diff --git a/src/ai/ai.hpp b/src/ai/ai.hpp
index e090303bd9560..6daf667b244f0 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai.hpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai.hpp
@@ -23,12 +23,11 @@ class AI {
 	 * The default months AIs start after each other.
 	 */
 	enum StartNext {
-		START_NEXT_EASY   = DAYS_IN_YEAR * 2,
-		START_NEXT_MEDIUM = DAYS_IN_YEAR,
-		START_NEXT_HARD   = DAYS_IN_YEAR / 2,
-		START_NEXT_MIN    = 0,
-		START_NEXT_MAX    = 3600,
+		START_NEXT           = DAYS_IN_YEAR * 2,
+		START_NEXT_MIN       = 0,
+		START_NEXT_MAX       = 3600,
 		START_NEXT_DEVIATION = 60,
+		START_NEXT_STEP_SIZE = 30
 	};
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_config.cpp b/src/ai/ai_config.cpp
index 98618feb20eca..09c96258ecf7f 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai_config.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_config.cpp
@@ -9,39 +9,12 @@
 
 #include "../stdafx.h"
 #include "../settings_type.h"
-#include "../string_func.h"
 #include "ai.hpp"
 #include "ai_config.hpp"
 #include "ai_info.hpp"
 
 #include "../safeguards.h"
 
-/** Configuration for AI start date, every AI has this setting. */
-ScriptConfigItem _start_date_config = {
-	"start_date",
-	"", // STR_AI_SETTINGS_START_DELAY
-	AI::START_NEXT_MIN,
-	AI::START_NEXT_MAX,
-	AI::START_NEXT_MEDIUM,
-	AI::START_NEXT_EASY,
-	AI::START_NEXT_MEDIUM,
-	AI::START_NEXT_HARD,
-	AI::START_NEXT_DEVIATION,
-	30,
-	SCRIPTCONFIG_NONE,
-	nullptr,
-	false
-};
-
-AIConfig::AIConfig(const AIConfig *config) : ScriptConfig(config)
-{
-	/* Override start_date as per AIConfig::AddRandomDeviation().
-	 * This is necessary because the ScriptConfig constructor will instead call
-	 * ScriptConfig::AddRandomDeviation(). */
-	int start_date = config->GetSetting("start_date");
-	this->SetSetting("start_date", start_date != 0 ? std::max(1, this->GetSetting("start_date")) : 0);
-}
-
 /* static */ AIConfig *AIConfig::GetConfig(CompanyID company, ScriptSettingSource source)
 {
 	AIConfig **config;
@@ -69,70 +42,3 @@ bool AIConfig::ResetInfo(bool force_exact_match)
 	this->info = (ScriptInfo *)AI::FindInfo(this->name, force_exact_match ? this->version : -1, force_exact_match);
 	return this->info != nullptr;
 }
-
-void AIConfig::PushExtraConfigList()
-{
-	this->config_list->push_back(_start_date_config);
-}
-
-void AIConfig::ClearConfigList()
-{
-	/* The special casing for start_date is here to ensure that the
-	 *  start_date setting won't change even if you chose another Script. */
-	int start_date = this->GetSetting("start_date");
-
-	ScriptConfig::ClearConfigList();
-
-	this->SetSetting("start_date", start_date);
-}
-
-int AIConfig::GetSetting(const char *name) const
-{
-	if (this->info == nullptr) {
-		SettingValueList::const_iterator it = this->settings.find(name);
-		if (it == this->settings.end()) {
-			assert(strcmp("start_date", name) == 0);
-			switch (GetGameSettings().script.settings_profile) {
-				case SP_EASY:   return AI::START_NEXT_EASY;
-				case SP_MEDIUM: return AI::START_NEXT_MEDIUM;
-				case SP_HARD:   return AI::START_NEXT_HARD;
-				case SP_CUSTOM: return AI::START_NEXT_MEDIUM;
-				default: NOT_REACHED();
-			}
-		}
-
-		return (*it).second;
-	}
-
-	return ScriptConfig::GetSetting(name);
-}
-
-void AIConfig::SetSetting(const char *name, int value)
-{
-	if (this->info == nullptr) {
-		if (strcmp("start_date", name) != 0) return;
-		value = Clamp(value, AI::START_NEXT_MIN, AI::START_NEXT_MAX);
-
-		SettingValueList::iterator it = this->settings.find(name);
-		if (it != this->settings.end()) {
-			(*it).second = value;
-		} else {
-			this->settings[stredup(name)] = value;
-		}
-
-		return;
-	}
-
-	ScriptConfig::SetSetting(name, value);
-}
-
-void AIConfig::AddRandomDeviation()
-{
-	int start_date = this->GetSetting("start_date");
-
-	ScriptConfig::AddRandomDeviation();
-
-	/* start_date = 0 is a special case, where random deviation does not occur.
-	 * If start_date was not already 0, then a minimum value of 1 must apply. */
-	this->SetSetting("start_date", start_date != 0 ? std::max(1, this->GetSetting("start_date")) : 0);
-}
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_config.hpp b/src/ai/ai_config.hpp
index 6c861126e0484..a0f98d21876d6 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai_config.hpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_config.hpp
@@ -24,14 +24,12 @@ class AIConfig : public ScriptConfig {
 		ScriptConfig()
 	{}
 
