diff --git a/Common/GPU/Vulkan/VulkanFramebuffer.cpp b/Common/GPU/Vulkan/VulkanFramebuffer.cpp
index 7bc0bff93e..f36b1eb4c6 100644
--- a/Common/GPU/Vulkan/VulkanFramebuffer.cpp
+++ b/Common/GPU/Vulkan/VulkanFramebuffer.cpp
@@ -292,6 +292,11 @@ static VkAttachmentStoreOp ConvertStoreAction(VKRRenderPassStoreAction action) {
 
 VkRenderPass CreateRenderPass(VulkanContext *vulkan, const RPKey &key, RenderPassType rpType, VkSampleCountFlagBits sampleCount) {
 	bool isBackbuffer = rpType == RenderPassType::BACKBUFFER;
+	if (isBackbuffer) {
+		_dbg_assert_(key.colorLoadAction != VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP);
+		_dbg_assert_(key.depthLoadAction != VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP);
+		_dbg_assert_(key.stencilLoadAction != VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP);
+	}
 	bool hasDepth = RenderPassTypeHasDepth(rpType);
 	bool multiview = RenderPassTypeHasMultiView(rpType);
 	bool multisample = RenderPassTypeHasMultisample(rpType);
diff --git a/Common/GPU/Vulkan/VulkanRenderManager.cpp b/Common/GPU/Vulkan/VulkanRenderManager.cpp
index a376b8dcd8..4c26d78187 100644
--- a/Common/GPU/Vulkan/VulkanRenderManager.cpp
+++ b/Common/GPU/Vulkan/VulkanRenderManager.cpp
@@ -982,20 +982,27 @@ void VulkanRenderManager::EndCurRenderStep() {
 	curPipelineFlags_ = (PipelineFlags)0;
 }
 
-void VulkanRenderManager::BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(VKRFramebuffer *fb, VKRRenderPassLoadAction color, VKRRenderPassLoadAction depth, VKRRenderPassLoadAction stencil, uint32_t clearColor, float clearDepth, uint8_t clearStencil, const char *tag) {
+void VulkanRenderManager::BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(VKRFramebuffer *fb, VKRRenderPassLoadAction colorLoad, VKRRenderPassLoadAction depthLoad, VKRRenderPassLoadAction stencilLoad, uint32_t clearColor, float clearDepth, uint8_t clearStencil, const char *tag) {
 	_dbg_assert_(insideFrame_);
 
+	if (!fb) {
+		// Backbuffer render passes have some requirements.
+		_dbg_assert_(colorLoad != VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP);
+		_dbg_assert_(depthLoad != VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP);
+		_dbg_assert_(stencilLoad != VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP);
+	}
+
 	// Eliminate dupes (bind of the framebuffer we already are rendering to), instantly convert to a clear if possible.
 	if (!steps_.empty() && steps_.back()->stepType == VKRStepType::RENDER && steps_.back()->render.framebuffer == fb) {
 		u32 clearMask = 0;
-		if (color == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
+		if (colorLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
 			clearMask |= VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT;
 		}
-		if (depth == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
+		if (depthLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
 			clearMask |= VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_DEPTH_BIT;
 			curPipelineFlags_ |= PipelineFlags::USES_DEPTH_STENCIL;
 		}
-		if (stencil == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
+		if (stencilLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
 			clearMask |= VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_STENCIL_BIT;
 			curPipelineFlags_ |= PipelineFlags::USES_DEPTH_STENCIL;
 		}
@@ -1057,25 +1064,25 @@ void VulkanRenderManager::BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(VKRFramebuffer *fb, VKRR
 	// Older Mali drivers have issues with depth and stencil don't match load/clear/etc.
 	// TODO: Determine which versions and do this only where necessary.
 	u32 lateClearMask = 0;
-	if (depth != stencil && vulkan_->GetPhysicalDeviceProperties().properties.vendorID == VULKAN_VENDOR_ARM) {
-		if (stencil == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::DONT_CARE) {
-			stencil = depth;
-		} else if (depth == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::DONT_CARE) {
-			depth = stencil;
-		} else if (stencil == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
-			depth = stencil;
+	if (depthLoad != stencilLoad && vulkan_->GetPhysicalDeviceProperties().properties.vendorID == VULKAN_VENDOR_ARM) {
+		if (stencilLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::DONT_CARE) {
+			stencilLoad = depthLoad;
+		} else if (depthLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::DONT_CARE) {
+			depthLoad = stencilLoad;
+		} else if (stencilLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
+			depthLoad = stencilLoad;
 			lateClearMask |= VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_STENCIL_BIT;
-		} else if (depth == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
-			stencil = depth;
+		} else if (depthLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
+			stencilLoad = depthLoad;
 			lateClearMask |= VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_DEPTH_BIT;
 		}
 	}
 
