diff --git a/expcore/external.lua b/expcore/external.lua
index 3a54b195..26751fa0 100644
--- a/expcore/external.lua
+++ b/expcore/external.lua
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ end)
 @treturn boolean If the external data is valid, if false you should not call any other methods from External
 
 @usage-- Check that external data is valid
-if not External.validate() then
+if not External.valid() then
     -- error code here
 end
 
 ]]
-function External.validate()
-    if ext ~= nil and var ~= nil then
+function External.valid()
+    if ext ~= nil and ext == global.ext then
         return true
     elseif global.ext ~= nil then
         ext = global.ext
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ local servers = External.get_servers()
 
 ]]
 function External.get_servers()
-    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.validate() to ensure external data exists.')
+    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.valid() to ensure external data exists.')
     return assert(ext.servers, 'No server list was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
 end
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ local servers = External.get_servers_filtered(public)
 
 ]]
 function External.get_servers_filtered(search)
-    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.validate() to ensure external data exists.')
+    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.valid() to ensure external data exists.')
     local servers = assert(ext.servers, 'No server list was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
     local found_servers = {}
     search = search:lower()
@@ -79,14 +79,14 @@ function External.get_servers_filtered(search)
 end
 
 --[[-- Gets the details of the current server
-@treturn table The details for the current server
+@treturn table The details of the current server
 
 @usage-- Get the details of the current server
 local server = External.get_current_server()
 
 ]]
 function External.get_current_server()
-    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.validate() to ensure external data exists.')
+    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.valid() to ensure external data exists.')
     local servers = assert(ext.servers, 'No server list was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
     local server_id = assert(ext.current, 'No current id was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
     return servers[server_id]
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ local server = External.get_server_details('eu-01')
 
 ]]
 function External.get_server_details(server_id)
-    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.validate() to ensure external data exists.')
+    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.valid() to ensure external data exists.')
     local servers = assert(ext.servers, 'No server list was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
     return servers[server_id]
 end
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ local status = External.get_server_status('eu-01')
 
 ]]
 function External.get_server_status(server_id)
-    assert(var, 'No external data was found, use External.validate() to ensure external data exists.')
-    local servers = assert(ext.status, 'No server status was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
+    assert(var, 'No external data was found, use External.valid() to ensure external data exists.')
+    local servers = assert(var.status, 'No server status was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
     return servers[server_id]
 end
 
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ local server_ups = External.get_server_ups()
 
 ]]
 function External.get_server_ups()
-    assert(var, 'No external data was found, use External.validate() to ensure external data exists.')
+    assert(var, 'No external data was found, use External.valid() to ensure external data exists.')
     return assert(var.server_ups, 'No server ups was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
 end
 
@@ -143,14 +143,14 @@ External.request_connection(player, 'eu-01', true)
 
 ]]
 function External.request_connection(player, server_id, self_requested)
-    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.validate() to ensure external data exists.')
+    assert(ext, 'No external data was found, use External.valid() to ensure external data exists.')
     local servers = assert(ext.servers, 'No server list was found, please ensure that the external service is running')
     local server = servers[server_id] or { address = server_id, name = 'Unknown Server', description = 'This server is not ran by us, please check the address of the server.' }
     local message = 'Please press the connect button below to join.'
-    if not self_requested then message = 'You have been asked to switch to a different server. '..message end
+    if not self_requested then message = 'You have been asked to switch to a different server.\n'..message end
     player.connect_to_server{
         address = server.address,
-        name = '\n[color=orange]'..server.name..'[/color]\n',
+        name = '\n[color=orange][font=heading-1]'..server.name..'[/font][/color]\n',
         description = server.description..'\n'..message
     }
 end
diff --git a/locale/en/gui.cfg b/locale/en/gui.cfg
index 3305c3fc..59c58b7e 100644
--- a/locale/en/gui.cfg
+++ b/locale/en/gui.cfg
@@ -146,6 +146,11 @@ servers-7=S7 Event
 servers-d7=This is our event server, we try to run events at least once per week.
 servers-8=S8 T̷-̶s̶-̴:̷
 servers-d8=N̵o̴ ̶o̷-̶e̵ ̴k̸n̷-̶w̵s̸ ̴w̷h̷a̶-̶ ̷h̴a̴p̷p̴e̷n̷s̸ ̷o̶n̴ ̷t̶h̴-̶s̶ ̷s̷e̶r̸v̸e̴r̷,̶ ̸i̸t̴ ̷m̶-̸g̴h̶t̷ ̸n̸-̶t̵ ̷e̴v̸e̸n̶t̷ ̵-̷x̴i̵s̶t̸.̸
+servers-connect-Offline=Server is currently offline
+servers-connect-Version=Server is on a different version: __1__
+servers-connect-Password=Server requires a password
+servers-connect-Modded=Server requires mods to be downloaded
+servers-connect-Online=Server is online
 servers-external=External Links
 servers-open-in-browser=Open in your browser
 backers-tab=Backers
diff --git a/modules/commands/interface.lua b/modules/commands/interface.lua
index 9b73be17..41d2942d 100644
--- a/modules/commands/interface.lua
+++ b/modules/commands/interface.lua
@@ -5,25 +5,23 @@
 
 local Commands = require 'expcore.commands' --- @dep expcore.commands
 local Global = require 'utils.global' --- @dep utils.global
-local Common = require 'expcore.common' --- @dep expcore.common
 
