diff --git a/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/Editor/MultiplayerEditorConnection.cpp b/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/Editor/MultiplayerEditorConnection.cpp
index 3ca1af8b66..24858e6412 100644
--- a/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/Editor/MultiplayerEditorConnection.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/Editor/MultiplayerEditorConnection.cpp
@@ -146,7 +146,6 @@ namespace Multiplayer
                     {
                         // Connect the Editor to the editor server for Multiplayer simulation
                         AZ::Interface<IMultiplayer>::Get()->Connect(remoteAddress.c_str(), remotePort);
-                        AZ::Interface<IMultiplayer>::Get()->SendReadyForEntityUpdates(true);
                     }
             }
         }
diff --git a/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/Editor/MultiplayerEditorSystemComponent.cpp b/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/Editor/MultiplayerEditorSystemComponent.cpp
index 377fb1eb56..d13c6538db 100644
--- a/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/Editor/MultiplayerEditorSystemComponent.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/Editor/MultiplayerEditorSystemComponent.cpp
@@ -142,8 +142,14 @@ namespace Multiplayer
         }
 
         // Start the configured server if it's available
+        AZStd::string projectPath(AZ::Utils::GetProjectPath().c_str());
+        AZStd::replace(projectPath.begin(), projectPath.end(), AZ::IO::WindowsPathSeparator, AZ::IO::PosixPathSeparator);
         AzFramework::ProcessLauncher::ProcessLaunchInfo processLaunchInfo;
-        processLaunchInfo.m_commandlineParameters = AZStd::string::format("\"%s\" --editorsv_isDedicated true", serverPath.c_str());
+        processLaunchInfo.m_commandlineParameters = AZStd::string::format(
+            R"("%s" --project-path "%s" --editorsv_isDedicated true --sv_defaultPlayerSpawnAsset "%s")",
+            serverPath.c_str(),
+            projectPath.c_str(),
+            static_cast<AZ::CVarFixedString>(sv_defaultPlayerSpawnAsset).c_str());
         processLaunchInfo.m_showWindow = true;
         processLaunchInfo.m_processPriority = AzFramework::ProcessPriority::PROCESSPRIORITY_NORMAL;
 
diff --git a/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/MultiplayerSystemComponent.cpp b/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/MultiplayerSystemComponent.cpp
index e66eb8d3a3..9b04cd98d4 100644
--- a/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/MultiplayerSystemComponent.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/MultiplayerSystemComponent.cpp
@@ -489,11 +489,23 @@ namespace Multiplayer
     {
         m_didHandshake = true;
 
-        AZ::CVarFixedString commandString = "sv_map " + packet.GetMap();
-        AZ::Interface<AZ::IConsole>::Get()->PerformCommand(commandString.c_str());
+        // If this is an Editor then we're now accepting the connection to the EditorServer.
+        // In normal game clients SendReadyForEntityUpdates will be enabled once the appropriate level's root spawnable is loaded,
+        // but since we're in Editor, we're already in the level.
+        AZ::ApplicationTypeQuery applicationType;
+        AZ::ComponentApplicationBus::Broadcast(&AZ::ComponentApplicationRequests::QueryApplicationType, applicationType);
+        if (applicationType.IsEditor())
+        {
+            SendReadyForEntityUpdates(true);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            AZ::CVarFixedString commandString = "sv_map " + packet.GetMap();
+            AZ::Interface<AZ::IConsole>::Get()->PerformCommand(commandString.c_str());
 
-        AZ::CVarFixedString loadLevelString = "LoadLevel " + packet.GetMap();
-        AZ::Interface<AZ::IConsole>::Get()->PerformCommand(loadLevelString.c_str());
+            AZ::CVarFixedString loadLevelString = "LoadLevel " + packet.GetMap();
+            AZ::Interface<AZ::IConsole>::Get()->PerformCommand(loadLevelString.c_str());
+        }
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -981,7 +993,7 @@ namespace Multiplayer
         INetworkEntityManager::EntityList entityList = m_networkEntityManager.CreateEntitiesImmediate(playerPrefabEntityId, NetEntityRole::Authority, AZ::Transform::CreateIdentity(), Multiplayer::AutoActivate::DoNotActivate);
 
         NetworkEntityHandle controlledEntity;
-        if (entityList.size() > 0)
+        if (!entityList.empty())
         {
             controlledEntity = entityList[0];
         }
diff --git a/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/MultiplayerSystemComponent.h b/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/MultiplayerSystemComponent.h
index c467ed9ad9..ba014f814a 100644
--- a/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/MultiplayerSystemComponent.h
+++ b/Gems/Multiplayer/Code/Source/MultiplayerSystemComponent.h
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace AzNetworking
 
 namespace Multiplayer
 {
+    AZ_CVAR_EXTERNED(AZ::CVarFixedString, sv_defaultPlayerSpawnAsset);
+
     //! Multiplayer system component wraps the bridging logic between the game and transport layer.
     class MultiplayerSystemComponent final
         : public AZ::Component