diff --git a/src/Core.zig b/src/Core.zig
index 008675a2..fa8719f0 100644
--- a/src/Core.zig
+++ b/src/Core.zig
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const platform = @import("platform.zig");
 
 pub const Core = @This();
 
-internal: *platform.Core,
+internal: platform.Core,
 
 pub const Options = struct {
     is_app: bool = false,
@@ -16,10 +16,8 @@ pub const Options = struct {
     required_limits: ?gpu.Limits = null,
 };
 
-pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !Core {
-    return .{
-        .internal = try platform.Core.init(allocator, options),
-    };
+pub fn init(core: *Core, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !void {
+    try platform.Core.init(&core.internal, allocator, options);
 }
 
 pub fn deinit(core: *Core) void {
diff --git a/src/engine.zig b/src/engine.zig
index 8f6bcf86..c47a6c83 100644
--- a/src/engine.zig
+++ b/src/engine.zig
@@ -25,15 +25,16 @@ pub fn App(
 
     return struct {
         engine: ecs.World(modules),
+        core: Core,
 
         pub fn init(app: *@This()) !void {
+            try app.core.init(allocator, .{});
             app.* = .{
+                .core = app.core,
                 .engine = try ecs.World(modules).init(allocator),
             };
-            var core = try allocator.create(Core);
-            core.* = try Core.init(allocator, .{});
-            app.engine.set(.mach, .core, core);
-            app.engine.set(.mach, .device, core.device());
+            app.engine.set(.mach, .core, &app.core);
+            app.engine.set(.mach, .device, app.core.device());
             try app_init(&app.engine);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/platform/native/Core.zig b/src/platform/native/Core.zig
index 8f115c56..f27136c6 100644
--- a/src/platform/native/Core.zig
+++ b/src/platform/native/Core.zig
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ const UserPtr = struct {
     self: *Core,
 };
 
-pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !*Core {
+pub fn init(core: *Core, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !void {
     const backend_type = try util.detectBackendType(allocator);
 
     glfw.setErrorCallback(errorCallback);
@@ -153,9 +153,7 @@ pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !*Core {
     };
     const swap_chain = gpu_device.createSwapChain(surface, &swap_chain_desc);
 
-    const self: *Core = try allocator.create(Core);
-    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
-    self.* = .{
+    core.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .window = window,
         .backend_type = backend_type,
@@ -186,14 +184,12 @@ pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !*Core {
         .linux_gamemode = null,
     };
 
-    self.setSizeLimit(self.size_limit);
+    core.setSizeLimit(core.size_limit);
 
-    self.initCallbacks();
+    core.initCallbacks();
     if (builtin.os.tag == .linux and !options.is_app and
-        self.linux_gamemode == null and try activateGamemode(self.allocator))
-        self.linux_gamemode = initLinuxGamemode();
-
-    return self;
+        core.linux_gamemode == null and try activateGamemode(core.allocator))
+        core.linux_gamemode = initLinuxGamemode();
 }
 
 fn initCallbacks(self: *Core) void {
@@ -316,8 +312,6 @@ pub fn deinit(self: *Core) void {
         self.linux_gamemode != null and
         self.linux_gamemode.?)
         deinitLinuxGamemode();
-
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
 }
 
 pub fn hasEvent(self: *Core) bool {
diff --git a/src/platform/wasm/Core.zig b/src/platform/wasm/Core.zig
index 35ef6209..5c16a2ec 100644
--- a/src/platform/wasm/Core.zig
+++ b/src/platform/wasm/Core.zig
@@ -25,14 +25,12 @@ id: js.CanvasId,
 last_cursor_position: Position,
 last_key_mods: KeyMods,
 
-pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !*Core {
+pub fn init(core: *Core, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !*Core {
     _ = options;
     var selector = [1]u8{0} ** 15;
     const id = js.machCanvasInit(&selector[0]);
 
-    const self: *Core = try allocator.create(Core);
-    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
-    self.* = Core{
+    core.* = Core{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .id = id,
 
@@ -50,8 +48,6 @@ pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, options: Options) !*Core {
             .num_lock = false,
         },
     };
-
-    return self;
 }
 
 pub fn deinit(self: *Core) void {