-	AIConfig(const AIConfig *config);
+	AIConfig(const AIConfig *config) :
+		ScriptConfig(config)
+	{}
 
 	class AIInfo *GetInfo() const;
 
-	int GetSetting(const char *name) const override;
-	void SetSetting(const char *name, int value) override;
-	void AddRandomDeviation() override;
-
 	/**
 	 * When ever the AI Scanner is reloaded, all infos become invalid. This
 	 *  function tells AIConfig about this.
@@ -43,8 +41,6 @@ class AIConfig : public ScriptConfig {
 	bool ResetInfo(bool force_exact_match);
 
 protected:
-	void PushExtraConfigList() override;
-	void ClearConfigList() override;
 	ScriptInfo *FindInfo(const char *name, int version, bool force_exact_match) override;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_core.cpp b/src/ai/ai_core.cpp
index 220e7bdbd2312..d814ddabbe9c1 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai_core.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_core.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "../network/network.h"
 #include "../window_func.h"
 #include "../framerate_type.h"
+#include "../script/api/script_object.hpp"
 #include "ai_scanner.hpp"
 #include "ai_instance.hpp"
 #include "ai_config.hpp"
@@ -291,9 +292,20 @@
 
 /* static */ int AI::GetStartNextTime()
 {
-	/* Find the first company which doesn't exist yet */
-	for (CompanyID c = COMPANY_FIRST; c < MAX_COMPANIES; c++) {
-		if (!Company::IsValidID(c)) return AIConfig::GetConfig(c, AIConfig::SSS_FORCE_GAME)->GetSetting("start_date");
+	int start_next = _settings_game.ai.ai_start_next;
+	if (start_next > 0) {
+		/* Find the first company which doesn't exist yet */
+		for (CompanyID c = COMPANY_FIRST; c < MAX_COMPANIES; c++) {
+			if (!Company::IsValidID(c)) {
+				/* Add random deviation */
+				start_next += ScriptObject::GetRandomizer(c).Next(AI::START_NEXT_DEVIATION * 2 + 1) - AI::START_NEXT_DEVIATION;
+
+				/* ai_start_next = 0 is a special case, where random deviation does not occur.
+				 * If ai_start_next was not already 0, then a minimum value of 1 must apply. */
+				start_next = Clamp(start_next, 1, AI::START_NEXT_MAX);
+				return start_next;
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* Currently no AI can be started, check again in a year. */
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_gui.cpp b/src/ai/ai_gui.cpp
index da60bb9f98468..bbf311a129b28 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_gui.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "../settings_func.h"
 #include "../network/network_content.h"
 #include "../core/geometry_func.hpp"
+#include "../textbuf_gui.h"
 