 -- modules that are loaded into the interface env to be accessed
 local interface_modules = {
-    ['Game']='utils.game',
-    ['_C']=Common,
-    ['Commands']=Commands,
-    ['output']=Common.player_return,
-    ['Group']='expcore.permission_groups',
-    ['Roles']='expcore.roles',
-    ['Gui']='expcore.gui',
-    ['Async']='expcore.async',
-    ['Datastore']='expcore.datastore'
+    ['Commands'] = Commands,
+    ['output'] = _C.player_return,
+    ['Group'] = 'expcore.permission_groups',
+    ['Roles'] = 'expcore.roles',
+    ['Gui'] = 'expcore.gui',
+    ['Async'] = 'expcore.async',
+    ['Datastore'] = 'expcore.datastore',
+    ['External'] = 'expcore.external'
 }
 
 -- loads all the modules given in the above table
 for key, value in pairs(interface_modules) do
     if type(value) == 'string' then
-        interface_modules[key] = Common.opt_require(value)
+        interface_modules[key] = _C.opt_require(value)
     end
 end
 
diff --git a/modules/gui/readme.lua b/modules/gui/readme.lua
index 8938aedb..b74d4a0b 100644
--- a/modules/gui/readme.lua
+++ b/modules/gui/readme.lua
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
     @alias readme
 ]]
 
+local Event = require 'utils.event' --- @dep utils.event
 local Gui = require 'expcore.gui' --- @dep expcore.gui
 local Roles = require 'expcore.roles' --- @dep expcore.roles
 local Commands = require 'expcore.commands' --- @dep expcore.commands
 local PlayerData = require 'expcore.player_data' --- @dep expcore.player_data
-local Event = require 'utils.event' --- @dep utils.event
-local Game = require 'utils.game' --- @dep utils.game
+local External = require 'expcore.external' --- @dep expcore.external
 local format_time = _C.format_time --- @dep expcore.common
 local format_number = require('util').format_number --- @dep util
 
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ local function Tab(caption, tooltip, element_define)
     tabs[#tabs+1] = {caption, tooltip, element_define}
 end
 
-local frame_width = 595 -- controls width of top descritions
+local frame_width = 595 -- controls width of top descriptions
 local title_width = 270 -- controls the centering of the titles
-local scroll_hieght = 275 -- controls the height of the scrolls
+local scroll_height = 275 -- controls the height of the scrolls
 
 --- Sub content area used within the content areas
 -- @element sub_content
@@ -70,15 +70,52 @@ Gui.element{
 }
 :style{
     padding = {1, 3},
-    maximal_height = scroll_hieght,
+    maximal_height = scroll_height,
     horizontally_stretchable = true,
 }
 
+--- Used to connect to servers in server list
+-- @element join_server
+local join_server =
+Gui.element(function(event_trigger, parent, server_id, wrong_version)
+    local status = wrong_version and 'Version' or External.get_server_status(server_id) or 'Offline'
+    local flow = parent.add{ name = server_id, type = 'flow' }
+    local button = flow.add{
+        name = event_trigger,
+        type = 'sprite-button',
+        sprite = 'utility/circuit_network_panel_white', --- network panel white, warning white, download white
+        hovered_sprite = 'utility/circuit_network_panel_black', --- network panel black, warning black, download black
+        tooltip = {'readme.servers-connect-'..status, wrong_version}
+    }
+
+    if status == 'Offline' then
+        button.enabled = false
+        button.sprite = 'utility/circuit_network_panel_black'
+    elseif status == 'Version' then
+        button.enabled = false
+        button.sprite = 'utility/shuffle'
+    elseif status == 'Password' then
+        button.sprite = 'utility/warning_white'
+        button.hovered_sprite = 'utility/warning'
+    elseif status == 'Modded' then
+        button.sprite = 'utility/downloading_white'
+        button.hovered_sprite = 'utility/downloading'
+    end
+
+    return button
+end)
+:style(Gui.sprite_style(20, -1))
+:on_click(function(player, element, _)
+    local server_id = element.parent.name
+    External.request_connection(player, server_id, true)
+end)
+
 --- Content area for the welcome tab
 -- @element welcome_content
 Tab({'readme.welcome-tab'}, {'readme.welcome-tooltip'},
 Gui.element(function(_, parent)
-    local server_details = global.server_details or { name='ExpGaming S0 - Local', description='Failed to load description: disconnected from sync api.', reset_time='Non Set', branch='Unknown'}
+    local server_details = { name='ExpGaming S0 - Local', welcome='Failed to load description: disconnected from external api.', reset_time='Non Set', branch='Unknown'}
+    if External.valid() then server_details = External.get_current_server() end
     local container = parent.add{ type='flow', direction='vertical' }
     local player = Gui.get_player_from_element(parent)
 
@@ -91,7 +128,7 @@ Gui.element(function(_, parent)
 
