diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
index 422edf20f6..b3afb462a6 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
@@ -86,10 +86,16 @@ namespace OpenRA
 		public const int Timestep = 40;
 		public const int TimestepJankThreshold = 250; // Don't catch up for delays larger than 250ms
 
+		public static event Action<string, int> OnRemoteDirectConnect = (a, b) => { };
 		public static event Action<OrderManager> ConnectionStateChanged = _ => { };
 		static ConnectionState lastConnectionState = ConnectionState.PreConnecting;
 		public static int LocalClientId { get { return orderManager.Connection.LocalClientId; } }
 
+		public static void RemoteDirectConnect(string host, int port)
+		{
+			OnRemoteDirectConnect(host, port);
+		}
+
 		// Hacky workaround for orderManager visibility
 		public static Widget OpenWindow(World world, string widget)
 		{
@@ -261,6 +267,9 @@ namespace OpenRA
 			LobbyInfoChanged = () => { };
 			ConnectionStateChanged = om => { };
 			BeforeGameStart = () => { };
+			OnRemoteDirectConnect = (a, b) => { };
+			delayedActions = new ActionQueue();
+
 			Ui.ResetAll();
 
 			if (worldRenderer != null)
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/LoadScreens/BlankLoadScreen.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/LoadScreens/BlankLoadScreen.cs
index 1649fc3986..a8fcaa3e1a 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/LoadScreens/BlankLoadScreen.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/LoadScreens/BlankLoadScreen.cs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using OpenRA.FileSystem;
 using OpenRA.Widgets;
+using OpenRA.Mods.Common.Widgets.Logic;
 
 namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.LoadScreens
 {
@@ -57,6 +58,23 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.LoadScreens
 				return;
 			}
 
+			// Join a server directly
+			var connect = args != null ? args.GetValue("Launch.Connect", null) : null;
+			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(connect))
+			{
+				var parts = connect.Split(':');
+
+				if (parts.Length == 2)
+				{
+					var host = parts[0];
+					var port = Exts.ParseIntegerInvariant(parts[1]);
+					Game.LoadShellMap();
+					Game.RemoteDirectConnect(host, port);
+					return;
+				}
+			}
+
+			// Load a replay directly
 			var replay = args != null ? args.GetValue("Launch.Replay", null) : null;
 			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(replay))
 			{
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Widgets/Logic/MainMenuLogic.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Widgets/Logic/MainMenuLogic.cs
index 43d78833cf..d037ee8bf3 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Widgets/Logic/MainMenuLogic.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Widgets/Logic/MainMenuLogic.cs
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA.Widgets.Logic
 				Ui.OpenWindow("SERVERBROWSER_PANEL", new WidgetArgs
 				{
 					{ "onStart", RemoveShellmapUI },
-					{ "onExit", () => menuType = MenuType.Main }
+					{ "onExit", () => menuType = MenuType.Main },
+					{ "directConnectHost", null },
+					{ "directConnectPort", 0 },
 				});
 			};
 
@@ -173,6 +175,18 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA.Widgets.Logic
 
 				newsButton.IsHighlighted = () => newsHighlighted && Game.LocalTick % 50 < 25;
 			}
+
+			Game.OnRemoteDirectConnect += (host, port) =>
+			{
+				menuType = MenuType.None;
+				Ui.OpenWindow("SERVERBROWSER_PANEL", new WidgetArgs
+				{
+					{ "onStart", RemoveShellmapUI },
+					{ "onExit", () => menuType = MenuType.Main },
+					{ "directConnectHost", host },
+					{ "directConnectPort", port },
+				});
+			};
 		}
 
 		void SetNewsStatus(string message)
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Widgets/Logic/ServerBrowserLogic.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Widgets/Logic/ServerBrowserLogic.cs
index 114f823c0e..96bf17574f 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Widgets/Logic/ServerBrowserLogic.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Widgets/Logic/ServerBrowserLogic.cs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA.Widgets.Logic
 		}
 
 		[ObjectCreator.UseCtor]
-		public ServerBrowserLogic(Widget widget, Action onStart, Action onExit)
+		public ServerBrowserLogic(Widget widget, Action onStart, Action onExit, string directConnectHost, int directConnectPort)
 		{
 			panel = widget;
 			this.onStart = onStart;
@@ -116,6 +116,18 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA.Widgets.Logic
 			}
 
 			RefreshServerList();
+
+			if (directConnectHost != null)
+			{
+				// The connection window must be opened at the end of the tick for the widget hierarchy to
+				// work out, but we also want to prevent the server browser from flashing visible for one tick.
+				widget.Visible = false;
+				Game.RunAfterTick(() =>
+				{
+					ConnectionLogic.Connect(directConnectHost, directConnectPort, "", OpenLobby, DoNothing);
+					widget.Visible = true;
+				});
+			}
 		}
 
 		void RefreshServerList()