diff --git a/ref/null/r_context.c b/ref/null/r_context.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de4f176b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ref/null/r_context.c
@@ -0,0 +1,623 @@
+/*
+r_context.c -- null renderer context
+Copyright (C) 2023-2024 a1batross
+
+This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+*/
+
+#include <string.h>
+#include "xash3d_types.h"
+#include "const.h"
+#include "cvardef.h"
+#include "xash3d_mathlib.h"
+#include "ref_api.h"
+
+/*
+ * this initially was made to be able to run full client
+ * in hazardous^Wheadless environments
+ * but might be a starting point for new renderers as well
+ */
+
+static ref_api_t      gEngfuncs;
+static ref_globals_t *gpGlobals;
+
+static void R_SimpleStub( void )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_SimpleStubInt( int )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_SimpleStubUInt( unsigned int )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_SimpleStubBool( qboolean )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static qboolean R_Init( void )
+{
+	return true;
+}
+
+static const char *R_GetConfigName( void )
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static qboolean R_SetDisplayTransform( ref_screen_rotation_t rotate, int x, int y, float scale_x, float scale_y )
+{
+	return true;
+}
+
+static void GL_SetupAttributes( int safegl )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static qboolean R_AddEntity( struct cl_entity_s *clent, int type )
+{
+	return true;
+}
+
+static void CL_AddCustomBeam( cl_entity_t *pEnvBeam )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_ProcessEntData( qboolean allocate, cl_entity_t *entities, unsigned int max_entities )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static const byte *R_GetTextureOriginalBuffer( unsigned int idx )
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static int GL_LoadTextureFromBuffer( const char *name, rgbdata_t *pic, texFlags_t flags, qboolean update )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void GL_ProcessTexture( int texnum, float gamma, int topColor, int bottomColor )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_SetupSky( const char *skyname )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_DrawStretchRaw( float x, float y, float w, float h, int cols, int rows, const byte *data, qboolean dirty )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_DrawStretchPic( float x, float y, float w, float h, float s1, float t1, float s2, float t2, int texnum )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_DrawTileClear( int texnum, int x, int y, int w, int h )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void FillRGBA( float x, float y, float w, float h, int r, int g, int b, int a )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static int  WorldToScreen( const vec3_t world, vec3_t screen )
+{
+	VectorClear( screen );
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static qboolean VID_ScreenShot( const char *filename, int shot_type )
+{
+	return false;
+}
+
+static qboolean VID_CubemapShot( const char *base, uint size, const float *vieworg, qboolean skyshot )
+{
+	return false;
+}
+
+static colorVec R_LightPoint( const float *p )
+{
+	colorVec c = { 0 };
+	return c;
+}
+
+static void R_DecalShoot( int textureIndex, int entityIndex, int modelIndex, vec3_t pos, int flags, float scale )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static int R_CreateDecalList( struct decallist_s *pList )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static float R_StudioEstimateFrame( cl_entity_t *e, mstudioseqdesc_t *pseqdesc, double time )
+{
+	return 0.0f;
+}
+
+static void R_StudioLerpMovement( cl_entity_t *e, double time, vec3_t origin, vec3_t angles )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_InitSkyClouds( struct mip_s *mt, struct texture_s *tx, qboolean custom_palette )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void GL_SubdivideSurface( model_t *mod, msurface_t *fa )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_GetSpriteParms( int *frameWidth, int *frameHeight, int *numFrames, int currentFrame, const model_t *pSprite )
+{
+	*frameWidth = *frameHeight = *numFrames = 0;
+}
+
+static int R_GetSpriteTexture( const model_t *m_pSpriteModel, int frame )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void Mod_LoadMapSprite( struct model_s *mod, const void *buffer, size_t size, qboolean *loaded )
