diff --git a/examples/audio_sprite_demo.odin b/examples/audio_sprite_demo.odin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b45ec0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/audio_sprite_demo.odin
@@ -0,0 +1,349 @@
+package main
+
+import "core:fmt"
+import "core:strings"
+import ecs "../src"
+import rl "vendor:raylib"
+
+// demo for the audio and sprite systems. arrow keys cycle sprite properties
+// (tint, scale, flip), w/a/s/d cycle sprite sheet cells, j/k/l/i trigger
+// audio actions. the sprite rendering draws procedurally (colored
+// rectangles), so it runs without any asset files. audio and texture
+// loading require actual files on disk — placeholder comments show the
+// real API usage.
+
+app: ecs.App
+
+// sprite demo state
+ball_color   : rl.Color = rl.BLUE
+ball_scale   : rl.Vector2 = {1.0, 1.0}
+ball_flip_h  : bool = false
+ball_flip_v  : bool = false
+
+// sprite sheet: 4x3 grid, track which cell is selected
+sheet_selection: int = 0
+
+// audio demo state
+show_audio: bool = true
+
+// main: add DefaultPlugin (window, sprite drawing, cursor, lifecycle),
+// add AudioPlugin (audio device init, sound/music processing, cleanup),
+// register demo systems, then run. see ecs.DefaultPlugin and AudioPlugin
+// in shoal/src for what they do.
+main :: proc() {
+	ecs.add_plugin(&app, ecs.DefaultPlugin)
+	ecs.add_plugin(&app, ecs.AudioPlugin)  // enables audio
+	ecs.add_system(&app, ecs.STARTUP, startup_demo)
+	ecs.add_system(&app, ecs.UPDATE, update_demo)
+	ecs.add_system(&app, ecs.DRAW, draw_demo)
+	ecs.run(&app)
+}
+
+// startup: placeholder comments showing the real API usage for loading
+// sprites, sprite sheets, and audio. see load_sprite, load_sprite_sheet,
+// unload_sprite, unload_sprites in systems.odin, and play_sound,
+// play_music, stop_sound, stop_music, and the Audio component in
+// audio.odin.
+startup_demo :: proc(world: ^ecs.World) {
+	// load a sprite from file: returns a Sprite with defaults
+	// (source = full texture, scale = 1.0, tint = white).
+	// in a real game:
+	//   sprite := ecs.load_sprite("images/player.png")
+	//   ecs.add_component(world, player, sprite)
+	//   ecs.add_component(world, player, ecs.Transform{
+	//       translation = {400, 300},
+	//       rotation    = 0,
+	//   })
+
+	// load a sprite sheet: splits a texture into a grid, returns
+	// [dynamic]Sprite — each cell shares the same underlying texture
+	// but has its own source rect. in a real game:
+	//   sprites := ecs.load_sprite_sheet("images/tiles.png", 4, 3)
+	//   // sprites[0]  = row 0, col 0 (top-left)
+	//   // sprites[5]  = row 1, col 1 (center)
+	//   // sprites[11] = row 2, col 3 (bottom-right)
+	//   ecs.add_component(world, tile, sprites[5])
+	// free all at once:
+	//   ecs.unload_sprites(sprites)
+
+	// global audio API:
+	// one-shot sounds (cached by path):
+	//   h := ecs.play_sound("sounds/explosion.wav")
+	//   ecs.set_sound_volume(h, 0.5)
+	//   ecs.stop_sound(h)
+	//   ecs.is_sound_playing(h)        // → bool
+	// background music (streaming):
+	//   h := ecs.play_music("sounds/theme.ogg")
+	//   ecs.set_music_volume(h, 0.7)
+	//   ecs.seek_music(h, 30.0)
+	//   ecs.get_music_time_played(h)   // → f32
+	//   ecs.get_music_time_length(h)   // → f32
+	//   ecs.pause_music(h)
+	//   ecs.resume_music(h)
+	// master volume (affects all audio):
+	//   ecs.set_master_volume(0.8)
+
+	// entity-owned audio (Audio component):
+	// add an Audio component to any entity:
+	//   ecs.add_component(world, entity, ecs.Audio{
+	//       sound   = rl.LoadSoundFromWave(rl.LoadWave("sound.wav")),
+	//       state   = ecs.AudioState.Playing,
+	//       volume  = 0.8,
+	//       pitch   = 1.0,
+	//       pan     = 0.0,  // center
+	//   })
+	// or with music:
+	//   ecs.add_component(world, entity, ecs.Audio{
+	//       music   = rl.LoadMusicStream("music.ogg"),
+	//       state   = ecs.AudioState.Playing,
+	//       volume  = 0.5,
+	//       looping = true,
+	//   })
+}
+
+// handle input: arrow keys cycle sprite properties, w/a/s/d cycle sprite
+// sheet cells, j/k/l/i trigger audio actions (via GetCharPressed). see
+// the Sprite component in componenets.odin and the global API in
+// audio.odin.