 #include "ai.hpp"
 #include "ai_gui.hpp"
@@ -34,6 +35,12 @@ static const NWidgetPart _nested_ai_config_widgets[] = {
 	EndContainer(),
 	NWidget(WWT_PANEL, COLOUR_MAUVE, WID_AIC_BACKGROUND),
 		NWidget(NWID_VERTICAL), SetPIP(4, 4, 4),
+			NWidget(NWID_HORIZONTAL), SetPIP(7, 0, 7),
+				NWidget(WWT_PUSHARROWBTN, COLOUR_YELLOW, WID_AIC_SN_DECREASE), SetDataTip(AWV_DECREASE, STR_NULL),
+				NWidget(WWT_PUSHARROWBTN, COLOUR_YELLOW, WID_AIC_SN_INCREASE), SetDataTip(AWV_INCREASE, STR_NULL),
+				NWidget(NWID_SPACER), SetMinimalSize(6, 0),
+				NWidget(WWT_TEXT, COLOUR_MAUVE, WID_AIC_START_NEXT), SetDataTip(STR_AI_CONFIG_START_NEXT, STR_AI_CONFIG_START_NEXT_TOOLTIP), SetFill(1, 0),
+			EndContainer(),
 			NWidget(NWID_HORIZONTAL), SetPIP(7, 0, 7),
 				NWidget(WWT_PUSHARROWBTN, COLOUR_YELLOW, WID_AIC_DECREASE), SetDataTip(AWV_DECREASE, STR_NULL),
 				NWidget(WWT_PUSHARROWBTN, COLOUR_YELLOW, WID_AIC_INCREASE), SetDataTip(AWV_INCREASE, STR_NULL),
@@ -79,6 +86,7 @@ static WindowDesc _ai_config_desc(
  */
 struct AIConfigWindow : public Window {
 	CompanyID selected_slot; ///< The currently selected AI slot or \c INVALID_COMPANY.
+	AIConfigWidgets widget;  ///< corresponding widget to setting for which a value-entering window has been opened.
 	int line_height;         ///< Height of a single AI-name line.
 	Scrollbar *vscroll;      ///< Cache of the vertical scrollbar.
 
@@ -87,6 +95,7 @@ struct AIConfigWindow : public Window {
 		this->InitNested(WN_GAME_OPTIONS_AI); // Initializes 'this->line_height' as a side effect.
 		this->vscroll = this->GetScrollbar(WID_AIC_SCROLLBAR);
 		this->selected_slot = INVALID_COMPANY;
+		this->widget = WID_AIC_BACKGROUND;
 		NWidgetCore *nwi = this->GetWidget<NWidgetCore>(WID_AIC_LIST);
 		this->vscroll->SetCapacity(nwi->current_y / this->line_height);
 		this->vscroll->SetCount(MAX_COMPANIES);
@@ -103,6 +112,11 @@ struct AIConfigWindow : public Window {
 	void SetStringParameters(int widget) const override
 	{
 		switch (widget) {
+			case WID_AIC_START_NEXT:
+				SetDParam(0, STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_START_NEXT_VALUE);
+				SetDParam(1, GetGameSettings().ai.ai_start_next);
+				break;
+
 			case WID_AIC_NUMBER:
 				SetDParam(0, GetGameSettings().difficulty.max_no_competitors);
 				break;
@@ -112,6 +126,8 @@ struct AIConfigWindow : public Window {
 	void UpdateWidgetSize(int widget, Dimension *size, const Dimension &padding, Dimension *fill, Dimension *resize) override
 	{
 		switch (widget) {
+			case WID_AIC_SN_DECREASE:
+			case WID_AIC_SN_INCREASE:
 			case WID_AIC_DECREASE:
 			case WID_AIC_INCREASE:
 				*size = maxdim(*size, NWidgetScrollbar::GetHorizontalDimension());
@@ -179,8 +195,24 @@ struct AIConfigWindow : public Window {
 		}
 
