 @@ check(bm.items[1].label == "UP" and bm.items[1].right == "UP/D-UP"
   "with no rebind the rows mirror the fixed map, key and pad both (#589)")
 check(cbGame.save.options.bindings == nil,
   "opening the screen alone writes nothing")
+
+-- shared date/time presentation stays in options.lua and is available to
+-- engine UI and mods without becoming checkpoint progress
+om.game.save.options.dateFormat = "device"
+om.game.save.options.timeFormat = "device"
+check(om.rows[26].value(om.game) == "DEVICE",
+  "DATE FORMAT defaults to device locale")
+om.rows[26].step(om.game, 1)
+check(om.game.save.options.dateFormat == "dmy"
+      and om.rows[26].value(om.game) == "DD-MM-YYYY",
+  "DATE FORMAT exposes deterministic DMY override")
+check(om.rows[27].value(om.game) == "DEVICE",
+  "TIME FORMAT defaults to device locale")
+om.rows[27].step(om.game, 1)
+check(om.game.save.options.timeFormat == "24h"
+      and om.rows[27].value(om.game) == "24 HOUR",
+  "TIME FORMAT exposes deterministic 24-hour override")
 check(bm.onKeyPressed == nil and bm.onGamepadPressed == nil,
   "no raw-input claim until a capture is armed")
 press(bm, "a")
diff --git a/tests/modkit/cases/date_time.lua b/tests/modkit/cases/date_time.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9a0d7d90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/modkit/cases/date_time.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+
+local T = require("tests.modkit")
+
+local FIXTURE = {
+  ["mods/date_probe/manifest.json"] = [[{
+    "id": "date_probe",
+    "name": "Date Probe",
+    "version": "1.0.0",
+    "entry": "main.lua",
+    "api": 2
+  }]],
+  ["mods/date_probe/main.lua"] = [[
+    local mod = ...
+    mod.exports.datetime = mod.datetime
+  ]],
+}
+
+local run = T.sdk.loadMods({ "mods/date_probe" }, { fs = T.sdk.memfs(FIXTURE) })
+T.eq(#run.errors, 0, "fixture mod loads cleanly")
+local datetime = run.loader.exports.date_probe.datetime
+T.eq(type(datetime), "table", "mod object exposes datetime formatting")
+T.eq(type(datetime.date), "function", "public formatter exposes date")
+T.eq(type(datetime.time), "function", "public formatter exposes time")
+T.eq(type(datetime.dateTime), "function", "public formatter exposes date-time")
+
+local stamp = os.time({ year = 2026, month = 8, day = 11, hour = 17, min = 5, sec = 0 })
+local game = { save = { options = { dateFormat = "dmy", timeFormat = "24h" } } }
+T.eq(datetime:date(game, stamp), os.date("%d-%m-%Y", stamp),
+  "mod date follows current global engine preference")
+T.eq(datetime:time(game, stamp), os.date("%H:%M", stamp),
+  "mod time follows current global engine preference")
+T.eq(datetime:dateTime(game, stamp), os.date("%d-%m-%Y %H:%M", stamp),
+  "mod date-time composes the same preference")
+
+run.release()
+T.finish("date_time")