diff --git a/src/engine/fox_play.c b/src/engine/fox_play.c
index e080d479..9d501d66 100644
--- a/src/engine/fox_play.c
+++ b/src/engine/fox_play.c
@@ -7167,7 +7167,7 @@ void Play_Main(void) {
             }
 
             gDrawMode = DRAW_PLAY;
-            if (CVarGetInteger("gDebugPause", 0) == 0){
+            CALL_CANCELLABLE_EVENT(PlayUpdateEvent){
                 Play_Update();
             }
 
diff --git a/src/port/hooks/list/EngineEvent.h b/src/port/hooks/list/EngineEvent.h
index 50db9c83..e968e8a0 100644
--- a/src/port/hooks/list/EngineEvent.h
+++ b/src/port/hooks/list/EngineEvent.h
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ DEFINE_EVENT(DisplayPostUpdateEvent);
 DEFINE_EVENT(GamePreUpdateEvent);
 DEFINE_EVENT(GamePostUpdateEvent);
 
+DEFINE_EVENT(PlayUpdateEvent);
+
 DEFINE_EVENT(PlayerPreUpdateEvent, Player* player;);
 DEFINE_EVENT(PlayerPostUpdateEvent, Player* player;);
 
diff --git a/src/port/mods/PortEnhancements.c b/src/port/mods/PortEnhancements.c
index bae0e695..042da8e8 100644
--- a/src/port/mods/PortEnhancements.c
+++ b/src/port/mods/PortEnhancements.c
@@ -163,6 +163,10 @@ void OnGameUpdatePost(IEvent* event) {
     }
 }
 
+void OnPlayUpdateEvent(IEvent* event){
+    event->cancelled = CVarGetInteger("gDebugPause", 0);
+}
+
 void RefillBoostMeter(Player* player) {
     if (player->boostMeter > 1.0f) {
         player->boostMeter = 1.0f;
@@ -318,6 +322,7 @@ void PortEnhancements_Init() {
     // Register event listeners
     REGISTER_LISTENER(DisplayPostUpdateEvent, OnDisplayUpdatePost, EVENT_PRIORITY_NORMAL);
     REGISTER_LISTENER(GamePostUpdateEvent, OnGameUpdatePost, EVENT_PRIORITY_NORMAL);
+    REGISTER_LISTENER(PlayUpdateEvent, OnPlayUpdateEvent, EVENT_PRIORITY_NORMAL);
     REGISTER_LISTENER(PlayerPostUpdateEvent, OnPlayerUpdatePost, EVENT_PRIORITY_NORMAL);
     REGISTER_LISTENER(DrawBoostGaugeHUDEvent, OnBoostGaugeDraw, EVENT_PRIORITY_NORMAL);
     REGISTER_LISTENER(DrawLivesCounterHUDEvent, OnLivesCounterDraw, EVENT_PRIORITY_NORMAL);
@@ -344,6 +349,8 @@ void PortEnhancements_Register() {
     REGISTER_EVENT(GamePreUpdateEvent);
     REGISTER_EVENT(GamePostUpdateEvent);
 
+    REGISTER_EVENT(PlayUpdateEvent);
+
     REGISTER_EVENT(PlayerPreUpdateEvent);
     REGISTER_EVENT(PlayerPostUpdateEvent);