 		switch (widget) {
+			case WID_AIC_SN_DECREASE:
+			case WID_AIC_SN_INCREASE: {
+				if (this->widget != WID_AIC_START_NEXT) CloseChildWindows(WC_QUERY_STRING);
+
+				int new_value;
+				if (widget == WID_AIC_SN_DECREASE) {
+					new_value = std::max((int)AI::START_NEXT_MIN, GetGameSettings().ai.ai_start_next - AI::START_NEXT_STEP_SIZE);
+				} else {
+					new_value = std::min((int)AI::START_NEXT_MAX, GetGameSettings().ai.ai_start_next + AI::START_NEXT_STEP_SIZE);
+				}
+				IConsoleSetSetting("ai.ai_start_next", new_value);
+				break;
+			}
+
 			case WID_AIC_DECREASE:
 			case WID_AIC_INCREASE: {
+				if (this->widget != WID_AIC_NUMBER) CloseChildWindows(WC_QUERY_STRING);
+
 				int new_value;
 				if (widget == WID_AIC_DECREASE) {
 					new_value = std::max(0, GetGameSettings().difficulty.max_no_competitors - 1);
@@ -191,6 +223,21 @@ struct AIConfigWindow : public Window {
 				break;
 			}
 
+			case WID_AIC_START_NEXT:
+			case WID_AIC_NUMBER: {
+				/* Display a query box so users can enter a custom value. */
+				this->widget = (AIConfigWidgets)widget;
+				int old_val;
+				if (widget == WID_AIC_NUMBER) {
+					old_val = GetGameSettings().difficulty.max_no_competitors;
+				} else {
+					old_val = GetGameSettings().ai.ai_start_next;
+				}
+				SetDParam(0, old_val);
+				ShowQueryString(STR_JUST_INT, STR_CONFIG_SETTING_QUERY_CAPTION, 5, this, CS_NUMERAL, widget == WID_AIC_NUMBER ? QSF_NONE : QSF_ENABLE_DEFAULT);
+				break;
+			}
+
 			case WID_AIC_LIST: { // Select a slot
 				this->selected_slot = (CompanyID)this->vscroll->GetScrolledRowFromWidget(pt.y, this, widget);
 				this->InvalidateData();
@@ -238,6 +285,22 @@ struct AIConfigWindow : public Window {
 		}
 	}
 
+	void OnQueryTextFinished(char *str) override
+	{
+		/* The user pressed cancel */
+		if (str == nullptr) return;
+
+		int32 value;
+		if (StrEmpty(str)) {
+			if (widget == WID_AIC_NUMBER) return;
+			value = AI::START_NEXT;
+		} else {
+			value = atoi(str);
+		}
+		IConsoleSetSetting(widget == WID_AIC_NUMBER ? "difficulty.max_no_competitors" : "ai.ai_start_next", value);
+		this->SetDirty();
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Some data on this window has become invalid.
 	 * @param data Information about the changed data.
@@ -251,6 +314,8 @@ struct AIConfigWindow : public Window {
 
 		if (!gui_scope) return;
 
+		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(WID_AIC_SN_DECREASE, GetGameSettings().ai.ai_start_next == AI::START_NEXT_MIN);
+		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(WID_AIC_SN_INCREASE, GetGameSettings().ai.ai_start_next == AI::START_NEXT_MAX);
 		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(WID_AIC_DECREASE, GetGameSettings().difficulty.max_no_competitors == 0);
 		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(WID_AIC_INCREASE, GetGameSettings().difficulty.max_no_competitors == MAX_COMPANIES - 1);
 		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(WID_AIC_CHANGE, this->selected_slot == INVALID_COMPANY);
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_info.cpp b/src/ai/ai_info.cpp
index b8bc1fb83d93b..7ca897c713d6f 100644
--- a/src/ai/ai_info.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_info.cpp
@@ -69,11 +69,6 @@ template <> const char *GetClassName<AIInfo, ST_AI>() { return "AIInfo"; }
 	SQInteger res = ScriptInfo::Constructor(vm, info);
 	if (res != 0) return res;
 
