diff --git a/backend/ew.test.config.json b/backend/ew.test.config.json
index 52be51b8f..f8b3ee5c4 100644
--- a/backend/ew.test.config.json
+++ b/backend/ew.test.config.json
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@
   "features": {
     "feature_element_call_video_rooms": true,
     "feature_video_rooms": true,
-    "feature_group_calls": true,
-    "feature_release_announcement": false
+    "feature_group_calls": true
   },
   "default_federate": true,
   "default_theme": "light",
@@ -40,7 +39,10 @@
   },
   "setting_defaults": {
     "breadcrumbs": true,
-    "feature_group_calls": true
+    "feature_group_calls": true,
+    "releaseAnnouncementData": {
+      "room_list_section": true
+    }
   },
   "jitsi": {
     "preferred_domain": "meet.element.io"
diff --git a/backend/ew.test.othersite.config.json b/backend/ew.test.othersite.config.json
index 2ad3df4f3..6b3cb3a9c 100644
--- a/backend/ew.test.othersite.config.json
+++ b/backend/ew.test.othersite.config.json
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@
   "features": {
     "feature_element_call_video_rooms": true,
     "feature_video_rooms": true,
-    "feature_group_calls": true,
-    "feature_release_announcement": false
+    "feature_group_calls": true
   },
   "default_federate": true,
   "default_theme": "light",
@@ -40,7 +39,10 @@
   },
   "setting_defaults": {
     "breadcrumbs": true,
-    "feature_group_calls": true
+    "feature_group_calls": true,
+    "releaseAnnouncementData": {
+      "room_list_section": true
+    }
   },
   "jitsi": {
     "preferred_domain": "meet.element.io"
diff --git a/docs/agents/testing.md b/docs/agents/testing.md
index d1a325897..eb8792d67 100644
--- a/docs/agents/testing.md
+++ b/docs/agents/testing.md
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ Test what a user observes: the peer sees the change, it survives a reconnect, it
 right after a reload. Reuse `playwright/spa-helpers.ts`,
 `playwright/widget/test-helpers.ts`, `playwright/fixtures/`.
 
+To mark new release announcements as viewed, add them in `backend/ew.test*.config.json`.
+
 ```sh
 pnpm test                   # unit + storybook
 pnpm backend                # Synapse + LiveKit, required for e2e
diff --git a/playwright/fixtures/widget-user.ts b/playwright/fixtures/widget-user.ts
index d21f443df..b21732594 100644
--- a/playwright/fixtures/widget-user.ts
+++ b/playwright/fixtures/widget-user.ts
@@ -29,47 +29,10 @@ export interface MyFixtures {
   addUser: (username: string, host: string) => Promise<UserBaseFixture>;
 }
 
-// Minimal config.json for the local element-web instance
-const CONFIG_JSON = {
-  default_server_config: {
-    "m.homeserver": {
-      base_url: "https://synapse.m.localhost",
-      server_name: "synapse.m.localhost",
-    },
-  },
-
-  element_call: {
-    participant_limit: 8,
-    brand: "Element Call",
-  },
-
-  // The default language is set here for test consistency
-  setting_defaults: {
-    language: "en-GB",
-    feature_group_calls: true,
-  },
-
-  // the location tests want a map style url.
-  map_style_url:
-    "https://api.maptiler.com/maps/streets/style.json?key=fU3vlMsMn4Jb6dnEIFsx",
-
-  features: {
-    // We don't want to go through the feature announcement during the e2e test
-    feature_release_announcement: false,
-    feature_element_call_video_rooms: true,
-    feature_video_rooms: true,
-    feature_group_calls: true,
-  },
-};
-
 export const widgetTest = test.extend<MyFixtures>({
   // allow per-test override: `widgetTest.use({ callType: "dm" })`
   callType: ["room", { option: true }],
-  asWidget: async ({ browser, context, callType }, pUse) => {
-    await context.route(`http://localhost:8081/config.json*`, async (route) => {
-      await route.fulfill({ json: CONFIG_JSON });
-    });
-
+  asWidget: async ({ browser, callType }, pUse) => {
     const brooksDisplayName = `brooks_${Date.now()}`;
     const whistlerDisplayName = `whistler_${Date.now()}`;
 
diff --git a/playwright/widget/test-helpers.ts b/playwright/widget/test-helpers.ts
index 8a821d511..4e255f869 100644
--- a/playwright/widget/test-helpers.ts
+++ b/playwright/widget/test-helpers.ts
@@ -153,9 +153,10 @@ export class TestHelpers {
     return { page, clientHandle, mxId };
   }
 
-  // Dismisses any toasts that appear on startup, such as "Failed to load service worker" or "Back up your chats".
-  // Toast can be stacked, and only the top one can be dismiss, so just look at what is on top and
-  // dismiss (if part of expected toats)
+  // Dismisses the toasts a fresh device gets after sign-in.
+  //
+  // Toasts stack and only the top one can be dismissed, so look
+  // at what is on top each time.
   public static async dismissStartupToasts(page: Page): Promise<void> {
     const expectedToasts: {
       title: string;
@@ -163,6 +164,7 @@ export class TestHelpers {
       confirm?: string;
     }[] = [
       { title: "Failed to load service worker", button: "OK" },
+      { title: "Verify this device", button: "Later" },
       { title: "Back up your chats", button: "Not now" },
       {
         title: "Turn on key storage",
@@ -213,30 +215,6 @@ export class TestHelpers {
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Clears what Element Web stacks over the room list after sign-in. The
-   * release announcement is held back while any toast is up, so it is closed
-   * after the toasts, not before.
-   */
-  public static async clearRoomListOverlays(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-    await TestHelpers.dismissStartupToasts(page);
-    await TestHelpers.closeReleaseAnnouncement(page, "Introducing Sections");
-  }
-
-  public static async closeReleaseAnnouncement(
-    page: Page,
-    name: string,
-  ): Promise<void> {
-    try {
-      await page
-        .getByRole("dialog", { name })
-        .getByRole("button", { name: "OK" })
-        .click({ timeout: 2000 });
-    } catch {
-      // Announcement not shown; nothing to do
-    }
-  }
-
   public static async expandAllSections(page: Page): Promise<void> {
     try {
       await page
@@ -282,15 +260,14 @@ export class TestHelpers {
   /**
    * Opens the room list's "New" menu and picks the given item.
    *
-   * While the sections announcement is anchored to the "New" button, the
-   * button has no menu at all, so the overlays go first. Driven by keyboard,
-   * as a toast arriving afterwards sits over the button and swallows clicks.
+   * Driven by keyboard, as a toast arriving late sits over the button and
+   * swallows clicks.
    */
   public static async chooseFromRoomListNewMenu(
     page: Page,
     itemName: string,
   ): Promise<void> {
-    await TestHelpers.clearRoomListOverlays(page);
+    await TestHelpers.dismissStartupToasts(page);
     await page
       .getByRole("navigation", { name: "Room list" })
       .getByRole("button", { name: "New", exact: true })
@@ -427,9 +404,8 @@ export class TestHelpers {
       name: "Toggle Invites section",
     });
     await expect(invitesSection).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
-    // Toasts and the announcement sit over the top of the room list, where
-    // this header is
-    await TestHelpers.clearRoomListOverlays(page);
+    // Toasts sit over the top of the room list, where this header is.
+    await TestHelpers.dismissStartupToasts(page);
     if ((await invitesSection.getAttribute("aria-expanded")) !== "true") {
       await invitesSection.click();
     }