+{
+	*loaded = false;
+	return;
+}
+
+static qboolean Mod_ProcessRenderData( model_t *mod, qboolean create, const byte *buffer )
+{
+	return false;
+}
+
+static void Mod_StudioLoadTextures( model_t *mod, void *data )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void CL_DrawParticles( double frametime, particle_t *particles, float partsize )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void CL_DrawTracers( double frametime, particle_t *tracers )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void CL_DrawBeams( int fTrans, BEAM *beams )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static qboolean R_BeamCull( const vec3_t start, const vec3_t end, qboolean pvsOnly )
+{
+	return false;
+}
+
+static int RefGetParm( int parm, int arg )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void GetDetailScaleForTexture( int texture, float *xScale, float *yScale )
+{
+	*xScale = *yScale = 1.0f;
+}
+
+static void GetExtraParmsForTexture( int texture, byte *red, byte *green, byte *blue, byte *alpha )
+{
+	*red = *green = *blue = *alpha = 0;
+}
+
+static float GetFrameTime( void )
+{
+	return 0.0f;
+}
+
+static void R_SetCurrentEntity( struct cl_entity_s *ent )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void R_SetCurrentModel( struct model_s *mod )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static int GL_FindTexture( const char *name )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static const char *GL_TextureName( unsigned int texnum )
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static const byte *GL_TextureData( unsigned int texnum )
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static int GL_LoadTexture( const char *name, const byte *buf, size_t size, int flags )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int GL_CreateTexture( const char *name, int width, int height, const void *buffer, texFlags_t flags )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int GL_LoadTextureArray( const char **names, int flags )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int GL_CreateTextureArray( const char *name, int width, int height, int depth, const void *buffer, texFlags_t flags )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void DrawSingleDecal( struct decal_s *pDecal, struct msurface_s *fa )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static float *R_DecalSetupVerts( struct decal_s *pDecal, struct msurface_s *surf, int texture, int *outCount )
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static void R_EntityRemoveDecals( struct model_s *mod )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void AVI_UploadRawFrame( int texture, int cols, int rows, int width, int height, const byte *data )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void GL_Bind( int tmu, unsigned int texnum )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void GL_LoadTextureMatrix( const float *glmatrix )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void GL_TexGen( unsigned int coord, unsigned int mode )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void GL_UpdateTexSize( int texnum, int width, int height, int depth )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void GL_DrawParticles( const struct ref_viewpass_s *rvp, qboolean trans_pass, float frametime )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static colorVec LightVec( const float *start, const float *end, float *lightspot, float *lightvec )
+{
+	colorVec c = { 0 };
+	return c;
+}
+
+static struct mstudiotex_s *StudioGetTexture( struct cl_entity_s *e )
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static void GL_RenderFrame( const struct ref_viewpass_s *rvp )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void GL_OrthoBounds( const float *mins, const float *maxs )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static qboolean R_SpeedsMessage( char *out, size_t size )
+{
+	return false;
+}
+
+static byte *Mod_GetCurrentVis( void )
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static void *R_GetProcAddress( const char *name )