 	VKRStep *step = new VKRStep{ VKRStepType::RENDER };
 	step->render.framebuffer = fb;
-	step->render.colorLoad = color;
-	step->render.depthLoad = depth;
-	step->render.stencilLoad = stencil;
+	step->render.colorLoad = colorLoad;
+	step->render.depthLoad = depthLoad;
+	step->render.stencilLoad = stencilLoad;
 	step->render.colorStore = VKRRenderPassStoreAction::STORE;
 	step->render.depthStore = VKRRenderPassStoreAction::STORE;
 	step->render.stencilStore = VKRRenderPassStoreAction::STORE;
@@ -1092,7 +1099,7 @@ void VulkanRenderManager::BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(VKRFramebuffer *fb, VKRR
 
 	if (fb) {
 		// If there's a KEEP, we naturally read from the framebuffer.
-		if (color == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP || depth == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP || stencil == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP) {
+		if (colorLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP || depthLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP || stencilLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::KEEP) {
 			step->dependencies.insert(fb);
 		}
 	}
@@ -1118,7 +1125,7 @@ void VulkanRenderManager::BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(VKRFramebuffer *fb, VKRR
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (color == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR || depth == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR || stencil == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
+	if (colorLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR || depthLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR || stencilLoad == VKRRenderPassLoadAction::CLEAR) {
 		curRenderArea_.SetRect(0, 0, curWidth_, curHeight_);
 	}
 
diff --git a/Common/GPU/Vulkan/thin3d_vulkan.cpp b/Common/GPU/Vulkan/thin3d_vulkan.cpp
index c7e93fbf82..d558bc6b95 100644
--- a/Common/GPU/Vulkan/thin3d_vulkan.cpp
+++ b/Common/GPU/Vulkan/thin3d_vulkan.cpp
@@ -1839,6 +1839,8 @@ DataFormat VKContext::PreferredFramebufferReadbackFormat(Framebuffer *src) {
 }
 
 void VKContext::BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(Framebuffer *fbo, const RenderPassInfo &rp, const char *tag) {
+	_dbg_assert_(fbo != nullptr || equals(tag, "BackBuffer"))
+
 	VKFramebuffer *fb = (VKFramebuffer *)fbo;
 	VKRRenderPassLoadAction color = (VKRRenderPassLoadAction)rp.color;
 	VKRRenderPassLoadAction depth = (VKRRenderPassLoadAction)rp.depth;
diff --git a/Common/UI/Screen.cpp b/Common/UI/Screen.cpp
index 2c4407009f..51ee852774 100644
--- a/Common/UI/Screen.cpp
+++ b/Common/UI/Screen.cpp
@@ -209,7 +209,25 @@ void ScreenManager::resized() {
 }
 
 ScreenRenderFlags ScreenManager::render() {
+	using namespace Draw;
+
 	ScreenRenderFlags flags = ScreenRenderFlags::NONE;
+
+	// First, go through the whole stack and have every screen render any non-backbuffer render passes.
+	// In EmuScreen, this might result in running emulation.
+	for (auto &layer : stack_) {
+		flags |= layer.screen->PreRender();
+	}
+
+	// Now, start the final render pass. This is now the ONLY place where binding the null fb is allowed.
+	draw_->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, {RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR}, "BackBuffer");
+	getUIContext()->BeginFrame();
+
+	const Draw::Viewport viewport{0.0f, 0.0f, (float)g_display.pixel_xres, (float)g_display.pixel_yres, 0.0f, 1.0f};
+	draw_->SetViewport(viewport);
+	draw_->SetScissorRect(0, 0, g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
+	draw_->SetTargetSize(g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
+
 	if (!stack_.empty()) {
 		// Collect the screens to render
 		TinySet<Screen *, 6> layers;
diff --git a/Common/UI/Screen.h b/Common/UI/Screen.h
index b7486e6e3f..99c8229aee 100644
--- a/Common/UI/Screen.h
+++ b/Common/UI/Screen.h
@@ -72,11 +72,12 @@ ENUM_CLASS_BITOPS(ScreenRenderRole);
 
 class Screen {
 public:
-	Screen() : screenManager_(nullptr) { }
+	Screen() = default;
 	virtual ~Screen();
 
 	virtual void onFinish(DialogResult reason) {}
 	virtual void update() {}
+	virtual ScreenRenderFlags PreRender() { return ScreenRenderFlags::NONE; }
 	virtual ScreenRenderFlags render(ScreenRenderMode mode) = 0;
 	virtual void resized() {}
 	virtual void dialogFinished(const Screen *dialog, DialogResult result) {}
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ protected:
 	}
 
 private:
-	ScreenManager *screenManager_;
+	ScreenManager *screenManager_ = nullptr;
 	int token_ = -1;
 
 	DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(Screen);
diff --git a/Common/UI/UIScreen.cpp b/Common/UI/UIScreen.cpp
index a9d7c983b9..163874a825 100644
--- a/Common/UI/UIScreen.cpp
+++ b/Common/UI/UIScreen.cpp
@@ -200,30 +200,7 @@ void UIScreen::deviceRestored(Draw::DrawContext *draw) {
 		root_->DeviceRestored(draw);
 }
 