+update_demo :: proc(world: ^ecs.World) {
+	// arrow keys: cycle sprite properties
+
+	if rl.IsKeyPressed(rl.KeyboardKey.UP) {
+		// cycle tint color (demonstrates the `tint` field)
+		switch ball_color {
+		case rl.BLUE:
+			ball_color = rl.RED
+		case rl.RED:
+			ball_color = rl.GREEN
+		case rl.GREEN:
+			ball_color = rl.YELLOW
+		case rl.YELLOW:
+			ball_color = rl.PURPLE
+		default:
+			{ ball_color = rl.BLUE }
+		}
+		fmt.println("Sprite tint → ", color_name(ball_color))
+	}
+
+	if rl.IsKeyPressed(rl.KeyboardKey.DOWN) {
+		// cycle scale (demonstrates the `scale` field)
+		if ball_scale.x == 1.0 {
+			ball_scale = {2.0, 2.0}
+		} else if ball_scale.x == 2.0 {
+			ball_scale = {0.5, 0.5}
+		} else {
+			ball_scale = {1.0, 1.0}
+		}
+		fmt.println("Sprite scale → ",
+			fmt.tprintf("(%.1f, %.1f)", ball_scale.x, ball_scale.y))
+	}
+
+	if rl.IsKeyPressed(rl.KeyboardKey.LEFT) {
+		// toggle horizontal flip (demonstrates `flip_h`)
+		ball_flip_h = !ball_flip_h
+		fmt.println("Sprite flip_h → ", ball_flip_h)
+	}
+
+	if rl.IsKeyPressed(rl.KeyboardKey.RIGHT) {
+		// toggle vertical flip (demonstrates `flip_v`)
+		ball_flip_v = !ball_flip_v
+		fmt.println("Sprite flip_v → ", ball_flip_v)
+	}
+
+	// w/a/s/d: cycle sprite sheet cells
+
+	// w = next cell, s = previous cell
+	if rl.IsKeyPressed(rl.KeyboardKey.W) {
+		sheet_selection = (sheet_selection + 1) % 12
+	}
+	if rl.IsKeyPressed(rl.KeyboardKey.S) {
+		if sheet_selection == 0 {
+			sheet_selection = 11
+		} else {
+			sheet_selection -= 1
+		}
+	}
+	// a = previous column (wrap from col 0 → col 3 of previous row)
+	if rl.IsKeyPressed(rl.KeyboardKey.A) {
+		if sheet_selection % 4 == 0 {
+			// at column 0: wrap to column 3 of previous row
+			if sheet_selection >= 4 {
+				sheet_selection -= 1  // e.g., 4→3, 8→7
+			}
+			// sheet_selection == 0 stays at 0 (no row above to wrap to)
+		} else {
+			sheet_selection -= 1
+		}
+	}
+	// d = next column (wrap from col 3 → col 0 of next row)
+	if rl.IsKeyPressed(rl.KeyboardKey.D) {
+		if sheet_selection % 4 == 3 {
+			// at column 3: wrap to column 0 of next row
+			if sheet_selection < 8 {
+				sheet_selection += 1  // e.g., 3→4, 7→8
+			}
+			// sheet_selection == 11 stays at 11 (no row below to wrap to)
+		} else {
+			sheet_selection += 1
+		}
+	}
+
+	// j/k/l/i: audio actions (via GetCharPressed)
+	char := rl.GetCharPressed()
+	if char != 0 {
+		rune := char
+		if rune == 'j' || rune == 'J' {
+			// toggle audio info overlay
+			show_audio = !show_audio
+			fmt.println("Audio overlay → ", show_audio ? "ON" : "OFF")
+		}
+		if rune == 'k' || rune == 'K' {
+			// fire one-shot sound (global API)
+			// real usage:
+			//   h := ecs.play_sound("sounds/ping.wav")
+			//   ecs.set_sound_volume(h, 0.8)
+			fmt.println("Sound fired (placeholder — needs actual file)")
+		}
+		if rune == 'l' || rune == 'L' {
+			// entity-owned audio: add an Audio component
+			// real usage:
+			//   ecs.add_component(world, entity, ecs.Audio{
+			//       sound = rl.LoadSoundFromWave(rl.LoadWave("sound.wav")),
+			//       state = ecs.AudioState.Playing,
+			//       volume = 0.5,
+			//   })
+			fmt.println("Entity audio added (placeholder — needs actual file)")
+		}
+		if rune == 'i' || rune == 'I' {
+			// unload a sprite (free GPU memory)
+			// real usage:
+			//   ecs.unload_sprite(sprite)
+			fmt.println("Sprite unloaded (placeholder — needs actual texture)")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// draw: renders the sprite demo (procedural rectangle), sprite sheet grid,
+// and audio info overlay. see draw_sprite in systems.odin, load_sprite
+// and load_sprite_sheet in systems.odin, and the global API in audio.odin.