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static void Color4f( float r, float g, float b, float a )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void Color4ub( unsigned char r, unsigned char g, unsigned char b, unsigned char a )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void TexCoord2f( float u, float v )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void Vertex3fv( const float *worldPnt )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void Vertex3f( float x, float y, float z )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void Fog( float flFogColor[3], float flStart, float flEnd, int bOn )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void ScreenToWorld( const float *screen, float *world  )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void GetMatrix( const int pname, float *matrix )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void FogParams( float flDensity, int iFogSkybox )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void CullFace( TRICULLSTYLE mode )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void VGUI_SetupDrawing( int *pColor )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void VGUI_EnableTexture( qboolean enable )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void VGUI_CreateTexture( int id, int width, int height )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void VGUI_UploadTexture( int id, const char *buffer, int width, int height )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void VGUI_UploadTextureBlock( int id, int drawX, int drawY, const byte *rgba, int blockWidth, int blockHeight )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void VGUI_DrawQuad( const vpoint_t *ul, const vpoint_t *lr )
+{
+	;
+}
+
+static void VGUI_GetTextureSizes( int *width, int *height )
+{
+	*width = *height = 0;
+}
+
+static int VGUI_GenerateTexture( void )
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static ref_interface_t gReffuncs =
+{
+	.R_Init                = R_Init,
+	.R_Shutdown            = R_SimpleStub,
+	.R_GetConfigName       = R_GetConfigName,
+	.R_SetDisplayTransform = R_SetDisplayTransform,
+
+	.GL_SetupAttributes = GL_SetupAttributes,
+	.GL_InitExtensions  = R_SimpleStub,
+	.GL_ClearExtensions = R_SimpleStub,
+
+	.R_GammaChanged       = R_SimpleStubBool,
+	.R_BeginFrame         = R_SimpleStubBool,
+	.R_RenderScene        = R_SimpleStub,
+	.R_EndFrame           = R_SimpleStub,
+	.R_PushScene          = R_SimpleStub,
+	.R_PopScene           = R_SimpleStub,
+	.GL_BackendStartFrame = R_SimpleStub,
+	.GL_BackendEndFrame   = R_SimpleStub,
+
+	.R_ClearScreen    = R_SimpleStub,
+	.R_AllowFog       = R_SimpleStubBool,
+	.GL_SetRenderMode = R_SimpleStubInt,
+
+	.R_AddEntity      = R_AddEntity,
+	.CL_AddCustomBeam = CL_AddCustomBeam,
+	.R_ProcessEntData = R_ProcessEntData,
+	.R_Flush          = R_SimpleStubUInt,
+
+	.R_ShowTextures = R_SimpleStub,
+
+	.R_GetTextureOriginalBuffer = R_GetTextureOriginalBuffer,
+	.GL_LoadTextureFromBuffer   = GL_LoadTextureFromBuffer,
+	.GL_ProcessTexture          = GL_ProcessTexture,
+	.R_SetupSky                 = R_SetupSky,
+
+	.R_Set2DMode      = R_SimpleStubBool,
+	.R_DrawStretchRaw = R_DrawStretchRaw,
+	.R_DrawStretchPic = R_DrawStretchPic,
+	.R_DrawTileClear  = R_DrawTileClear,
+	.FillRGBA         = FillRGBA,
+	.FillRGBABlend    = FillRGBA,
+	.WorldToScreen    = WorldToScreen,
+
+	.VID_ScreenShot  = VID_ScreenShot,
+	.VID_CubemapShot = VID_CubemapShot,
+
+	.R_LightPoint = R_LightPoint,
+
+	.R_DecalShoot      = R_DecalShoot,
+	.R_DecalRemoveAll  = R_SimpleStubInt,
+	.R_CreateDecalList = R_CreateDecalList,
+	.R_ClearAllDecals  = R_SimpleStub,
+
+	.R_StudioEstimateFrame = R_StudioEstimateFrame,
+	.R_StudioLerpMovement  = R_StudioLerpMovement,
+	.CL_InitStudioAPI      = R_SimpleStub,
+
+	.R_InitSkyClouds     = R_InitSkyClouds,
+	.GL_SubdivideSurface = GL_SubdivideSurface,
+	.CL_RunLightStyles   = R_SimpleStub,
+
+	.R_GetSpriteParms    = R_GetSpriteParms,
+	.R_GetSpriteTexture  = R_GetSpriteTexture,
+
+	.Mod_LoadMapSprite      = Mod_LoadMapSprite,
+	.Mod_ProcessRenderData  = Mod_ProcessRenderData,
+	.Mod_StudioLoadTextures = Mod_StudioLoadTextures,
+
+	.CL_DrawParticles = CL_DrawParticles,
+	.CL_DrawTracers   = CL_DrawTracers,
+	.CL_DrawBeams     = CL_DrawBeams,
+	.R_BeamCull       = R_BeamCull,
+
+	.RefGetParm               = RefGetParm,
+	.GetDetailScaleForTexture = GetDetailScaleForTexture,
+	.GetExtraParmsForTexture  = GetExtraParmsForTexture,
+	.GetFrameTime             = GetFrameTime,
+
+	.R_SetCurrentEntity = R_SetCurrentEntity,
+	.R_SetCurrentModel  = R_SetCurrentModel,
+
+	.GL_FindTexture        = GL_FindTexture,
+	.GL_TextureName        = GL_TextureName,