     -- Add the title and description to the top flow
     Gui.title_label(top_vertical_flow, 62, 'Welcome to '..server_details.name)
-    Gui.centered_label(top_vertical_flow, 380, server_details.description)
+    Gui.centered_label(top_vertical_flow, 380, server_details.welcome)
     Gui.bar(container)
 
     -- Get the names of the roles the player has
@@ -124,7 +161,7 @@ Gui.element(function(_, parent)
     container.add{ type='flow' }
 
     -- Add a table for the rules
-    local rules = Gui.scroll_table(container, scroll_hieght, 1)
+    local rules = Gui.scroll_table(container, scroll_height, 1)
     rules.style = 'bordered_table'
     rules.style.cell_padding = 4
 
@@ -150,7 +187,7 @@ Gui.element(function(_, parent)
     container.add{ type='flow' }
 
     -- Add a table for the commands
-    local commands = Gui.scroll_table(container, scroll_hieght, 2)
+    local commands = Gui.scroll_table(container, scroll_height, 2)
     commands.style = 'bordered_table'
     commands.style.cell_padding = 0
 
@@ -177,13 +214,23 @@ Gui.element(function(_, parent)
 
     -- Draw the scroll
     local scroll_pane = title_table_scroll(container)
-    scroll_pane.style.maximal_height = scroll_hieght + 20 -- the text is a bit shorter
+    scroll_pane.style.maximal_height = scroll_height + 20 -- the text is a bit shorter
 
     -- Add the factorio servers
-    local factorio_servers = title_table(scroll_pane, 225, {'readme.servers-factorio'}, 2)
-    for i = 1, 8 do
-        Gui.centered_label(factorio_servers, 110, {'readme.servers-'..i})
-        Gui.centered_label(factorio_servers, 460, {'readme.servers-d'..i})
+    if External.valid() then
+        local factorio_servers = title_table(scroll_pane, 225, {'readme.servers-factorio'}, 3)
+        local current_version = External.get_current_server().version
+        for server_id, server in pairs(External.get_servers()) do
+            Gui.centered_label(factorio_servers, 110, server.short_name)
+            Gui.centered_label(factorio_servers, 436, server.description)
+            join_server(factorio_servers, server_id, current_version ~= server.version and server.version)
+        end
+    else
+        local factorio_servers = title_table(scroll_pane, 225, {'readme.servers-factorio'}, 2)
+        for i = 1, 8 do
+            Gui.centered_label(factorio_servers, 110, {'readme.servers-'..i})
+            Gui.centered_label(factorio_servers, 460, {'readme.servers-d'..i})
+        end
     end
 
     -- Add the external links
@@ -418,7 +465,7 @@ end)
 
 --- When a player joins the game for the first time show this gui
 Event.add(defines.events.on_player_created, function(event)
-    local player = Game.get_player_by_index(event.player_index)
+    local player = game.players[event.player_index]
     local element = readme(player.gui.center)
     element.pane.selected_tab_index = 1
     player.opened = element
@@ -426,7 +473,7 @@ end)
 
 --- When a player joins clear center unless the player has something open
 Event.add(defines.events.on_player_joined_game, function(event)
-    local player = Game.get_player_by_index(event.player_index)
+    local player = game.players[event.player_index]
     if not player.opened then
         player.gui.center.clear()
     end
@@ -434,7 +481,7 @@ end)
 
 --- When a player respawns clear center unless the player has something open
 Event.add(defines.events.on_player_respawned, function(event)
-    local player = Game.get_player_by_index(event.player_index)
+    local player = game.players[event.player_index]
     if not player.opened then
         player.gui.center.clear()
     end
diff --git a/modules/gui/server-ups.lua b/modules/gui/server-ups.lua
index edb4793b..798ac45e 100644
--- a/modules/gui/server-ups.lua
+++ b/modules/gui/server-ups.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 local Gui = require 'expcore.gui' --- @dep expcore.gui
 local Event = require 'utils.event' --- @dep utils.event
 local Commands = require 'expcore.commands' --- @dep expcore.commands
+local External = require 'expcore.external' --- @dep expcore.external
 
 --- Stores the visible state of server ups
 local PlayerData = require 'expcore.player_data' --- @dep expcore.player_data
@@ -42,7 +43,8 @@ Commands.new_command('server-ups', 'Toggle the server UPS display')
 :add_alias('sups', 'ups')
 :register(function(player)
     local label = player.gui.screen[server_ups.name]
-    if not global.ext or not global.ext.server_ups then
+    if not External.valid() then
+        label.visible = false
         return Commands.error{'expcom-server-ups.no-ext'}
     end
     label.visible = not label.visible
@@ -69,8 +71,8 @@ end)
 
 -- Update the caption for all online players
 Event.on_nth_tick(60, function()
-    if global.ext and global.ext.server_ups then
-        local caption = 'SUPS = '..global.ext.server_ups
+    if External.valid() then
+        local caption = 'SUPS = '..External.get_server_ups()
         for _, player in pairs(game.connected_players) do
             player.gui.screen[server_ups.name].caption = caption
         end