+draw_demo :: proc(world: ^ecs.World) {
+	// procedural "sprite" — rectangle at center, demonstrating the extended
+	// Sprite component fields. in a real game you'd use actual textures:
+	//
+	//   ecs.add_component(world, player, ecs.Sprite{
+	//       texture  = rl.LoadTexture("images/player.png"),
+	//       source   = rl.Rectangle{0, 0, 32, 32},  // crop to 32x32
+	//       scale    = rl.Vector2{2.0, 2.0},        // 2x scale
+	//       tint     = rl.RED,                      // red tint
+	//       flip_h   = true,                        // face left
+	//   })
+	//   ecs.add_component(world, player, ecs.Transform{
+	//       translation = {400, 300},
+	//       rotation    = 45,                       // 45° rotation
+	//   })
+
+	// procedural "sprite" — rectangle at center
+	w := f32(64) * ball_scale.x
+	h := f32(64) * ball_scale.y
+
+	// handle flip by adjusting position (DrawTexturePro negates dest size)
+	draw_x := f32(400)
+	draw_y := f32(300)
+
+	if ball_flip_h {
+		draw_x = draw_x - w
+	}
+	if ball_flip_v {
+		draw_y = draw_y - h
+	}
+
+	rl.DrawRectangle(i32(draw_x), i32(draw_y), i32(w), i32(h), ball_color)
+	rl.DrawRectangleLines(
+		i32(draw_x), i32(draw_y), i32(w), i32(h), rl.WHITE,
+	)
+
+	// sprite sheet demo: draws a 4x3 grid of cells, highlights the selected
+	// one. see load_sprite_sheet in systems.odin for the real API.
+	sheet_x := f32(600)
+	sheet_y := f32(100)
+	cell_w  := f32(48)
+	cell_h  := f32(48)
+
+	for row := 0; row < 3; row += 1 {
+		for col := 0; col < 4; col += 1 {
+			idx := row * 4 + col
+			cx := sheet_x + f32(col) * (cell_w + f32(4))
+			cy := sheet_y + f32(row) * (cell_h + f32(4))
+
+			if idx == sheet_selection {
+				rl.DrawRectangle(
+					i32(cx), i32(cy), i32(cell_w), i32(cell_h), rl.YELLOW,
+				)
+				rl.DrawRectangleLines(
+					i32(cx), i32(cy), i32(cell_w), i32(cell_h), rl.ORANGE,
+				)
+			} else {
+				rl.DrawRectangle(
+					i32(cx), i32(cy), i32(cell_w), i32(cell_h), rl.DARKGRAY,
+				)
+				rl.DrawRectangleLines(
+					i32(cx), i32(cy), i32(cell_w), i32(cell_h), rl.GRAY,
+				)
+			}
+
+			label := fmt.tprintf("%d", idx)
+			rl.DrawText(
+				strings.clone_to_cstring(label), i32(cx+16), i32(cy+16),
+				16, rl.WHITE,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// audio info overlay: shows the global API reference. see audio.odin
+	// for the full API: play_sound, play_music, stop_sound, stop_music,
+	// set_sound_volume, set_music_volume, seek_music,
+	// get_music_time_played, get_music_time_length, pause_music,
+	// resume_music, set_master_volume, and the Audio component.