-	ScriptConfigItem config = _start_date_config;
-	config.name = stredup(config.name);
-	config.description = stredup(config.description);
-	info->config_list.push_front(config);
-
 	if (info->engine->MethodExists(*info->SQ_instance, "MinVersionToLoad")) {
 		if (!info->engine->CallIntegerMethod(*info->SQ_instance, "MinVersionToLoad", &info->min_loadable_version, MAX_GET_OPS)) return SQ_ERROR;
 	} else {
diff --git a/src/company_cmd.cpp b/src/company_cmd.cpp
index 3dcc2bd5702ab..b49870f891504 100644
--- a/src/company_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/company_cmd.cpp
@@ -727,13 +727,14 @@ void OnTick_Companies()
 
 	if (_game_mode != GM_MENU && AI::CanStartNew() && --_next_competitor_start == 0) {
 		/* Allow multiple AIs to possibly start in the same tick. */
-		do {
+		for (;;) {
 			if (!MaybeStartNewCompany()) break;
+			if (_settings_game.ai.ai_start_next != 0) break;
 
 			/* In networking mode, we can only send a command to start but it
 			 * didn't execute yet, so we cannot loop. */
 			if (_networking) break;
-		} while (AI::GetStartNextTime() == 0);
+		}
 	}
 
 	_cur_company_tick_index = (_cur_company_tick_index + 1) % MAX_COMPANIES;
diff --git a/src/lang/english.txt b/src/lang/english.txt
index 0a8a84a3d659b..5fd448e72827d 100644
--- a/src/lang/english.txt
+++ b/src/lang/english.txt
@@ -1704,6 +1704,10 @@ STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_PROFILE_HARD                              :Hard
 STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_IN_MULTIPLAYER                            :Allow AIs in multiplayer: {STRING2}
 STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_IN_MULTIPLAYER_HELPTEXT                   :Allow AI computer players to participate in multiplayer games
 
+STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_START_NEXT                                :Start delay between AIs (give or take): {STRING2}
+STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_START_NEXT_HELPTEXT                       :Number of days to wait before starting an AI, or subsequent AI(s) after the previous one.{}If the number of days is different than zero, a random deviation of 60 days is added, and the actual value in-game will be 'number_of_days + random(-60 days, 60 days)', with a minimum of 1 day and a maximum of 3600 days
+STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_START_NEXT_VALUE                          :{COMMA}{NBSP}day{P 0 "" s}
+
 STR_CONFIG_SETTING_SCRIPT_MAX_OPCODES                           :#opcodes before scripts are suspended: {STRING2}
 STR_CONFIG_SETTING_SCRIPT_MAX_OPCODES_HELPTEXT                  :Maximum number of computation steps that a script can take in one turn
 STR_CONFIG_SETTING_SCRIPT_MAX_MEMORY                            :Max memory usage per script: {STRING2}
@@ -4585,6 +4589,8 @@ STR_AI_CONFIG_HUMAN_PLAYER                                      :Human player
 STR_AI_CONFIG_RANDOM_AI                                         :Random AI
 STR_AI_CONFIG_NONE                                              :(none)
 STR_AI_CONFIG_MAX_COMPETITORS                                   :{LTBLUE}Maximum no. competitors: {ORANGE}{COMMA}
+STR_AI_CONFIG_START_NEXT                                        :{LTBLUE}Start delay between AIs (give or take): {ORANGE}{STRING1}
+STR_AI_CONFIG_START_NEXT_TOOLTIP                                :{BLACK}Number of days to wait before starting an AI, or subsequent AI(s) after the previous one.{}If the number of days is different than zero, a random deviation of 60 days is added, and the actual value in-game will be 'number_of_days + random(-60 days, 60 days)', with a minimum of 1 day and a maximum of 3600 days.{}If the number of days is zero, the AI(s) will start immediately.
 