+	.GL_TextureData        = GL_TextureData,
+	.GL_LoadTexture        = GL_LoadTexture,
+	.GL_CreateTexture      = GL_CreateTexture,
+	.GL_LoadTextureArray   = GL_LoadTextureArray,
+	.GL_CreateTextureArray = GL_CreateTextureArray,
+	.GL_FreeTexture        = R_SimpleStubUInt,
+
+	.DrawSingleDecal      = DrawSingleDecal,
+	.R_DecalSetupVerts    = R_DecalSetupVerts,
+	.R_EntityRemoveDecals = R_EntityRemoveDecals,
+
+	.AVI_UploadRawFrame = AVI_UploadRawFrame,
+
+	.GL_Bind                = GL_Bind,
+	.GL_SelectTexture       = R_SimpleStubInt,
+	.GL_LoadTextureMatrix   = GL_LoadTextureMatrix,
+	.GL_TexMatrixIdentity   = R_SimpleStub,
+	.GL_CleanUpTextureUnits = R_SimpleStubInt,
+	.GL_TexGen              = GL_TexGen,
+	.GL_TextureTarget       = R_SimpleStubUInt,
+	.GL_TexCoordArrayMode   = R_SimpleStubUInt,
+	.GL_UpdateTexSize       = GL_UpdateTexSize,
+	.GL_Reserved0           = NULL,
+	.GL_Reserved1           = NULL,
+
+	.GL_DrawParticles = GL_DrawParticles,
+	.LightVec         = LightVec,
+	.StudioGetTexture = StudioGetTexture,
+
+	.GL_RenderFrame    = GL_RenderFrame,
+	.GL_OrthoBounds    = GL_OrthoBounds,
+	.R_SpeedsMessage   = R_SpeedsMessage,
+	.Mod_GetCurrentVis = Mod_GetCurrentVis,
+	.R_NewMap          = R_SimpleStub,
+	.R_ClearScene      = R_SimpleStub,
+	.R_GetProcAddress  = R_GetProcAddress,
+
+	.TriRenderMode = R_SimpleStubInt,
+	.Begin         = R_SimpleStubInt,
+	.End           = R_SimpleStub,
+	.Color4f       = Color4f,
+	.Color4ub      = Color4ub,
+	.TexCoord2f    = TexCoord2f,
+	.Vertex3fv     = Vertex3fv,
+	.Vertex3f      = Vertex3f,
+	.Fog           = Fog,
+	.ScreenToWorld = ScreenToWorld,
+	.GetMatrix     = GetMatrix,
+	.FogParams     = FogParams,
+	.CullFace      = CullFace,
+
+	.VGUI_DrawInit           = R_SimpleStub,
+	.VGUI_DrawShutdown       = R_SimpleStub,
+	.VGUI_SetupDrawingText   = VGUI_SetupDrawing,
+	.VGUI_SetupDrawingRect   = VGUI_SetupDrawing,
+	.VGUI_SetupDrawingImage  = VGUI_SetupDrawing,
+	.VGUI_BindTexture        = R_SimpleStubInt,
+	.VGUI_EnableTexture      = VGUI_EnableTexture,
+	.VGUI_CreateTexture      = VGUI_CreateTexture,
+	.VGUI_UploadTexture      = VGUI_UploadTexture,
+	.VGUI_UploadTextureBlock = VGUI_UploadTextureBlock,
+	.VGUI_DrawQuad           = VGUI_DrawQuad,
+	.VGUI_GetTextureSizes    = VGUI_GetTextureSizes,
+	.VGUI_GenerateTexture    = VGUI_GenerateTexture,
+};
+
+int EXPORT GetRefAPI( int version, ref_interface_t *funcs, ref_api_t *engfuncs, ref_globals_t *globals );
+int EXPORT GetRefAPI( int version, ref_interface_t *funcs, ref_api_t *engfuncs, ref_globals_t *globals )
+{
+	if( version != REF_API_VERSION )
+		return 0;
+
+	// fill in our callbacks
+	memcpy( funcs, &gReffuncs, sizeof( ref_interface_t ));
+	memcpy( &gEngfuncs, engfuncs, sizeof( ref_api_t ));
+	gpGlobals = globals;
+
+	return REF_API_VERSION;
+}
diff --git a/ref/null/wscript b/ref/null/wscript
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3a6ec152
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ref/null/wscript
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env python
+# encoding: utf-8
+# mittorn, 2018
+
+def options(opt):
+	pass
+
+def configure(conf):
+	pass
+
+def build(bld):
+	bld.shlib(
+		source   = 'r_context.c',
+		target   = 'ref_null',
+		features = 'c',
+		defines  = 'REF_DLL',
+		use      = 'engine_includes sdk_includes werror',
+		install_path = bld.env.LIBDIR,
+		subsystem = bld.env.MSVC_SUBSYSTEM
+	)
diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index 219bc45b..c0315044 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ SUBDIRS = [
 	Subproject('3rdparty/gl4es',        lambda x: not x.env.DEDICATED and x.env.GL4ES),
 	Subproject('ref/gl',                lambda x: not x.env.DEDICATED and (x.env.GL or x.env.NANOGL or x.env.GLWES or x.env.GL4ES)),
 	Subproject('ref/soft',              lambda x: not x.env.DEDICATED and not x.env.SUPPORT_BSP2_FORMAT and x.env.SOFT),
+	Subproject('ref/null',              lambda x: not x.env.DEDICATED and x.env.NULL),
 	Subproject('3rdparty/mainui',       lambda x: not x.env.DEDICATED),
 	Subproject('3rdparty/vgui_support', lambda x: not x.env.DEDICATED),
 	Subproject('stub/client',           lambda x: not x.env.DEDICATED),
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ REFDLLS = [
 	RefDll('gles2', False, 'GLWES'),
 	RefDll('gl4es', False),
 	RefDll('gles3compat', False),
+	RefDll('null', False),
 ]
 
 def options(opt):