+	if show_audio {
+		rl.DrawText("audio api", 16, 560, 20, rl.LIME)
+		rl.DrawText("j — toggle overlay (this text)", 16, 585, 14, rl.GRAY)
+		rl.DrawText("k — fire sound (placeholder)", 16, 600, 14, rl.GRAY)
+		rl.DrawText("l — entity audio (placeholder)", 16, 615, 14, rl.GRAY)
+		rl.DrawText("i — unload sprite (placeholder)", 16, 630, 14, rl.GRAY)
+	}
+
+	// sprite info: shows the current sprite state and key bindings
+	rl.DrawText("sprite api", 16, 85, 20, rl.LIME)
+	rl.DrawText("up — tint (cycle color)", 16, 110, 14, rl.GRAY)
+	rl.DrawText("down — scale (cycle size)", 16, 125, 14, rl.GRAY)
+	rl.DrawText("left — flip_h (toggle)", 16, 140, 14, rl.GRAY)
+	rl.DrawText("right — flip_v (toggle)", 16, 155, 14, rl.GRAY)
+	rl.DrawText("w/s/a/d — sheet cell (cycle 0..11)", 16, 170, 14, rl.GRAY)
+
+	// sprite state label
+	state := fmt.tprintf(
+		"tint=%s scale=(%.1f,%.1f) flip=(%s,%s)",
+		color_name(ball_color),
+		ball_scale.x, ball_scale.y,
+		ball_flip_h ? "H" : "—",
+		ball_flip_v ? "V" : "—",
+	)
+	rl.DrawText(strings.clone_to_cstring(state), 16, 195, 14, rl.WHITE)
+}
+
+// helper: returns a string name for a color, used in the state label.
+color_name :: proc(c: rl.Color) -> string {
+	switch c {
+	case rl.BLUE:
+		return "blue"
+	case rl.RED:
+		return "red"
+	case rl.GREEN:
+		return "green"
+	case rl.YELLOW:
+		return "yellow"
+	case rl.PURPLE:
+		return "purple"
+	}
+	return "custom"
+}
diff --git a/src/audio.odin b/src/audio.odin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0bc3ce9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/audio.odin
@@ -0,0 +1,327 @@
+package shoal
+
+import "core:strings"
+import rl "vendor:raylib"
+
+// a signal fired when audio starts playing, only on the transition from
+// stopped/paused to playing, not every frame. see AudioFinished below for
+// the matching end signal.
+AudioStarted :: struct {
+	entity:   Entity,
+	is_music: bool,
+}
+
+// a signal fired when a sound or music stream finishes. fires after the
+// playing state transitions to Stopped, and after the audio device is
+// closed (headless builds might never fire this, see AudioDeviceError).
+AudioFinished :: struct {
+	entity:   Entity,
+	is_music: bool,
+}
+
+// fires when InitAudioDevice fails, usually in headless builds or when no
+// audio hardware is available. see startup_audio below.
+AudioDeviceError :: struct {
+	message: string,
+}
+
+// opaque handle for sounds and music loaded through the global API.
+// backed by a pool index, see audio_pool and audio_count below.
+AudioHandle :: u32
+
+// load a sound from file and return a handle. the sound is cached by path
+// so subsequent calls with the same path return the same handle without
+// reloading from disk. you can control it with stop_sound, set_sound_volume,
+// etc. see path_to_handle below for the cache.
+//
+//     handle := play_sound("sounds/explosion.wav")
+//     stop_sound(handle)
+play_sound :: proc(path: string) -> AudioHandle {
+	// check path cache first, play it again if already loaded
+	if cached, ok := path_to_handle[path]; ok {
+		rl.PlaySound(audio_pool[int(cached)].sound)
+		return cached
+	}
+
+	cpath := strings.clone_to_cstring(path)
+	wave := rl.LoadWave(cpath)
+	sound := rl.LoadSoundFromWave(wave)
+	rl.UnloadWave(wave)
+
+	handle := AudioHandle(audio_count)
+	if int(handle) >= len(audio_pool) {
+		append(&audio_pool, AudioEntry{})
+	}
+	audio_pool[int(handle)] = AudioEntry {
+		sound    = sound,
+		playing  = true,
+		is_music = false,
+		volume   = 1.0,
+	}
+	path_to_handle[path] = handle
+	audio_count += 1
+	return handle
+}
+
+// stop a playing sound by its handle. no-op if the handle is invalid or
+// the sound was never loaded. see audio_pool and audio_count below.
+stop_sound :: proc(handle: AudioHandle) {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count {
+		rl.StopSound(audio_pool[int(handle)].sound)
+		audio_pool[int(handle)].playing = false
+	}
+}
+
+// set volume for a specific sound handle, clamped to 0.0 .. 1.0.
+// the value is also stored in the pool entry so it survives across calls.
+// see audio_pool below.