 STR_AI_CONFIG_MOVE_UP                                           :{BLACK}Move Up
 STR_AI_CONFIG_MOVE_UP_TOOLTIP                                   :{BLACK}Move selected AI up in the list
@@ -4631,7 +4637,6 @@ STR_AI_SETTINGS_CAPTION_GAMESCRIPT                              :Game Script
 STR_AI_SETTINGS_CLOSE                                           :{BLACK}Close
 STR_AI_SETTINGS_RESET                                           :{BLACK}Reset
 STR_AI_SETTINGS_SETTING                                         :{RAW_STRING}: {ORANGE}{STRING1}
-STR_AI_SETTINGS_START_DELAY                                     :Number of days to start this AI after the previous one (give or take): {ORANGE}{STRING1}
 
 
 # Textfile window
diff --git a/src/openttd.cpp b/src/openttd.cpp
index 010b366632175..3d5ecbd9580d7 100644
--- a/src/openttd.cpp
+++ b/src/openttd.cpp
@@ -389,9 +389,6 @@ void MakeNewgameSettingsLive()
 		_settings_game.ai_config[c] = nullptr;
 		if (_settings_newgame.ai_config[c] != nullptr) {
 			_settings_game.ai_config[c] = new AIConfig(_settings_newgame.ai_config[c]);
-			if (!AIConfig::GetConfig(c, AIConfig::SSS_FORCE_GAME)->HasScript()) {
-				AIConfig::GetConfig(c, AIConfig::SSS_FORCE_GAME)->Change(nullptr);
-			}
 		}
 	}
 	_settings_game.game_config = nullptr;
diff --git a/src/saveload/afterload.cpp b/src/saveload/afterload.cpp
index 6ebf4ccff1fd5..803d4a6fe22a0 100644
--- a/src/saveload/afterload.cpp
+++ b/src/saveload/afterload.cpp
@@ -3203,6 +3203,10 @@ bool AfterLoadGame()
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (IsSavegameVersionBefore(SLV_AI_START_NEXT)) {
+		_settings_game.ai.ai_start_next = AI::START_NEXT;
+	}
+
 	/* Compute station catchment areas. This is needed here in case UpdateStationAcceptance is called below. */
 	Station::RecomputeCatchmentForAll();
 
diff --git a/src/saveload/saveload.h b/src/saveload/saveload.h
index 61d4047b152dc..ccad727342cc0 100644
--- a/src/saveload/saveload.h
+++ b/src/saveload/saveload.h
@@ -345,6 +345,7 @@ enum SaveLoadVersion : uint16 {
 	SLV_MULTITRACK_LEVEL_CROSSINGS,         ///< 302  PR#9931 v13.0  Multi-track level crossings.
 	SLV_NEWGRF_ROAD_STOPS,                  ///< 303  PR#10144 NewGRF road stops.
 	SLV_LINKGRAPH_EDGES,                    ///< 304  PR#10314 Explicitly store link graph edges destination, PR#10471 int64 instead of uint64 league rating
+	SLV_AI_START_NEXT,                      ///< 305  PR#10330 Rework AI "start_date" setting as game setting.
 
 	SL_MAX_VERSION,                         ///< Highest possible saveload version
 };
diff --git a/src/script/script_config.hpp b/src/script/script_config.hpp
index b243f3061f109..b6d73567ff6d8 100644
--- a/src/script/script_config.hpp
+++ b/src/script/script_config.hpp
@@ -51,8 +51,6 @@ struct ScriptConfigItem {
 
 typedef std::list<ScriptConfigItem> ScriptConfigItemList; ///< List of ScriptConfig items.
 
