diff --git a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-05-modern-pipeline-design.md b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-05-modern-pipeline-design.md
index ec8ef50e..17663779 100644
--- a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-05-modern-pipeline-design.md
+++ b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-05-modern-pipeline-design.md
@@ -138,8 +138,14 @@ client uses today**, run offline:
 
 - Mesh extraction (GfxObj/Setup → GPU-layout vertex/index + batch tables) via the
   existing ObjectMeshManager build path.
-- Texture decode (palette/INDEX16/etc. → RGBA) via the existing TextureHelpers path,
-  then compressed to BC7 (quality) / BC1 (opaque bulk) with precomputed mip chains.
+- Texture decode (palette/INDEX16/etc. → RGBA) via the existing TextureHelpers path.
+  **AMENDED 2026-07-05 (MP1a ground truth):** v1 pak stores **decoded RGBA8 exactly
+  as the runtime path produces today** (the atlas consumes RGBA8 via
+  `TextureBatchData` — storing BC7/BC1 would change delivered pixels and violate
+  this phase's byte-identical conformance gate). BC compression (quarter the disk
+  + VRAM, lossy) is an explicit post-conformance option requiring its own visual
+  gate and user approval, not v1 scope. Mip chains remain runtime-generated
+  (`GenerateMipmaps` flush) in v1 for the same reason.
 - BSPs (physics, cell, drawing) flattened to index-based node arrays (blittable).
 - Landblock terrain data (heights/attributes) as blittable arrays.
 - EnvCells (geometry + portals + surfaces) as blittable records.