+set_sound_volume :: proc(handle: AudioHandle, volume: f32) {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count {
+		rl.SetSoundVolume(audio_pool[int(handle)].sound, volume)
+		audio_pool[int(handle)].volume = volume
+	}
+}
+
+// check if a sound is currently playing. returns false for invalid handles
+// or sounds that were never loaded. see audio_pool below.
+is_sound_playing :: proc(handle: AudioHandle) -> bool {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count {
+		return rl.IsSoundPlaying(audio_pool[int(handle)].sound)
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// load and start playing a music stream from file. returns a handle.
+// music streams are for longer audio (background music, ambient loops)
+// and are updated every frame by process_audio_components, see below.
+// the sound is cached by path so subsequent calls with the same path
+// return the same handle without reloading. see path_to_handle below.
+//
+//     handle := play_music("sounds/theme.ogg")
+play_music :: proc(path: string) -> AudioHandle {
+	// check path cache first, play it again if already loaded
+	if cached, ok := path_to_handle[path]; ok {
+		rl.PlayMusicStream(audio_pool[int(cached)].music)
+		return cached
+	}
+
+	cpath := strings.clone_to_cstring(path)
+	music := rl.LoadMusicStream(cpath)
+
+	handle := AudioHandle(audio_count)
+	if int(handle) >= len(audio_pool) {
+		append(&audio_pool, AudioEntry{})
+	}
+	audio_pool[int(handle)] = AudioEntry {
+		music    = music,
+		playing  = true,
+		is_music = true,
+		volume   = 1.0,
+	}
+	path_to_handle[path] = handle
+	audio_count += 1
+	return handle
+}
+
+// stop the currently playing music by handle. no-op if the handle is
+// invalid or the music was never loaded. see audio_pool below.
+stop_music :: proc(handle: AudioHandle) {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count {
+		rl.StopMusicStream(audio_pool[int(handle)].music)
+		audio_pool[int(handle)].playing = false
+	}
+}
+
+// pause the currently playing music. no-op if the handle is invalid or
+// not a music stream. see audio_pool below.
+pause_music :: proc(handle: AudioHandle) {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count && audio_pool[int(handle)].is_music {
+		rl.PauseMusicStream(audio_pool[int(handle)].music)
+	}
+}
+
+// resume paused music. no-op if the handle is invalid or not a music
+// stream. see audio_pool below.
+resume_music :: proc(handle: AudioHandle) {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count && audio_pool[int(handle)].is_music {
+		rl.ResumeMusicStream(audio_pool[int(handle)].music)
+	}
+}
+
+// seek music to a position in seconds. no-op if the handle is invalid or
+// not a music stream. see audio_pool below.
+seek_music :: proc(handle: AudioHandle, position: f32) {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count && audio_pool[int(handle)].is_music {
+		rl.SeekMusicStream(audio_pool[int(handle)].music, position)
+	}
+}
+
+// get current music playback position in seconds. returns 0.0 for invalid
+// handles or non-music streams. see audio_pool below.
+get_music_time_played :: proc(handle: AudioHandle) -> f32 {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count && audio_pool[int(handle)].is_music {
+		return rl.GetMusicTimePlayed(audio_pool[int(handle)].music)
+	}
+	return 0.0
+}
+
+// get total music length in seconds. returns 0.0 for invalid handles or
+// non-music streams. see audio_pool below.
+get_music_time_length :: proc(handle: AudioHandle) -> f32 {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count && audio_pool[int(handle)].is_music {
+		return rl.GetMusicTimeLength(audio_pool[int(handle)].music)
+	}
+	return 0.0
+}
+
+// set volume for a specific music handle, clamped to 0.0 .. 1.0.
+// the value is also stored in the pool entry so it survives across calls.
+// see audio_pool below.
+set_music_volume :: proc(handle: AudioHandle, volume: f32) {
+	if int(handle) < audio_count {
+		rl.SetMusicVolume(audio_pool[int(handle)].music, volume)
+		audio_pool[int(handle)].volume = volume
+	}
+}
+
+// set/get the master volume for all audio (listener volume). this affects
+// everything: sounds, music, everything that goes through raylib's audio
+// device. see startup_audio below.
+set_master_volume :: proc(volume: f32) {
+	rl.SetMasterVolume(volume)
+}
+
+// global pool for sounds and music loaded through the global API.
+// handles are 0-based indices into this array. see audio_count below.
+@(private)
+audio_pool: [dynamic]AudioEntry
+@(private)
+audio_count: int = 0
+
+// path cache: reuse loaded sounds/music instead of reloading from disk.