-void UIScreen::SetupViewport() {
-	using namespace Draw;
-	Draw::DrawContext *draw = screenManager()->getDrawContext();
-	_dbg_assert_(draw != nullptr);
-	// Bind and clear the back buffer
-	draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, 0xFF000000 }, "UI");
-	screenManager()->getUIContext()->BeginFrame();
-
-	Draw::Viewport viewport;
-	viewport.TopLeftX = 0;
-	viewport.TopLeftY = 0;
-	viewport.Width = g_display.pixel_xres;
-	viewport.Height = g_display.pixel_yres;
-	viewport.MaxDepth = 1.0;
-	viewport.MinDepth = 0.0;
-	draw->SetViewport(viewport);
-	draw->SetTargetSize(g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
-}
-
 ScreenRenderFlags UIScreen::render(ScreenRenderMode mode) {
-	if (mode & ScreenRenderMode::FIRST) {
-		SetupViewport();
-	}
-
 	DoRecreateViews();
 
 	UIContext &uiContext = *screenManager()->getUIContext();
diff --git a/Common/UI/UIScreen.h b/Common/UI/UIScreen.h
index c6b55cc679..3127464d42 100644
--- a/Common/UI/UIScreen.h
+++ b/Common/UI/UIScreen.h
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@ protected:
 	virtual void DrawBackground(UIContext &ui) {}
 	virtual void DrawForeground(UIContext &ui) {}
 
-	void SetupViewport();
 	void DoRecreateViews();
 
 	bool recreateViews_ = true;
diff --git a/Core/HLE/sceDisplay.cpp b/Core/HLE/sceDisplay.cpp
index 56669862eb..b0891ea50f 100644
--- a/Core/HLE/sceDisplay.cpp
+++ b/Core/HLE/sceDisplay.cpp
@@ -662,7 +662,6 @@ void __DisplayFlip(int cyclesLate) {
 		}
 		if (nextFrame) {
 			gpu->SetCurFramebufferDirty(fbReallyDirty);
-			gpu->CopyDisplayToOutput(g_displayLayoutConfigCached);
 			if (fbReallyDirty) {
 				DisplayFireActualFlip();
 			}
diff --git a/GPU/Common/FramebufferManagerCommon.cpp b/GPU/Common/FramebufferManagerCommon.cpp
index 8a0055e5f1..166b0fbe50 100644
--- a/GPU/Common/FramebufferManagerCommon.cpp
+++ b/GPU/Common/FramebufferManagerCommon.cpp
@@ -1665,6 +1665,8 @@ void FramebufferManagerCommon::PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutCon
 			}
 		} else {
 			DEBUG_LOG(Log::FrameBuf, "Found no FBO to display! displayFBPtr = %08x", fbaddr);
+			// No framebuffer to display! Clear to black.
+			// TODO: Draw a black rectangle, will be important once we add backgrounds.
 			gstate_c.Dirty(DIRTY_VIEWPORTSCISSOR_STATE);
 			// No framebuffer to display! Clear to black.
 			presentation_->SourceBlank();
@@ -3434,10 +3436,6 @@ void FramebufferManagerCommon::DrawActiveTexture(float x, float y, float w, floa
 void FramebufferManagerCommon::BlitFramebuffer(VirtualFramebuffer *dst, int dstX, int dstY, VirtualFramebuffer *src, int srcX, int srcY, int w, int h, int bpp, RasterChannel channel, const char *tag) {
 	if (!dst->fbo || !src->fbo || !useBufferedRendering_) {
 		// This can happen if they recently switched from non-buffered.
-		if (useBufferedRendering_) {
-			// Just bind the back buffer for rendering, forget about doing anything else as we're in a weird state.
-			draw_->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { Draw::RPAction::KEEP, Draw::RPAction::KEEP, Draw::RPAction::KEEP }, "BlitFramebuffer");
-		}
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/GPU/Common/PresentationCommon.cpp b/GPU/Common/PresentationCommon.cpp
index 1efca22c4a..045d8dbd23 100644
--- a/GPU/Common/PresentationCommon.cpp
+++ b/GPU/Common/PresentationCommon.cpp
@@ -898,7 +898,6 @@ void PresentationCommon::CopyToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) {
 	int lastWidth = srcWidth_;
 	int lastHeight = srcHeight_;
 
