diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 9c2472f7..4a65c9a6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.13'
       - name: Install setup packager
         run: python -m pip install pyinstaller==6.19.0 numpy==2.2.6 Pillow==11.3.0
-      - name: Build source-only release
+      - name: Build Windows package
         shell: pwsh
         run: ./Build-Release.ps1
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
diff --git a/Build-Release.ps1 b/Build-Release.ps1
index c2937975..bd9b6154 100644
--- a/Build-Release.ps1
+++ b/Build-Release.ps1
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 param()
 $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+throw 'Release packaging is paused until the Blender-free ISO converter is ready.'
 Push-Location $PSScriptRoot
 try {
     $packagePython = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'target/package-venv/Scripts/python.exe'
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b5df693b..db760e89 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,10 +10,9 @@ Includes skating, tricks, grinds, offboard movement, difficulty settings and
 
 ## Play
 
-Download the Windows release ZIP, extract it and run `skate3rust.exe`.
-Select your own Skate 3 Xbox 360 ISO when prompted. Setup prepares the skater,
-animations and disc maps locally, then starts University. The first setup needs
-internet access for conversion tools and can take a while.
+ISO setup is under development. Release packaging is paused while the asset
+converter is changed to work without Blender. Use a prepared local asset set
+for now.
 
 Use an XInput controller to play. Escape opens graphics, difficulty and map
 settings. Loading another map restarts the game session.
@@ -29,9 +28,8 @@ Use `PLAY-MAP.bat` to select a map. An XInput controller is required for gamepla
 Escape opens difficulty and graphics settings.
 
 Development builds use a prepared asset set in `assets/private/` or the
-first-run installation above. `Build-Release.ps1` builds the portable Windows
-package with its setup helper; it also requires Python 3.13. Published GitHub
-releases build and attach this package automatically.
+installed asset directory. The Windows release workflow is present, but
+packaging is disabled until direct ISO conversion is ready.
 
 Custom animations and climbing support remain available, but no custom clips
 are shipped. The included format-demo map is original procedural content.
diff --git a/THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md b/THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md
index 8f0c0e2b..b502d7c2 100644
--- a/THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md
+++ b/THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md
@@ -17,9 +17,10 @@ reference: https://github.com/NFSTools/VaultLib. Its lookup8 hash and record
 reader preserve data from the user's BIN/VLT files; no settings payload is
 bundled.
 
-First-run setup downloads Blender 5.0.1 and XboxDev extract-xiso from their
-publishers and verifies pinned SHA-256 hashes. Their distributions retain their
-own license files. Game assets are never downloaded from this project.
+Release setup is paused pending direct asset conversion. Blender is not
+downloaded by setup. The retained authoring scripts can use a separately
+supplied Blender executable. XboxDev extract-xiso retains its own license
+files. Game assets are never downloaded from this project.
 
 The setup executable bundles Python, NumPy, Pillow, Tcl/Tk and PyInstaller's
 bootloader. Their license information is retained by the packager alongside
diff --git a/docs/installation.md b/docs/installation.md
index fc05f406..bfd5b783 100644
--- a/docs/installation.md
+++ b/docs/installation.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Windows installation
 
+**Paused:** the Blender-based conversion approach below was rejected. The
+public setup entry point and release packaging are disabled pending direct
+conversion. The notes below describe the earlier implementation, not a ready
+release. Setup no longer downloads Blender.
+
 `Build-Release.ps1` produces `target/skate3rust-windows-x64.zip`. Keep its
 `support` directory beside `skate3rust.exe`. The game links Bevy and the MSVC
 runtime statically; the setup helper bundles Python, NumPy, Pillow and Tcl/Tk.
diff --git a/tools/asset_pipeline/install.py b/tools/asset_pipeline/install.py
index 486dfd9f..7fb50d5e 100644
--- a/tools/asset_pipeline/install.py
+++ b/tools/asset_pipeline/install.py
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ from .vlt import convert as convert_vlt
 from .physics_skeleton import convert as convert_skeleton
 