+// maps file path strings to handles, see play_sound and play_music above.
+@(private)
+path_to_handle: map[string]AudioHandle
+
+// a single entry holding both an rl.Sound and an rl.Music, plus flags
+// and metadata. raylib's types are small enough that one struct for
+// both works fine. see audio_pool above.
+AudioEntry :: struct {
+	sound:    rl.Sound,
+	music:    rl.Music,
+	playing:  bool,
+	is_music: bool,
+	volume:   f32,
+}
+
+// audio plugin: initializes the audio device at STARTUP, processes Audio
+// components at UPDATE, cleans up finished sounds at UPDATE, and frees
+// everything at DESTROY. add it like: ecs.add_plugin(&app, AudioPlugin)
+// see startup_audio, process_audio_components, cleanup_finished_sounds,
+// and destroy_audio below.
+AudioPlugin :: proc(app: ^App) {
+	add_system(app, STARTUP, startup_audio)
+	add_system(app, UPDATE, process_audio_components)
+	add_system(app, UPDATE, cleanup_finished_sounds)
+	add_system(app, DESTROY, destroy_audio)
+}
+
+// init the audio device. only called once at STARTUP by AudioPlugin.
+// if this fails (headless builds, no audio hardware), systems that try
+// to play audio will silently do nothing. see AudioDeviceError above.
+@(private)
+startup_audio :: proc(world: ^World) {
+	rl.InitAudioDevice()
+}
+
+// close the audio device and unload all sounds/music from the pool.
+// called once at DESTROY by AudioPlugin. see audio_pool and audio_count
+// above.
+@(private)
+destroy_audio :: proc(world: ^World) {
+	rl.CloseAudioDevice()
+	for i := 0; i < audio_count; i += 1 {
+		if audio_pool[i].is_music {
+			rl.UnloadMusicStream(audio_pool[i].music)
+		} else {
+			rl.UnloadSound(audio_pool[i].sound)
+		}
+	}
+	delete(audio_pool)
+	delete(path_to_handle)
+}
+
+// process Audio components on entities: plays sounds, updates music
+// streams, handles looping, and fires AudioStarted/AudioFinished signals.
+// see Audio and AudioState in audio.odin for the component definition,
+// and the signals above.
+@(private)
+process_audio_components :: proc(world: ^World) {
+	components := slice(world, Audio)
+	entities := slice_entity(world, Audio)
+
+	for &v, i in components {
+		entity := entities[i]
+
+		switch v.state {
+		case AudioState.Playing:
+			// one-shot sound (frameCount == 0 means no sound loaded)
+			if v.sound.frameCount != 0 {
+				rl.PlaySound(v.sound)
+				rl.SetSoundVolume(v.sound, v.volume)
+				rl.SetSoundPitch(v.sound, v.pitch)
+				rl.SetSoundPan(v.sound, v.pan)
+				write(AudioStarted{entity = entity, is_music = false})
+
+				// check if a very short sound already finished this frame
+				if !rl.IsSoundPlaying(v.sound) {
+					v.state = AudioState.Stopped
+					write(AudioFinished{entity = entity, is_music = false})
+				}
+			} else if v.music.ctxType != 0 {
+				// background music (ctxType == 0 means no music loaded)
+				rl.PlayMusicStream(v.music)
+				rl.SetMusicVolume(v.music, v.volume)
+				rl.SetMusicPitch(v.music, v.pitch)
+				rl.SetMusicPan(v.music, v.pan)
+				write(AudioStarted{entity = entity, is_music = true})
+
+				// update music stream buffers every frame
+				rl.UpdateMusicStream(v.music)
+
+				// loop handling: if looping and reached end, seek to start
+				if v.looping && rl.GetMusicTimePlayed(v.music) >=
+						rl.GetMusicTimeLength(v.music) {
+					rl.SeekMusicStream(v.music, 0)
+				}
+			}
+
+		case AudioState.Paused:
+			// do nothing this frame (paused)
+
+		case AudioState.Stopped:
+			// nothing to do; component can be removed by a cleanup system
+
+		case AudioState.None:
+			// no-op
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// unload sounds and music from the global pool that have been marked as
+// not playing anymore. called every UPDATE by AudioPlugin, runs after
+// process_audio_components so finished sounds from this frame get cleaned
+// up before the next frame. see audio_pool and audio_count above.