-	draw_->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { Draw::RPAction::CLEAR, Draw::RPAction::DONT_CARE, Draw::RPAction::DONT_CARE }, "FinalBlit");
 	draw_->SetScissorRect(0, 0, pixelWidth_, pixelHeight_);
 
 	if (!srcFramebuffer_ && !srcTexture_) {
diff --git a/GPU/GPUCommon.h b/GPU/GPUCommon.h
index 49d185caa6..b4349e3437 100644
--- a/GPU/GPUCommon.h
+++ b/GPU/GPUCommon.h
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void SetDisplayFramebuffer(u32 framebuf, u32 stride, GEBufferFormat format) = 0;
 	virtual void SetCurFramebufferDirty(bool dirty) = 0;
+	virtual void PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) = 0;
 	virtual void CopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) = 0;
 	virtual bool PresentedThisFrame() const = 0;
 
diff --git a/GPU/GPUCommonHW.cpp b/GPU/GPUCommonHW.cpp
index 7e87e6a9c1..042fd3a16a 100644
--- a/GPU/GPUCommonHW.cpp
+++ b/GPU/GPUCommonHW.cpp
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ void GPUCommonHW::PreExecuteOp(u32 op, u32 diff) {
 	CheckFlushOp(op >> 24, diff);
 }
 
-void GPUCommonHW::CopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) {
+void GPUCommonHW::PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) {
 	drawEngineCommon_->FlushQueuedDepth();
 	// Flush anything left over.
 	drawEngineCommon_->Flush();
@@ -539,6 +539,9 @@ void GPUCommonHW::CopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) {
 
 	// after this, render pass is active.
 	framebufferManager_->PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(config, curFramebufferDirty_);
+}
+
+void GPUCommonHW::CopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) {
 	framebufferManager_->CopyDisplayToOutput(config);
 	curFramebufferDirty_ = false;
 }
diff --git a/GPU/GPUCommonHW.h b/GPU/GPUCommonHW.h
index f2179e6b9a..6b1032c91e 100644
--- a/GPU/GPUCommonHW.h
+++ b/GPU/GPUCommonHW.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ public:
 
 	// This can fail, and if so no render pass is active.
 	void SetCurFramebufferDirty(bool dirty) override { curFramebufferDirty_ = dirty; }
+	void PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) override;
 	void CopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) override;
 	void DoState(PointerWrap &p) override;
 	void DeviceLost() override;
diff --git a/GPU/Software/SoftGpu.cpp b/GPU/Software/SoftGpu.cpp
index f8f9c9b7a2..39b943c972 100644
--- a/GPU/Software/SoftGpu.cpp
+++ b/GPU/Software/SoftGpu.cpp
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ void SoftGPU::CopyToCurrentFboFromDisplayRam(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config,
 		u1 = 1.0f;
 	}
 	if (!hasImage) {
-		draw_->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { Draw::RPAction::CLEAR, Draw::RPAction::DONT_CARE, Draw::RPAction::DONT_CARE }, "CopyToCurrentFboFromDisplayRam");
+		presentation_->SourceBlank();
 		presentation_->NotifyPresent();
 		return;
 	}
@@ -644,13 +644,16 @@ void SoftGPU::CopyToCurrentFboFromDisplayRam(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config,
 
 	presentation_->SourceTexture(fbTex, desc.width, desc.height);
 	presentation_->RunPostshaderPasses(config, outputFlags, config.iInternalScreenRotation, u0, v0, u1, v1);
-	presentation_->CopyToOutput(config);
 }
 
-void SoftGPU::CopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) {
+void SoftGPU::PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) {
 	drawEngine_->transformUnit.Flush(this, "output");
 	// The display always shows 480x272.
 	CopyToCurrentFboFromDisplayRam(config, FB_WIDTH, FB_HEIGHT);
+}
+
+void SoftGPU::CopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) {
+	presentation_->CopyToOutput(config);
 	MarkDirty(displayFramebuf_, displayStride_, 272, displayFormat_, SoftGPUVRAMDirty::CLEAR);
 }
 
diff --git a/GPU/Software/SoftGpu.h b/GPU/Software/SoftGpu.h
index 8c276d304c..0cd5182cf9 100644
--- a/GPU/Software/SoftGpu.h
+++ b/GPU/Software/SoftGpu.h
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ public:
 
 	void SetDisplayFramebuffer(u32 framebuf, u32 stride, GEBufferFormat format) override;
 	void SetCurFramebufferDirty(bool dirty) override {}
+	void PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) override;
 	void CopyDisplayToOutput(const DisplayLayoutConfig &config) override;
 	void GetStats(char *buffer, size_t bufsize) override;
 	std::vector<const VirtualFramebuffer *> GetFramebufferList() const override { return std::vector<const VirtualFramebuffer *>(); }
diff --git a/UI/Background.cpp b/UI/Background.cpp
index b4bfac0629..dc8732d537 100644
--- a/UI/Background.cpp
+++ b/UI/Background.cpp
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ void DrawBackground(UIContext &dc, float alpha, Lin::Vec3 focus) {
 }
 
 uint32_t GetBackgroundColorWithAlpha(const UIContext &dc) {
-	return colorAlpha(colorBlend(dc.GetTheme().backgroundColor, 0, 0.5f), 0.65f);  // 0.65 = 166 = A6
+	return colorAlpha(colorBlend(dc.GetTheme().backgroundColor, 0, 0.5f), 0.72f);  // 0.72 = 183 = B7
 }
 
 enum class BackgroundFillMode {
diff --git a/UI/EmuScreen.cpp b/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
index 00a225e528..3ed7f7d17a 100644
--- a/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
+++ b/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
@@ -1627,14 +1627,23 @@ void EmuScreen::HandleFlip() {
 #endif
 }
 
+ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::PreRender() {
+	// If a boot is in progress, update it.
+	ProcessGameBoot(gamePath_);
+
+	using namespace Draw;
+	skipBufferEffects_ = g_Config.bSkipBufferEffects;
+	if (!skipBufferEffects_) {
+		// We need to run emulation here, and perform all the normal render passes.
+		return RunEmulation(false);
+	}
+	return ScreenRenderFlags::NONE;
+}
+
 ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::render(ScreenRenderMode mode) {
 	// Moved from update, because we want it to be possible for booting to happen even when the screen
 	// is in the background, like when choosing Reset from the pause menu.
 
-	// If a boot is in progress, update it.
-	ProcessGameBoot(gamePath_);
-
-	const Draw::Viewport viewport{0.0f, 0.0f, (float)g_display.pixel_xres, (float)g_display.pixel_yres, 0.0f, 1.0f};
 	using namespace Draw;
 
 	DrawContext *draw = screenManager()->getDrawContext();
@@ -1642,81 +1651,35 @@ ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::render(ScreenRenderMode mode) {
 		return ScreenRenderFlags::NONE;  // shouldn't really happen but I've seen a suspicious stack trace..
 	}
 
-	ProcessQueuedVKeys();
+	ScreenRenderFlags screenRenderFlags = ScreenRenderFlags::NONE;
 
-	const bool skipBufferEffects = g_Config.bSkipBufferEffects;
-
-	bool framebufferBound = false;
-
-	if (mode & ScreenRenderMode::FIRST) {
-		// Actually, always gonna be first when it exists (?)
-
-		// Here we do NOT bind the backbuffer or clear the screen, unless non-buffered.
-		// The emuscreen is different than the others - we really want to allow the game to render to framebuffers
-		// before we ever bind the backbuffer for rendering. On mobile GPUs, switching back and forth between render
-		// targets is a mortal sin so it's very important that we don't bind the backbuffer unnecessarily here.
-		// We only bind it in FramebufferManager::CopyDisplayToOutput (unless non-buffered)...
-		// We do, however, start the frame in other ways.
-
-		if (skipBufferEffects && !g_Config.bSoftwareRendering) {
-			// We need to clear here already so that drawing during the frame is done on a clean slate.
-			if (Core_IsStepping() && gpuStats.numFlips != 0) {
-				draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, {RPAction::KEEP, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR}, "EmuScreen_BackBuffer");
-			} else {
-				draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, {RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, 0xFF000000}, "EmuScreen_BackBuffer");
-			}
-
-			draw->SetViewport(viewport);
-			draw->SetScissorRect(0, 0, g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
-			framebufferBound = true;
-		}
-		draw->SetTargetSize(g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
-	} else {
-		// Some other screen bound the backbuffer first.
-		framebufferBound = true;
+	if (skipBufferEffects_) {
+		// In skip buffer effects mode, we run emulation *after* the backbuffer bind.
+		screenRenderFlags = RunEmulation(true);
 	}
 
-	g_OSD.NudgeIngameNotifications();
+	// We might have a bad viewport after RunEmulation, reset.
+	Viewport viewport{0.0f, 0.0f, (float)g_display.pixel_xres, (float)g_display.pixel_yres, 0.0f, 1.0f};
+	draw->SetViewport(viewport);
+
+	ProcessQueuedVKeys();
+
+	const bool skipBufferEffects = skipBufferEffects_;
 
 	const DeviceOrientation orientation = GetDeviceOrientation();
 	const DisplayLayoutConfig &displayLayoutConfig = g_Config.GetDisplayLayoutConfig(orientation);
-	__DisplaySetDisplayLayoutConfig(displayLayoutConfig);
+
+	// Gotta copy the output at some point.
+	if (gpu) {
+		gpu->CopyDisplayToOutput(displayLayoutConfig);
+	}
 
