diff --git a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/dev/dev-config-panel.tsx b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/dev/dev-config-panel.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..40126bea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/dev/dev-config-panel.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+import 'react';
+import styled from 'styled-components';
+import { useDevConfig, useDevMode } from './dev-config';
+
+export function DevConfigPanel() {
+  const isDevMode = useDevMode();
+  const [config, updateConfig] = useDevConfig();
+
+  if (!isDevMode) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const handleToggle = (key: keyof typeof config) => {
+    updateConfig({ [key]: !config[key] });
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Panel>
+      <Title>Dev Configuration</Title>
+
+      <Section>
+        <SectionTitle>Game Features</SectionTitle>
+        <ToggleContainer>
+          <ToggleInput
+            type="checkbox"
+            checked={config.enableAISantas}
+            onChange={() => handleToggle('enableAISantas')}
+          />
+          AI Santas
+        </ToggleContainer>
+      </Section>
+
+      <Section>
+        <SectionTitle>Rendering</SectionTitle>
+        <ToggleContainer>
+          <ToggleInput type="checkbox" checked={config.renderSnow} onChange={() => handleToggle('renderSnow')} />
+          Snow Effects
+        </ToggleContainer>
+        <ToggleContainer>
+          <ToggleInput type="checkbox" checked={config.renderFire} onChange={() => handleToggle('renderFire')} />
+          Fire Effects
+        </ToggleContainer>
+        <ToggleContainer>
+          <ToggleInput type="checkbox" checked={config.renderTrees} onChange={() => handleToggle('renderTrees')} />
+          Trees
+        </ToggleContainer>
+        <ToggleContainer>
+          <ToggleInput
+            type="checkbox"
+            checked={config.renderMountains}
+            onChange={() => handleToggle('renderMountains')}
+          />
+          Mountains
+        </ToggleContainer>
+        <ToggleContainer>
+          <ToggleInput
+            type="checkbox"
+            checked={config.renderSnowGround}
+            onChange={() => handleToggle('renderSnowGround')}
+          />
+          Snow Ground
+        </ToggleContainer>
+      </Section>
+    </Panel>
+  );
+}
+
+const Panel = styled.div`
+  position: fixed;
+  top: 10px;
+  right: 10px;
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);
+  color: white;
+  padding: 15px;
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  min-width: 200px;
+  z-index: 1000;
+  font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif;
+  backdrop-filter: blur(5px);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
+`;
+
+const Title = styled.h3`
+  margin: 0 0 15px 0;
+  font-size: 14px;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 1px;
+  color: #fff;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
+  padding-bottom: 8px;
+`;
+
+const Section = styled.div`
+  margin-bottom: 15px;
+
+  &:last-child {
+    margin-bottom: 0;
+  }
+`;
+
+const SectionTitle = styled.h4`
+  margin: 0 0 8px 0;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
+  font-weight: normal;
+`;
+
+const ToggleContainer = styled.label`
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  margin-bottom: 8px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 12px;
+
+  &:last-child {
+    margin-bottom: 0;
+  }
+
+  &:hover {
+    color: #4a9eff;
+  }
+`;
+
+const ToggleInput = styled.input`
+  margin-right: 8px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+
+  /* Custom checkbox styling */
+  appearance: none;
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  border: 2px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  background: transparent;
+  position: relative;
+
+  &:checked {
+    background: #4a9eff;
+    border-color: #4a9eff;
+  }
+
+  &:checked::after {
+    content: '✓';
+    position: absolute;
+    color: white;
+    font-size: 12px;
+    top: 50%;
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+  }
+
+  &:hover {
+    border-color: #4a9eff;
+  }
+`;
diff --git a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/dev/dev-config.ts b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/dev/dev-config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5fba36bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/dev/dev-config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+
+/**
+ * Interface defining the development configuration options