-extern ScriptConfigItem _start_date_config;
-
 /**
  * Script settings.
  */
diff --git a/src/script/script_gui.cpp b/src/script/script_gui.cpp
index 8c9a1abcc79d7..4b68bb301281e 100644
--- a/src/script/script_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/script/script_gui.cpp
@@ -373,14 +373,8 @@ struct ScriptSettingsWindow : public Window {
 			TextColour colour;
 			uint idx = 0;
 			if (StrEmpty(config_item.description)) {
-				if (this->slot != OWNER_DEITY && !strcmp(config_item.name, "start_date")) {
-					/* Build-in translation */
-					str = STR_AI_SETTINGS_START_DELAY;
-					colour = TC_LIGHT_BLUE;
-				} else {
-					str = STR_JUST_STRING;
-					colour = TC_ORANGE;
-				}
+				str = STR_JUST_STRING;
+				colour = TC_ORANGE;
 			} else {
 				str = STR_AI_SETTINGS_SETTING;
 				colour = TC_LIGHT_BLUE;
diff --git a/src/settings_gui.cpp b/src/settings_gui.cpp
index 5d14637e6452d..3088774995c7b 100644
--- a/src/settings_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/settings_gui.cpp
@@ -1880,6 +1880,7 @@ static SettingsContainer &GetSettingsTree()
 				npc->Add(new SettingEntry("script.script_max_memory_megabytes"));
 				npc->Add(new SettingEntry("difficulty.competitor_speed"));
 				npc->Add(new SettingEntry("ai.ai_in_multiplayer"));
+				npc->Add(new SettingEntry("ai.ai_start_next"));
 				npc->Add(new SettingEntry("ai.ai_disable_veh_train"));
 				npc->Add(new SettingEntry("ai.ai_disable_veh_roadveh"));
 				npc->Add(new SettingEntry("ai.ai_disable_veh_aircraft"));
diff --git a/src/settings_type.h b/src/settings_type.h
index 2a33d3be0eaba..9e1e3518fef91 100644
--- a/src/settings_type.h
+++ b/src/settings_type.h
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@ struct ConstructionSettings {
 /** Settings related to the AI. */
 struct AISettings {
 	bool   ai_in_multiplayer;                ///< so we allow AIs in multiplayer
+	uint16 ai_start_next;                    ///< days AIs start after each other
 	bool   ai_disable_veh_train;             ///< disable types for AI
 	bool   ai_disable_veh_roadveh;           ///< disable types for AI
 	bool   ai_disable_veh_aircraft;          ///< disable types for AI
diff --git a/src/table/settings/script_settings.ini b/src/table/settings/script_settings.ini
index 6444e4baf2648..6dbb813ca85eb 100644
--- a/src/table/settings/script_settings.ini
+++ b/src/table/settings/script_settings.ini
@@ -110,3 +110,17 @@ var      = ai.ai_disable_veh_ship
 def      = false
 str      = STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_BUILDS_SHIPS
 strhelp  = STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_BUILDS_SHIPS_HELPTEXT
+
+[SDT_VAR]
+var      = ai.ai_start_next
+type     = SLE_UINT16
+from     = SLV_AI_START_NEXT
+def      = AI::START_NEXT
+min      = AI::START_NEXT_MIN
+max      = AI::START_NEXT_MAX
+interval = AI::START_NEXT_STEP_SIZE
+str      = STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_START_NEXT
+strhelp  = STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_START_NEXT_HELPTEXT
+strval   = STR_CONFIG_SETTING_AI_START_NEXT_VALUE
+post_cb  = [](auto) { InvalidateWindowData(WC_GAME_OPTIONS, WN_GAME_OPTIONS_AI); }
+cat      = SC_BASIC
diff --git a/src/widgets/ai_widget.h b/src/widgets/ai_widget.h
index f50b6632c8563..62f6188a2a629 100644
--- a/src/widgets/ai_widget.h
+++ b/src/widgets/ai_widget.h
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
 /** Widgets of the #AIConfigWindow class. */
 enum AIConfigWidgets {
 	WID_AIC_BACKGROUND,       ///< Window background.
+	WID_AIC_SN_DECREASE,      ///< Decrease the AI start delay.
+	WID_AIC_SN_INCREASE,      ///< Increase the AI start delay.
+	WID_AIC_START_NEXT,       ///< Days to wait before starting an AI.
 	WID_AIC_DECREASE,         ///< Decrease the number of AIs.
 	WID_AIC_INCREASE,         ///< Increase the number of AIs.
 	WID_AIC_NUMBER,           ///< Number of AIs.