 	if (mode & ScreenRenderMode::TOP) {
 		System_Notify(SystemNotification::KEEP_SCREEN_AWAKE);
 	} else if (!ShouldRunBehind() && strcmp(screenManager()->topScreen()->tag(), "DevMenu") != 0) {
-		// NOTE: The strcmp is != 0 - so all popped-over screens EXCEPT DevMenu
-		// Just to make sure.
-		if (PSP_IsInited() && !skipBufferEffects) {
-			_dbg_assert_(gpu);
-			gpu->BeginHostFrame(displayLayoutConfig);
-			gpu->SetCurFramebufferDirty(true);
-			gpu->CopyDisplayToOutput(displayLayoutConfig);
-			gpu->EndHostFrame();
-		}
-		if (gpu && gpu->PresentedThisFrame()) {
-			framebufferBound = true;
-		}
-		if (!framebufferBound) {
-			draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, {RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR,}, "EmuScreen_Behind");
-		}
-
-		Draw::BackendState state = draw->GetCurrentBackendState();
-		if (state.valid) {
-			// The below can trigger when switching from skip-buffer-effects. We don't really care anymore...
-			// _dbg_assert_msg_(state.passes >= 1, "skipB: %d sw: %d mode: %d back: %d tag: %s behi: %d", (int)skipBufferEffects, (int)g_Config.bSoftwareRendering, (int)mode, (int)g_Config.iGPUBackend, screenManager()->topScreen()->tag(), (int)g_Config.bRunBehindPauseMenu);
-			// Workaround any remaining bugs like this.
-			if (state.passes == 0) {
-				draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, {RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR,}, "EmuScreen_SafeFallback");
-			}
-		}
-
 		// Need to make sure the UI texture is available, for "darken".
-		screenManager()->getUIContext()->BeginFrame();
-		draw->SetViewport(viewport);
-		draw->SetScissorRect(0, 0, g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
 		darken();
-		return ScreenRenderFlags::NONE;
+		return screenRenderFlags;
 	}
 
 	if (!PSP_IsInited() || readyToFinishBoot_) {
@@ -1725,42 +1688,52 @@ ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::render(ScreenRenderMode mode) {
 		if (mode & ScreenRenderMode::TOP) {
 			checkPowerDown();
 		}
-		draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, {RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR}, "EmuScreen_Invalid");
 		// Need to make sure the UI texture is available, for "darken".
-		screenManager()->getUIContext()->BeginFrame();
-		draw->SetViewport(viewport);
-		draw->SetScissorRect(0, 0, g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
 		renderUI();
-		return ScreenRenderFlags::NONE;
+		return screenRenderFlags;
 	}
 
-	// Freeze-frame functionality (loads a savestate on every frame).
-	if (PSP_CoreParameter().freezeNext) {
-		PSP_CoreParameter().frozen = true;
-		PSP_CoreParameter().freezeNext = false;
-		SaveState::SaveToRam(freezeState_);
-	} else if (PSP_CoreParameter().frozen) {
-		std::string errorString;
-		if (CChunkFileReader::ERROR_NONE != SaveState::LoadFromRam(freezeState_, &errorString)) {
-			ERROR_LOG(Log::SaveState, "Failed to load freeze state (%s). Unfreezing.", errorString.c_str());
-			PSP_CoreParameter().frozen = false;
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Running it early allows things like direct readbacks of buffers, things we can't do
-	// when we have started the final render pass. Well, technically we probably could with some manipulation
-	// of pass order in the render managers..
 	runImDebugger();
 
-	return RunEmulation(mode, framebufferBound, skipBufferEffects);
+	Draw::BackendState state = draw->GetCurrentBackendState();
+
+	if (!(mode & ScreenRenderMode::TOP)) {
+		renderImDebugger();
+		// We're in run-behind mode, but we don't want to draw chat, debug UI and stuff. We do draw the imdebugger though.
+		// So, darken and bail here.
+		// Reset viewport/scissor to be sure.
+		darken();
+		return screenRenderFlags;
+	}
+
+	// NOTE: We don't check for powerdown if we're not the top screen.
+	checkPowerDown();
+
+	if (hasVisibleUI()) {
+		cardboardDisableButton_->SetVisibility(displayLayoutConfig.bEnableCardboardVR ? UI::V_VISIBLE : UI::V_GONE);
+		renderUI();
+	}
+
+	if (chatMenu_ && (chatMenu_->GetVisibility() == UI::V_VISIBLE)) {
+		SetVRAppMode(VRAppMode::VR_DIALOG_MODE);
+	} else {
+		SetVRAppMode(screenManager()->topScreen() == this ? VRAppMode::VR_GAME_MODE : VRAppMode::VR_DIALOG_MODE);
+	}
+
+	renderImDebugger();
+	return screenRenderFlags;
 }
 
-ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::RunEmulation(ScreenRenderMode mode, bool framebufferBound, bool skipBufferEffects) {
+ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::RunEmulation(bool skipBufferEffects) {
 	using namespace Draw;
 	ScreenRenderFlags flags = ScreenRenderFlags::NONE;
 
+	g_OSD.NudgeIngameNotifications();
+
 	const DeviceOrientation orientation = GetDeviceOrientation();
 	const DisplayLayoutConfig &displayLayoutConfig = g_Config.GetDisplayLayoutConfig(orientation);
+	__DisplaySetDisplayLayoutConfig(displayLayoutConfig);
+
 	DrawContext *draw = screenManager()->getDrawContext();
 	const Draw::Viewport viewport{0.0f, 0.0f, (float)g_display.pixel_xres, (float)g_display.pixel_yres, 0.0f, 1.0f};
 