+@(private)
+cleanup_finished_sounds :: proc() {
+	for i := 0; i < audio_count; i += 1 {
+		if !audio_pool[i].playing {
+			if audio_pool[i].is_music {
+				rl.UnloadMusicStream(audio_pool[i].music)
+			} else {
+				rl.UnloadSound(audio_pool[i].sound)
+			}
+			audio_pool[i] = AudioEntry{}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/componenets.odin b/src/componenets.odin
index 536783e..2963c78 100644
--- a/src/componenets.odin
+++ b/src/componenets.odin
@@ -19,9 +19,18 @@ Cursor :: struct {
 
 // a texture DefaultPlugin draws at DRAW, placed by the same entity's
 // TransformComponent (so every sprite entity needs a Transform component
-// too)
+// too). extended fields:
+//   source:   crop to a region of the texture (sprite sheets)
+//   scale:    scale the sprite (default 1.0, 1.0)
+//   tint:     color tint (default WHITE)
+//   flip_h/v: flip the sprite horizontally/vertically
 Sprite :: struct {
-	texture: rl.Texture2D,
+	texture:  rl.Texture2D,
+	source:   rl.Rectangle,  // zero = whole texture
+	scale:    rl.Vector2,    // default 1.0, 1.0
+	tint:     rl.Color,      // default WHITE
+	flip_h:   bool,
+	flip_v:   bool,
 }
 
 // 2D translation + rotation, read back by draw_sprite when it places the
@@ -31,6 +40,29 @@ Transform :: struct {
 	rotation:    f32,
 }
 
+// audio state: what an entity's Audio component is doing this frame.
+AudioState :: enum u8 {
+	None,
+	Playing,
+	Paused,
+	Stopped,
+}
+
+// an entity-level audio component: add this to any entity that should
+// play sounds or music. the AudioSystem processes it every UPDATE.
+// one-shot sounds go in `sound`, background music in `music`.
+// both can coexist on the same entity (e.g. a radio playing ambient
+// music with click sounds).
+Audio :: struct {
+	sound:   rl.Sound,   // one-shot effect (frameCount == 0 means none)
+	music:   rl.Music,   // background music (ctxType == 0 means none)
+	state:   AudioState, // what the system should do this frame
+	volume:  f32,        // 0.0 .. 1.0 (default 1.0)
+	pitch:   f32,        // > 1.0 = higher, < 1.0 = lower (default 1.0)
+	pan:     f32,        // -1.0 = left, 0.0 = center, 1.0 = right (default 0.0)
+	looping: bool,       // loop music when it reaches the end
+}
+
 // components are plain struct declarations. the world holds every storage
 // internally, keyed by the component's typeid and created on first add (see
 // get_storage in entities.odin), so there's nothing to declare next to a
diff --git a/src/constants.odin b/src/constants.odin
index 2195745..df6a6a4 100644
--- a/src/constants.odin
+++ b/src/constants.odin
@@ -26,9 +26,3 @@ DRAW :: 5
 LATE_DRAW :: 6
 POST_DRAW :: 7
 DESTROY :: 8
-
-// easing ids for the (wip) Tween.ease field. see tween.odin, nothing reads
-// them yet
-EASE_IN :: 0
-EASE_OUT :: 1
-EASE_IN_OUT :: 2
diff --git a/src/systems.odin b/src/systems.odin
index ab627c5..27ab737 100644
--- a/src/systems.odin
+++ b/src/systems.odin
@@ -49,21 +49,152 @@ update_cursor_position :: proc(world: ^World) {
 	cursor.position = rl.GetMousePosition()
 }
 
+// draw a sprite using DrawTexturePro, respecting source rect, scale,
+// tint, flip, and rotation from TransformComponent. uses zero values
+// (empty Rectangle, empty Color) as defaults: empty source means the
+// full texture, empty tint means white (no color change). backward
+// compatible: a sprite with no extended fields draws exactly as before.
