diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index aa494e81..73c9dc0c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 
-VERSION=$(shell git describe --abbrev=8 --dirty 2>/dev/null || echo v0.11.3)
+VERSION=$(shell git describe --abbrev=8 --dirty 2>/dev/null || echo v0.12.0)
 WADS=wads
 ASCIIDOC=asciidoc
 ASCIIDOC_MAN=a2x -f manpage
diff --git a/NEWS.adoc b/NEWS.adoc
index 8b2a69d7..aa89c065 100644
--- a/NEWS.adoc
+++ b/NEWS.adoc
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 = Freedoom project news
 
-== HEAD
+== 0.12.0 (2019-10-10)
 === General
   * We now have a manual rendered to beautiful PDF format.  Thanks to
     Simon Howard, the project’s founder.
   * A strong focus on vanilla compatibility has been sought for this
-    release.  We may not be perfect, but we are getting there.
+    release.  Most, if not all, levels should work now.
   * _Final Doom_ compatibility de-emphasized.  Where it creates
     conflicts with _Doom II_ mods or texture definitions, we prefer
     the _Doom II_ side of things.  _Final Doom_-specific maps and mods