+ */
+export interface DevConfig {
+  // AI Features
+  enableAISantas: boolean;
+
+  // Rendering Features
+  renderSnow: boolean;
+  renderFire: boolean;
+  renderTrees: boolean;
+  renderMountains: boolean;
+  renderSnowGround: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Default configuration values
+ */
+const DEFAULT_CONFIG: DevConfig = {
+  enableAISantas: true,
+  renderSnow: true,
+  renderFire: true,
+  renderTrees: true,
+  renderMountains: true,
+  renderSnowGround: true,
+};
+
+/**
+ * Custom event for config updates
+ */
+const CONFIG_UPDATE_EVENT = 'devConfigUpdate';
+
+/**
+ * Event interface for config updates
+ */
+interface DevConfigUpdateEvent extends CustomEvent {
+  detail: Partial<DevConfig>;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Class managing the development configuration
+ */
+class DevConfigManager {
+  private config: DevConfig;
+  private listeners: Set<(config: DevConfig) => void>;
+
+  constructor() {
+    this.config = { ...DEFAULT_CONFIG };
+    this.listeners = new Set();
+    this.initHashListener();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Initialize hash change listener for dev mode
+   */
+  private initHashListener() {
+    window.addEventListener('hashchange', this.checkDevMode.bind(this));
+    this.checkDevMode(); // Initial check
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Check if dev mode is enabled via URL hash
+   */
+  private checkDevMode() {
+    const isDevMode = window.location.hash.includes('#dev');
+    if (!isDevMode) {
+      // Reset to default config when dev mode is disabled
+      this.updateConfig(DEFAULT_CONFIG);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get current configuration state
+   */
+  getConfig(): Readonly<DevConfig> {
+    return { ...this.config };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Update configuration
+   */
+  updateConfig(updates: Partial<DevConfig>) {
+    this.config = {
+      ...this.config,
+      ...updates,
+    };
+
+    // Notify all listeners
+    this.listeners.forEach((listener) => listener(this.getConfig()));
+
+    // Dispatch custom event
+    const event = new CustomEvent(CONFIG_UPDATE_EVENT, {
+      detail: updates,
+    }) as DevConfigUpdateEvent;
+    window.dispatchEvent(event);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Subscribe to configuration changes
+   */
+  subscribe(listener: (config: DevConfig) => void): () => void {
+    this.listeners.add(listener);
+    return () => this.listeners.delete(listener);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Check if dev mode is currently active
+   */
+  isDevMode(): boolean {
+    return window.location.hash.includes('#dev');
+  }
+}
+
+// Create singleton instance
+export const devConfig = new DevConfigManager();
+
+/**
+ * React hook for accessing dev configuration
+ */
+export function useDevConfig(): [DevConfig, (updates: Partial<DevConfig>) => void] {
+  const [config, setConfig] = useState<DevConfig>(devConfig.getConfig());
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Subscribe to config updates
+    const unsubscribe = devConfig.subscribe((newConfig) => {
+      setConfig(newConfig);
+    });
+
+    return unsubscribe;
+  }, []);
+
+  return [config, (updates) => devConfig.updateConfig(updates)];
+}
+
+/**
+ * React hook for checking dev mode status
+ */
+export function useDevMode(): boolean {
+  const [isDevMode, setIsDevMode] = useState(devConfig.isDevMode());
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handleHashChange = () => {
+      setIsDevMode(devConfig.isDevMode());
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener('hashchange', handleHashChange);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('hashchange', handleHashChange);
+  }, []);
+
+  return isDevMode;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-ai/ai-santa-spawner.ts b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-ai/ai-santa-spawner.ts
index cd06bf2a..2483e97c 100644
--- a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-ai/ai-santa-spawner.ts
+++ b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-ai/ai-santa-spawner.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { createSanta } from '../game-world/game-world-manipulate';
 import { AI_CONFIG, AI_DIFFICULTY, AISanta, WaveState } from './ai-santa-types';
 import { initializeAIState } from './ai-santa-decision';
 import { GAME_WORLD_HEIGHT, GAME_WORLD_WIDTH } from '../game-world/game-world-consts';
+import { devConfig } from '../dev/dev-config';
 
