diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-beta.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy-beta.yml
index 5abba4488be..73ecc293986 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-beta.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-beta.yml
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build
         run: pnpm build:beta
-        env:
-          NODE_ENV: production
 
       - name: Set up SSH
         run: |
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f1726069e7a..d6d37b768c2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     "start:beta": "vite --mode beta",
     "start:dev": "vite --mode development",
     "start:podman": "vite --mode development --host 0.0.0.0 --port $PORT",
-    "build": "vite build && node --mode development && node scripts/sync-dist-assets.js",
+    "build": "vite build && node scripts/sync-dist-assets.js",
     "build:beta": "vite build --mode beta && node scripts/sync-dist-assets.js",
     "build:dev": "vite build --mode development && node scripts/sync-dist-assets.js",
     "preview": "vite preview",
diff --git a/src/ai/ai-moveset-gen.ts b/src/ai/ai-moveset-gen.ts
index 38557f2b4cb..1b503ac8099 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai-moveset-gen.ts
+++ b/src/ai/ai-moveset-gen.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ import type { EnemyPokemon, Pokemon } from "#field/pokemon";
 import { PokemonMove } from "#moves/pokemon-move";
 import { NumberHolder, randSeedInt } from "#utils/common";
 import { willTerastallize } from "#utils/pokemon-utils";
-import { isBeta } from "#utils/utility-vars";
 
 /**
  * Compute and assign a weight to the level-up moves currently available to the Pokémon
@@ -633,7 +632,7 @@ function fillInRemainingMovesetSlots(
  * @param note - Short note to include in the log for context
  */
 function debugMoveWeights(pokemon: Pokemon, pool: Map<MoveId, number>, note: string): void {
-  if ((isBeta || import.meta.env.DEV) && import.meta.env.NODE_ENV !== "test") {
+  if (import.meta.env.DEV && import.meta.env.NODE_ENV !== "test") {
     const moveNameToWeightMap = new Map<string, number>();
     const sortedByValue = Array.from(pool.entries()).sort((a, b) => b[1] - a[1]);
     for (const [moveId, weight] of sortedByValue) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/api/api-base.ts b/src/plugins/api/api-base.ts
index 63f56c129f3..842b16d5ce0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/api/api-base.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/api/api-base.ts
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ export abstract class ApiBase {
       "Content-Type": config.headers?.["Content-Type"] ?? "application/json",
     };
 
-    if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
+    // can't import `isLocal` due to circular import issues
+    if (import.meta.env.MODE === "development") {
       console.log(`Sending ${config.method ?? "GET"} request to: `, this.base + path, config);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/system/game-data.ts b/src/system/game-data.ts
index e40fc141a0c..d824d9ca2a9 100644
--- a/src/system/game-data.ts
+++ b/src/system/game-data.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ import { executeIf, fixedInt, isLocal, NumberHolder, randInt, randSeedItem } fro
 import { decrypt, encrypt } from "#utils/data";
 import { getEnumKeys } from "#utils/enums";
 import { getPokemonSpecies } from "#utils/pokemon-utils";
-import { isBeta } from "#utils/utility-vars";
 import { AES, enc } from "crypto-js";
 import i18next from "i18next";
 
@@ -414,7 +413,7 @@ export class GameData {
         }
       }
 
-      if (isLocal || isBeta) {
+      if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
         try {
           console.debug(
             GameData.parseSystemData(
@@ -955,7 +954,7 @@ export class GameData {
     const { promise, resolve, reject } = Promise.withResolvers<boolean>();
     try {
       const initSessionFromData = (fromSession: SessionSaveData) => {
-        if (isLocal || isBeta) {
+        if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
           try {
             console.debug(
               this.parseSessionData(
diff --git a/src/ui/handlers/menu-ui-handler.ts b/src/ui/handlers/menu-ui-handler.ts
index ad9e9e30a1b..8a910f91df3 100644
--- a/src/ui/handlers/menu-ui-handler.ts
+++ b/src/ui/handlers/menu-ui-handler.ts
@@ -14,11 +14,10 @@ import { BgmBar } from "#ui/bgm-bar";
 import { MessageUiHandler } from "#ui/message-ui-handler";
 import { addTextObject, getTextStyleOptions } from "#ui/text";
 import { addWindow, WindowVariant } from "#ui/ui-theme";
-import { fixedInt, isLocal, sessionIdKey } from "#utils/common";
+import { fixedInt, sessionIdKey } from "#utils/common";
 import { getCookie } from "#utils/cookies";
 import { getEnumValues } from "#utils/enums";
 import { toCamelCase } from "#utils/strings";
-import { isBeta } from "#utils/utility-vars";
 import i18next from "i18next";
 
 enum MenuOptions {
@@ -238,7 +237,7 @@ export class MenuUiHandler extends MessageUiHandler {
       });
     };
 
-    if (isLocal || isBeta) {
+    if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
       manageDataOptions.push({
         label: i18next.t("menuUiHandler:importSession"),
         handler: () => {
@@ -292,7 +291,7 @@ export class MenuUiHandler extends MessageUiHandler {
       },
       keepOpen: true,
     });
-    if (isLocal || isBeta) {
+    if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
       manageDataOptions.push({
         label: i18next.t("menuUiHandler:importData"),
         handler: () => {
@@ -339,7 +338,7 @@ export class MenuUiHandler extends MessageUiHandler {
         keepOpen: true,
       },
     );
-    if (isLocal || isBeta) {
+    if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
       // this should make sure we don't have this option in live
       manageDataOptions.push({
         label: "Test Dialogue",