 TOOLS=Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
-BLENDER_URL='https://download.blender.org/release/Blender5.0/blender-5.0.1-windows-x64.zip'
-BLENDER_SHA='921d77f6c505a35b2c2f6e67d4ad1c10b72418338ba0e0d3ea7f582a5e5fe46e'
 XISO_URL='https://github.com/XboxDev/extract-xiso/releases/download/build-202505152050/extract-xiso-Win64_Release.zip'
 XISO_SHA='fec88d03c7efd6205ab09be4abba70c0afd0eb27a5709f0a6235b828ba5ac11e'
 
@@ -53,7 +51,6 @@ def dependency(cache,name,url,sha,report):
     return executable
 
 def run(args,log,report):
-    report('Running '+Path(args[0]).name)
     kwargs={'creationflags':subprocess.CREATE_NO_WINDOW} if os.name=='nt' else {}
     external=os.name=='nt' and getattr(sys,'frozen',False) and Path(args[0]).resolve()!=Path(sys.executable).resolve()
     if external:
@@ -74,7 +71,6 @@ def run(args,log,report):
     with child as process:
         for line in process.stdout:
             log.write(line);log.flush()
-            if line.strip():report(line.strip()[-180:])
         if process.wait():raise RuntimeError('Conversion failed. See '+str(log.name))
 
 def task(script,*args):
@@ -110,6 +106,7 @@ def convert_map(archive,work,maps,stage,blender,game_exe,log,report):
     build_archive(manifest_path,collision)
     final=maps/(label+'.skate')
     embed_archive(raw_package,collision,final)
+    report('Checking converted map: '+label)
     run([game_exe,'--assets',stage/'assets','--map',final,'--check-assets'],log,report)
     entry={'name':label,'path':'maps/'+final.name,'sha256':digest(final)}
     remove_intermediate(district_work,work)
@@ -117,6 +114,10 @@ def convert_map(archive,work,maps,stage,blender,game_exe,log,report):
 
 
 def install(iso,base,game_exe,report,game_root=None):
+    raise RuntimeError('ISO setup is paused while direct asset conversion is implemented. No Blender will be downloaded or installed.')
+
+
+def _authoring_install(iso,base,game_exe,report,blender,game_root=None):
     base=base.resolve();base.mkdir(parents=True,exist_ok=True)
     lock=base/'setup.lock'
     try:fd=os.open(lock,os.O_CREAT|os.O_EXCL|os.O_WRONLY)
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ def install(iso,base,game_exe,report,game_root=None):
                 if not iso.is_file() or iso.suffix.lower()!='.iso':raise RuntimeError('Select an Xbox 360 Skate 3 ISO')
                 extractor=dependency(base/'tools','extract-xiso',XISO_URL,XISO_SHA,report)
                 game_root=work/'disc'
+                report('Extracting your ISO')
                 run([extractor,'-x',iso,'-d',game_root],log,report)
             else:game_root=game_root.resolve()
             for required in ['default.xex','data/big/miscload.big','data/big/miscboot.big','data/big/db.big',
@@ -166,9 +168,7 @@ def install(iso,base,game_exe,report,game_root=None):
             character=work/'character'
             run(task(TOOLS/'extract_default_skater.py','--owned-data-root',stock,'--work-root',character,
                      '--private-root',private/'default_skater','--utt-root',TOOLS/'vendor/utt'),log,report)
-            # Blender is a portable conversion dependency, downloaded from its
-            # publisher and hash checked. It is never installed system-wide.
-            blender=dependency(base/'tools','blender',BLENDER_URL,BLENDER_SHA,report)
+            report('Building the skater model and rig')
             blend=character/'skater.blend'
             run([blender,'--background','--factory-startup','--python-exit-code','1',
                  '--python',TOOLS/'vendor/skate3_anim/blender_rx2_abin_export.py','--',