 /**
  * Calculate a safe spawn position for AI Santa
@@ -93,6 +94,12 @@ function spawnWaveSantas(gameState: GameWorldState, waveState: WaveState): void
  * Main update function for AI Santa spawning system
  */
 export function updateAISpawner(gameState: GameWorldState, waveState: WaveState): void {
+  if (!devConfig.getConfig().enableAISantas) {
+    // Reset wave state when AI is disabled
+    waveState.currentWave = AI_DIFFICULTY.WAVE_1;
+    return;
+  }
+
   // Check if current wave is completed
   if (areAllSantasEliminated(gameState)) {
     if (waveState.nextSpawnTime === null) {
diff --git a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-render/game-renderer.ts b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-render/game-renderer.ts
index 6bb8fdda..bf0e84b7 100644
--- a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-render/game-renderer.ts
+++ b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-render/game-renderer.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { renderSanta } from './santa-renderer';
 import { renderFireballs } from './fireball-renderer';
 import { renderSky } from './landscape/sky/sky-renderer';
 import { renderGifts } from './gift-renderer';
+import { devConfig } from '../dev/dev-config';
 
 export const renderGame = (ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D, world: GameWorldState, renderState: RenderState) => {
   const { viewport } = renderState;
@@ -19,20 +20,33 @@ export const renderGame = (ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D, world: GameWorldState,
   // Apply viewport translation
   ctx.translate(viewport.x, viewport.y);
 
-  // Render all game elements with the applied translation
-  renderLandscape(ctx, renderState.landscape, renderState.viewport);
-  renderSnow(ctx, renderState);
+  // Get current dev configuration
+  const config = devConfig.getConfig();
+
+  // Conditionally render landscape elements based on dev config
+  if (config.renderMountains || config.renderTrees || config.renderSnowGround) {
+    // Pass dev config to control individual landscape elements
+    renderLandscape(ctx, renderState.landscape, renderState.viewport);
+  }
+
+  // Conditionally render snow effects
+  if (config.renderSnow) {
+    renderSnow(ctx, renderState);
+  }
 
   // Render gifts before Santas for proper depth
   renderGifts(ctx, world.gifts, world.time);
 
-  // Render all santas
+  // Always render Santas as they're essential game elements
   world.santas.forEach((santa) => {
     renderSanta(ctx, santa, world.time);
   });
 
-  renderFireballs(ctx, renderState);
+  // Conditionally render fire effects
+  if (config.renderFire) {
+    renderFireballs(ctx, renderState);
+  }
 
   // Restore the context state
   ctx.restore();
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-render/landscape/landscape-renderer.ts b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-render/landscape/landscape-renderer.ts
index d5197a7c..c52e2b1b 100644
--- a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-render/landscape/landscape-renderer.ts
+++ b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-render/landscape/landscape-renderer.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@ import { renderMountains } from './mountain/mountain-renderer';
 import { renderTrees } from './tree/tree-renderer';
 import { renderSnowGrounds } from './snow-ground/snow-ground-renderer';
 import { ViewportState } from '../render-state';
+import { devConfig } from '../../dev/dev-config';
 
 export function renderLandscape(ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D, state: LandscapeState, viewport: ViewportState): void {
+  const config = devConfig.getConfig();
+
   // Save the current context state
   ctx.save();
 
@@ -16,14 +19,20 @@ export function renderLandscape(ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D, state: LandscapeS
   renderStars(ctx, state.stars.stars);
 
   // Render mountains (back to front)
-  renderMountains(ctx, state.mountains.mountains, viewport);
+  if (config.renderMountains) {
+    renderMountains(ctx, state.mountains.mountains, viewport);
+  }
 
   // Render snow ground (between mountains and trees)
-  renderSnowGrounds(ctx, state.snowGround.grounds, viewport);
+  if (config.renderSnowGround) {
+    renderSnowGrounds(ctx, state.snowGround.grounds, viewport);
+  }
 
   // Render trees (back to front)
-  renderTrees(ctx, state.trees.trees, viewport);
+  if (config.renderTrees) {
+    renderTrees(ctx, state.trees.trees, viewport);
+  }
 
   // Restore the context state
   ctx.restore();
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-world/game-world-update.ts b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-world/game-world-update.ts
index ce77f68e..6012b036 100644
--- a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-world/game-world-update.ts
+++ b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/game-world/game-world-update.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from './game-world-manipulate';
 import { dropGift } from './game-world-gift-manipulate';
 import { updateGifts } from './game-world-update-gifts';
+import { devConfig } from '../dev/dev-config';
 