@@ -1771,12 +1744,23 @@ ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::RunEmulation(ScreenRenderMode mode, bool framebuffe
 		if (gpu) {
 			gpu->BeginHostFrame(displayLayoutConfig);
 		}
-		if (SaveState::Process()) {
-			// We might have lost the framebuffer bind if we had one, due to a readback.
-			if (framebufferBound) {
-				draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, clearColor }, "EmuScreen_SavestateRebind");
+
+		// Freeze-frame functionality (loads a savestate on every frame).
+		if (PSP_CoreParameter().freezeNext) {
+			PSP_CoreParameter().frozen = true;
+			PSP_CoreParameter().freezeNext = false;
+			SaveState::SaveToRam(freezeState_);
+		} else if (PSP_CoreParameter().frozen) {
+			std::string errorString;
+			if (CChunkFileReader::ERROR_NONE != SaveState::LoadFromRam(freezeState_, &errorString)) {
+				ERROR_LOG(Log::SaveState, "Failed to load freeze state (%s). Unfreezing.", errorString.c_str());
+				PSP_CoreParameter().frozen = false;
 			}
 		}
+
+		if (SaveState::Process()) {
+			// TODO: investigate.
+		}
 		PSP_RunLoopWhileState();
 
 		// Hopefully, after running, coreState is now CORE_NEXTFRAME
@@ -1796,17 +1780,13 @@ ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::RunEmulation(ScreenRenderMode mode, bool framebuffe
 				// Clear to blue background screen
 				bool dangerousSettings = !Reporting::IsSupported();
 				clearColor = dangerousSettings ? 0xFF900050 : 0xFF900000;
-				draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, clearColor }, "EmuScreen_RuntimeError");
-				framebufferBound = true;
+				draw->Clear(Draw::Aspect::COLOR_BIT, clearColor, 0.0f, 0);
 				// The info is drawn later in renderUI
 			} else {
 				// If we're stepping, it's convenient not to clear the screen entirely, so we copy display to output.
 				// This won't work in non-buffered, but that's fine.
-				if (!framebufferBound && PSP_IsInited()) {
-					// draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, clearColor }, "EmuScreen_Stepping");
+				if (PSP_IsInited()) {
 					gpu->SetCurFramebufferDirty(true);
-					gpu->CopyDisplayToOutput(displayLayoutConfig);
-					framebufferBound = true;
 				}
 			}
 			break;
@@ -1823,6 +1803,8 @@ ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::RunEmulation(ScreenRenderMode mode, bool framebuffe
 		}
 
 		if (gpu) {
+			// Run post processing and other passes.
+			gpu->PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(displayLayoutConfig);
 			gpu->EndHostFrame();
 		}
 
@@ -1850,58 +1832,6 @@ ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::RunEmulation(ScreenRenderMode mode, bool framebuffe
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (gpu && gpu->PresentedThisFrame()) {
-		framebufferBound = true;
-	}
-
-	if (!framebufferBound) {
-		draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, clearColor }, "EmuScreen_NoFrame");
-		draw->SetViewport(viewport);
-		draw->SetScissorRect(0, 0, g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
-	}
-
-	Draw::BackendState state = draw->GetCurrentBackendState();
-
-	// State.valid just states whether the passes parameter has a meaningful value.
-	if (state.valid) {
-		_dbg_assert_msg_(state.passes >= 1, "skipB: %d sw: %d mode: %d back: %d bound: %d", (int)skipBufferEffects, (int)g_Config.bSoftwareRendering, (int)mode, (int)g_Config.iGPUBackend, (int)framebufferBound);
-		if (state.passes == 0) {
-			// Workaround any remaining bugs like this.
-			draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, }, "EmuScreen_SafeFallback");
-		}
-	}
-
-	screenManager()->getUIContext()->BeginFrame();
-
-	if (!(mode & ScreenRenderMode::TOP)) {
-		renderImDebugger();
-		// We're in run-behind mode, but we don't want to draw chat, debug UI and stuff. We do draw the imdebugger though.
-		// So, darken and bail here.
-		// Reset viewport/scissor to be sure.
-		draw->SetViewport(viewport);
-		draw->SetScissorRect(0, 0, g_display.pixel_xres, g_display.pixel_yres);
-		darken();
-		return flags;
-	}
-
-	// NOTE: We don't check for powerdown if we're not the top screen.
-	if (checkPowerDown()) {
-		draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::CLEAR, clearColor }, "EmuScreen_PowerDown");
-	}
-
-	if (hasVisibleUI()) {
-		draw->SetViewport(viewport);
-		cardboardDisableButton_->SetVisibility(displayLayoutConfig.bEnableCardboardVR ? UI::V_VISIBLE : UI::V_GONE);
-		renderUI();
-	}
-
-	if (chatMenu_ && (chatMenu_->GetVisibility() == UI::V_VISIBLE)) {
-		SetVRAppMode(VRAppMode::VR_DIALOG_MODE);
-	} else {
-		SetVRAppMode(screenManager()->topScreen() == this ? VRAppMode::VR_GAME_MODE : VRAppMode::VR_DIALOG_MODE);
-	}
-
-	renderImDebugger();
 	return flags;
 }
 
