diff --git a/src/runtime-three/third-person-navigation-controller.ts b/src/runtime-three/third-person-navigation-controller.ts
index 2b4a3780..a7ebb4e5 100644
--- a/src/runtime-three/third-person-navigation-controller.ts
+++ b/src/runtime-three/third-person-navigation-controller.ts
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ export class ThirdPersonNavigationController implements NavigationController {
   private inFogVolume = false;
   private pointerLocked = false;
   private suppressNextPointerLockError = false;
+  private escapeLockedForTargeting = false;
   private dragging = false;
   private pointerLookInputPending = false;
   private lastPointerClientX = 0;
@@ -307,6 +308,7 @@ export class ThirdPersonNavigationController implements NavigationController {
 
     this.pointerLocked = false;
     this.suppressNextPointerLockError = false;
+    this.releaseEscapeKeyLock();
     this.dragging = false;
     this.jumpPressed = false;
     this.latestJumpStarted = false;
@@ -357,6 +359,7 @@ export class ThirdPersonNavigationController implements NavigationController {
     this.inFogVolume = false;
     this.pointerLocked = false;
     this.suppressNextPointerLockError = false;
+    this.escapeLockedForTargeting = false;
     this.dragging = false;
     this.pointerLookInputPending = false;
     this.lastPointerClientX = 0;
@@ -510,6 +513,8 @@ export class ThirdPersonNavigationController implements NavigationController {
       );
     }
 
+    this.syncEscapeKeyLock();
+
     const movementYawRadians =
       cameraDrivenExternally
         ? this.context.getCameraYawRadians()
@@ -790,6 +795,11 @@ export class ThirdPersonNavigationController implements NavigationController {
       document.pointerLockElement === this.context.domElement;
     this.pointerLocked = pointerLocked;
     this.dragging = false;
+
+    if (!pointerLocked) {
+      this.releaseEscapeKeyLock();
+    }
+
     this.context.setRuntimeMessage(
       pointerLocked
         ? "Third Person mouse look active. Scroll to zoom, use the right stick for gamepad camera look, and press Escape to release the cursor."
@@ -798,6 +808,85 @@ export class ThirdPersonNavigationController implements NavigationController {
     this.publishTelemetry();
   }
 
+  private syncEscapeKeyLock() {
+    if (typeof navigator === "undefined") {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const keyboard = (
+      navigator as Navigator & {
+        keyboard?: {
+          lock?: (keys?: string[]) => Promise<void>;
+          unlock?: () => void;
+        };
+      }
+    ).keyboard;
+
+    const shouldLockEscape =
+      this.pointerLocked &&
+      this.context?.resolveThirdPersonTargetAssist?.() !== null &&
+      typeof keyboard?.lock === "function";
+
+    if (!shouldLockEscape) {
+      this.releaseEscapeKeyLock();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (this.escapeLockedForTargeting) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    void keyboard
+      .lock?.(["Escape"])
+      .then(() => {
+        this.escapeLockedForTargeting = true;
+      })
+      .catch(() => {});
+  }
+
+  private releaseEscapeKeyLock() {
+    if (!this.escapeLockedForTargeting || typeof navigator === "undefined") {
+      this.escapeLockedForTargeting = false;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const keyboard = (
+      navigator as Navigator & {
+        keyboard?: {
+          unlock?: () => void;
+        };
+      }
+    ).keyboard;
+
+    keyboard?.unlock?.();
+    this.escapeLockedForTargeting = false;
+  }
+
+  private requestPointerLock() {
+    if (this.context === null) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const pointerLockCapableElement = this.context
+      .domElement as HTMLCanvasElement & {
+      requestPointerLock?: () => void | Promise<void>;
+    };
+
+    if (typeof pointerLockCapableElement.requestPointerLock !== "function") {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const pointerLockResult = pointerLockCapableElement.requestPointerLock();
+
+    if (pointerLockResult instanceof Promise) {
+      pointerLockResult.catch(() => {
+        this.context?.setRuntimeMessage(
+          "Pointer lock request was denied. Drag orbit remains available in Third Person."
+        );
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
   private resolveHorizontalMouseLookSign() {
     return this.context?.getRuntimeScene().playerStart
       ?.invertMouseCameraHorizontal === true
@@ -877,22 +966,7 @@ export class ThirdPersonNavigationController implements NavigationController {
 
     if (document.pointerLockElement !== this.context.domElement) {
       this.suppressNextPointerLockError = false;
-      const pointerLockCapableElement = this.context
-        .domElement as HTMLCanvasElement & {
-        requestPointerLock?: () => void | Promise<void>;
-      };
-
-      if (typeof pointerLockCapableElement.requestPointerLock === "function") {
-        const pointerLockResult = pointerLockCapableElement.requestPointerLock();
-
-        if (pointerLockResult instanceof Promise) {
-          pointerLockResult.catch(() => {
-            this.context?.setRuntimeMessage(
-              "Pointer lock request was denied. Drag orbit remains available in Third Person."
-            );
-          });
-        }
-      }
+      this.requestPointerLock();
     }
 
     if (
@@ -1024,8 +1098,17 @@ export class ThirdPersonNavigationController implements NavigationController {
   };
 
   private handlePointerLockChange = () => {
+    const wasPointerLocked = this.pointerLocked;
     this.suppressNextPointerLockError = false;
     this.syncPointerLockState();
+
+    if (
+      wasPointerLocked &&
+      !this.pointerLocked &&
+      this.context?.handleThirdPersonPointerLockReleased?.() === true
+    ) {
+      this.requestPointerLock();
+    }
   };
 
   private handlePointerLockError = () => {