 /**
  * Check and handle collisions between fireballs and all Santas
@@ -34,21 +35,25 @@ function processFireballSantaCollisions(state: GameWorldState) {
     }
   });
 
-  // Check collisions with AI Santas
-  state.santas.forEach((santa) => {
-    fireballs.forEach((fireball) => {
-      if (checkFireballSantaCollision(fireball, santa)) {
-        handleFireballSantaCollision(state, fireball, santa);
-        // Drop gift if Santa was carrying one
-        if (santa.carriedGift) {
-          const gift = state.gifts.find((g) => g.id === santa.carriedGift);
-          if (gift) {
-            dropGift(state, santa.id);
+  // Check collisions with AI Santas only if AI is enabled
+  if (devConfig.getConfig().enableAISantas) {
+    state.santas.forEach((santa) => {
+      if (santa === state.playerSanta) return; // Skip player Santa
+      
+      fireballs.forEach((fireball) => {
+        if (checkFireballSantaCollision(fireball, santa)) {
+          handleFireballSantaCollision(state, fireball, santa);
+          // Drop gift if Santa was carrying one
+          if (santa.carriedGift) {
+            const gift = state.gifts.find((g) => g.id === santa.carriedGift);
+            if (gift) {
+              dropGift(state, santa.id);
+            }
           }
         }
-      }
+      });
     });
-  });
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -100,26 +105,36 @@ export function updateGameWorld(state: GameWorldState, deltaTime: number) {
   // Process fireball-Santa collisions
   processFireballSantaCollisions(state);
 
-  // Update AI-controlled Santas
-  state.santas.forEach((santa) => {
-    if ('ai' in santa) {
-      // Handle AI Santa updates including fireball creation
-      handleAISantaFireball(state, santa as AISanta);
-    }
+  // Get current dev configuration
+  const config = devConfig.getConfig();
+
+  // Update AI-controlled Santas only if enabled
+  if (config.enableAISantas) {
+    state.santas.forEach((santa) => {
+      if (santa === state.playerSanta) return; // Skip player Santa
+      
+      if ('ai' in santa) {
+        // Handle AI Santa updates including fireball creation
+        handleAISantaFireball(state, santa as AISanta);
+      }
 
-    // Update AI Santa physics
-    updateSantaPhysics(santa, deltaTime);
-    updateSantaEnergy(santa, deltaTime);
-    
-    // Check for automatic gift collection for AI Santas
-    tryCollectNearbyGifts(state, santa);
-  });
+      // Update AI Santa physics
+      updateSantaPhysics(santa, deltaTime);
+      updateSantaEnergy(santa, deltaTime);
+      
+      // Check for automatic gift collection for AI Santas
+      tryCollectNearbyGifts(state, santa);
+    });
+
+    // Update AI spawning system only if AI is enabled
+    updateAISpawner(state, state.waveState);
+  } else {
+    // If AI is disabled, ensure only player Santa remains
+    state.santas = state.santas.filter(santa => santa === state.playerSanta);
+  }
 
   // Update gifts system
   updateGifts(state);
 
-  // Update AI spawning system
-  updateAISpawner(state, state.waveState);
-
   return state;
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/play-screen.tsx b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/play-screen.tsx
index 3e247325..5f5b88b1 100644
--- a/games/xmas/src/screens/play/play-screen.tsx
+++ b/games/xmas/src/screens/play/play-screen.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { createRenderState, RenderState, updateRenderState } from './game-render
 import { createSanta } from './game-world/game-world-manipulate';
 import { GAME_WORLD_HEIGHT, GAME_WORLD_WIDTH } from './game-world/game-world-consts';
 import { initializeWaveState } from './game-ai/ai-santa-spawner';
+import { DevConfigPanel } from './dev/dev-config-panel';
 
 // Game configuration
 const GAME_CONFIG = {
@@ -85,5 +86,10 @@ export function PlayScreen() {
     }
   });
 
-  return <GameViewport gameStateRef={gameStateRef} />;
+  return (
+    <>
+      <GameViewport gameStateRef={gameStateRef} />
+      <DevConfigPanel />
+    </>
+  );
 }