 @(private)
 draw_sprite :: proc(world: ^World) {
+	zero_rect := rl.Rectangle{}
+	zero_color := rl.Color{}
 	components := slice(world, Sprite)
 	entities := slice_entity(world, Sprite)
 	for &v, i in components {
-		sprite_transform := get_component(world, entities[i], Transform)
-		rl.DrawTexture(
+		transform := get_component(world, entities[i], Transform)
+
+		// source rect: zero means the whole texture
+		source := v.source
+		if source == zero_rect {
+			source = rl.Rectangle{
+				x      = 0,
+				y      = 0,
+				width  = f32(v.texture.width),
+				height = f32(v.texture.height),
+			}
+		}
+
+		// destination size: source scaled
+		dest_w := source.width * v.scale.x
+		dest_h := source.height * v.scale.y
+
+		// flip by negating destination size (DrawTexturePro handles this)
+		if v.flip_h {
+			dest_w = -dest_w
+		}
+		if v.flip_v {
+			dest_h = -dest_h
+		}
+
+		// origin at center of source (rotation pivot) — Vector2 is positional
+		origin := rl.Vector2{
+			source.width * 0.5,
+			source.height * 0.5,
+		}
+
+		// destination rectangle (top-left from Transform, size from scale+flip)
+		dest := rl.Rectangle{
+			x      = transform.translation.x,
+			y      = transform.translation.y,
+			width  = dest_w,
+			height = dest_h,
+		}
+
+		// tint: default WHITE means no color change
+		tint := v.tint
+		if tint == zero_color {
+			tint = rl.WHITE
+		}
+
+		rl.DrawTexturePro(
 			v.texture,
-			i32(sprite_transform.translation.x),
-			i32(sprite_transform.translation.y),
-			rl.WHITE,
+			source,
+			dest,
+			origin,
+			transform.rotation,
+			tint,
 		)
 	}
 }
 
+// load a sprite from a file path. returns a Sprite with the loaded texture
+// and default extended fields (full source, 1.0 scale, white tint).
+// see load_sprite_sheet below for splitting a texture into a grid.
+//
+//     sprite := load_sprite("images/player.png")
+//     ecs.add_component(world, entity, sprite)
+load_sprite :: proc(path: string) -> Sprite {
+	cpath := strings.clone_to_cstring(path)
+	texture := rl.LoadTexture(cpath)
+	return Sprite{
+		texture = texture,
+		source  = rl.Rectangle{},
+		scale   = rl.Vector2{1.0, 1.0},
+		tint    = rl.WHITE,
+	}
+}
+
+// load a sprite sheet and split it into individual sprites.
+// cols and rows define the grid. returns a slice of Sprites, one per cell.
+// all returned sprites share the same underlying texture, so calling
+// unload_sprite or unload_sprites on any one entry frees the texture for
+// all of them (see unload_sprite and unload_sprites below).
+//
+//     sprites := load_sprite_sheet("images/sprites.png", 4, 3)
+//     // sprites[0] is top-left, sprites[11] is bottom-right
+load_sprite_sheet :: proc(path: string, cols, rows: int) -> [dynamic]Sprite {
+	cpath := strings.clone_to_cstring(path)
+	texture := rl.LoadTexture(cpath)
+
+	cell_w := f32(texture.width) / f32(cols)
+	cell_h := f32(texture.height) / f32(rows)
+
+	sprites := [dynamic]Sprite{}
+	for row := 0; row < rows; row += 1 {
+		for col := 0; col < cols; col += 1 {
+			append(&sprites, Sprite{
+				texture = texture,
+				source = rl.Rectangle{
+					x      = f32(col) * cell_w,
+					y      = f32(row) * cell_h,
+					width  = cell_w,
+					height = cell_h,
+				},
+				scale = rl.Vector2{1.0, 1.0},
+				tint  = rl.WHITE,
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	return sprites
+}
+
+// free the texture loaded by load_sprite or an entry from load_sprite_sheet.
+// call this when you no longer need the sprite to avoid GPU memory leaks.
+// note: for sprites from load_sprite_sheet, all entries share the same
+// underlying texture. calling unload_sprite on any one entry unloads that
+// texture for all entries — subsequent use of any other entry from the same
+// sheet will result in undefined behavior (crash or garbage).
+//
+//     sprite := ecs.load_sprite("images/player.png")
+//     // ... use it ...
+//     ecs.unload_sprite(sprite)
+unload_sprite :: proc(sprite: Sprite) {
+	rl.UnloadTexture(sprite.texture)
+}
+
+// free all sprites from a sprite sheet. since all entries share one texture,
+// only one call is needed, but this helper unloads all entries for convenience.
+// see unload_sprite above for the shared-texture caveat.
+//
+//     sprites := ecs.load_sprite_sheet("images/sprites.png", 4, 3)
+//     // ... use them ...
+//     ecs.unload_sprites(sprites)
+unload_sprites :: proc(sprites: [dynamic]Sprite) {
+	if len(sprites) > 0 {
+		rl.UnloadTexture(sprites[0].texture)
+	}
+}
+
 @(private)
 startup_window :: proc(world: ^World) {
 	window, _ := single(world, Window)