diff --git a/src/AcDream.Core/Rendering/CameraDiagnostics.cs b/src/AcDream.Core/Rendering/CameraDiagnostics.cs
index 01349f1..e95683d 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.Core/Rendering/CameraDiagnostics.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.Core/Rendering/CameraDiagnostics.cs
@@ -15,13 +15,17 @@ namespace AcDream.Core.Rendering;
 public static class CameraDiagnostics
 {
     /// <summary>
-    /// Master toggle. When false (default) the legacy
-    /// <c>AcDream.App.Rendering.ChaseCamera</c> is the active camera;
-    /// when true, the retail-faithful <c>RetailChaseCamera</c> is.
-    /// Initial state from <c>ACDREAM_RETAIL_CHASE=1</c>.
+    /// Master toggle. When true (default, after visual ship 2026-05-18)
+    /// the retail-faithful <c>AcDream.App.Rendering.RetailChaseCamera</c>
+    /// is the active chase camera; when false, the legacy
+    /// <c>AcDream.App.Rendering.ChaseCamera</c> rigid-follow camera is.
+    /// Initial state from <c>ACDREAM_RETAIL_CHASE</c> — default-on if
+    /// unset, off only when explicitly set to <c>"0"</c>. The legacy
+    /// camera stays available via the DebugPanel toggle pending the
+    /// follow-up deletion commit.
     /// </summary>
     public static bool UseRetailChaseCamera { get; set; } =
-        Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ACDREAM_RETAIL_CHASE") == "1";
+        Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ACDREAM_RETAIL_CHASE") != "0";
 
     /// <summary>
     /// When true (default), the camera basis follows the player's
diff --git a/tests/AcDream.Core.Tests/Rendering/CameraDiagnosticsTests.cs b/tests/AcDream.Core.Tests/Rendering/CameraDiagnosticsTests.cs
index d3d3251..28323f3 100644
--- a/tests/AcDream.Core.Tests/Rendering/CameraDiagnosticsTests.cs
+++ b/tests/AcDream.Core.Tests/Rendering/CameraDiagnosticsTests.cs
@@ -20,27 +20,30 @@ public class CameraDiagnosticsTests
         CameraDiagnostics.MouseLowPassWindowSec = 0.25f;
         CameraDiagnostics.CameraAdjustmentSpeed = 40.0f;
         CameraDiagnostics.AlignToSlope          = true;
-        CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera  = false;
+        CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera  = true;
 
         Assert.Equal(0.45f, CameraDiagnostics.TranslationStiffness);
         Assert.Equal(0.45f, CameraDiagnostics.RotationStiffness);
         Assert.Equal(0.25f, CameraDiagnostics.MouseLowPassWindowSec);
         Assert.Equal(40.0f, CameraDiagnostics.CameraAdjustmentSpeed);
         Assert.True(CameraDiagnostics.AlignToSlope);
-        Assert.False(CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera);
+        // 2026-05-18 ship: retail chase camera is the default. The
+        // legacy camera remains opt-in via the DebugPanel toggle until
+        // the follow-up deletion commit.
+        Assert.True(CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera);
     }
 
     [Fact]
     public void Setters_PersistRuntimeChanges()
     {
         CameraDiagnostics.TranslationStiffness = 0.8f;
-        CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera = true;
+        CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera = false;
 
         Assert.Equal(0.8f, CameraDiagnostics.TranslationStiffness);
-        Assert.True(CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera);
+        Assert.False(CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera);
 
         // Reset so other tests aren't poisoned.
         CameraDiagnostics.TranslationStiffness = 0.45f;
-        CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera = false;
+        CameraDiagnostics.UseRetailChaseCamera = true;
     }
 }