@@ -2017,21 +1947,12 @@ bool EmuScreen::hasVisibleUI() {
 void EmuScreen::renderUI() {
 	using namespace Draw;
 
-	DrawContext *thin3d = screenManager()->getDrawContext();
+	DrawContext *draw = screenManager()->getDrawContext();
 	UIContext *ctx = screenManager()->getUIContext();
 	ctx->BeginFrame();
 	// This sets up some important states but not the viewport.
 	ctx->Begin();
 
-	Viewport viewport;
-	viewport.TopLeftX = 0;
-	viewport.TopLeftY = 0;
-	viewport.Width = g_display.pixel_xres;
-	viewport.Height = g_display.pixel_yres;
-	viewport.MaxDepth = 1.0;
-	viewport.MinDepth = 0.0;
-	thin3d->SetViewport(viewport);
-
 	if (root_) {
 		UI::LayoutViewHierarchy(*ctx, RootMargins(), root_, false, false);
 		root_->Draw(*ctx);
diff --git a/UI/EmuScreen.h b/UI/EmuScreen.h
index 93bce1a0f1..2e87c5a452 100644
--- a/UI/EmuScreen.h
+++ b/UI/EmuScreen.h
@@ -70,10 +70,11 @@ public:
 protected:
 	void darken();
 	void focusChanged(ScreenFocusChange focusChange) override;
+	ScreenRenderFlags PreRender() override;
 
 private:
 	void CreateViews() override;
-	ScreenRenderFlags RunEmulation(ScreenRenderMode mode, bool framebufferBound, bool skipBufferEffects);
+	ScreenRenderFlags RunEmulation(bool skipBufferEffects);
 	void OnDevTools(UI::EventParams &params);
 	void OnChat(UI::EventParams &params);
 
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ private:
 #endif
 	bool autoLoadFailed_ = false;  // to prevent repeat reloads
 	bool readyToFinishBoot_ = false;
+	bool skipBufferEffects_ = false;  // cached state, fetched once per frame.
 };
 
 bool MustRunBehind();
diff --git a/UI/MiscScreens.cpp b/UI/MiscScreens.cpp
index 0f23a9fd84..adb47454d3 100644
--- a/UI/MiscScreens.cpp
+++ b/UI/MiscScreens.cpp
@@ -98,12 +98,6 @@ void HandleCommonMessages(UIMessage message, const char *value, ScreenManager *m
 }
 
 ScreenRenderFlags BackgroundScreen::render(ScreenRenderMode mode) {
-	if (mode & ScreenRenderMode::FIRST) {
-		SetupViewport();
-	} else {
-		_dbg_assert_(false);
-	}
-
 	UIContext *uiContext = screenManager()->getUIContext();
 
 	uiContext->PushTransform({ translation_, scale_, alpha_ });
diff --git a/UI/NativeApp.cpp b/UI/NativeApp.cpp
index 6cbc84647e..704a596d8a 100644
--- a/UI/NativeApp.cpp
+++ b/UI/NativeApp.cpp
@@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@ void NativeFrame(GraphicsContext *graphicsContext) {
 
 	g_screenManager->getUIContext()->SetTintSaturation(g_Config.fUITint, g_Config.fUISaturation);
 
-	// All actual rendering happen in here.
+	// All actual rendering (and also emulation) happens in here.
 	ScreenRenderFlags renderFlags = g_screenManager->render();
 	if (g_screenManager->getUIContext()->Text()) {
 		g_screenManager->getUIContext()->Text()->OncePerFrame();
diff --git a/headless/Headless.cpp b/headless/Headless.cpp
index 520e84ce4c..293878d511 100644
--- a/headless/Headless.cpp
+++ b/headless/Headless.cpp
@@ -266,10 +266,11 @@ bool RunAutoTest(HeadlessHost *headlessHost, CoreParameter &coreParameter, const
 	}
 
 	if (draw) {
-		draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { Draw::RPAction::CLEAR, Draw::RPAction::DONT_CARE, Draw::RPAction::DONT_CARE }, "Headless");
+		draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { Draw::RPAction::CLEAR, Draw::RPAction::DONT_CARE, Draw::RPAction::DONT_CARE }, "Backbuffer");
 		// Vulkan may get angry if we don't do a final present.
 		if (gpu) {
 			gpu->SetCurFramebufferDirty(true);
+			gpu->PrepareCopyDisplayToOutput(g_Config.GetDisplayLayoutConfig(DeviceOrientation::Landscape));
 			gpu->CopyDisplayToOutput(g_Config.GetDisplayLayoutConfig(DeviceOrientation::Landscape));
 		}