diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux.yml b/.github/workflows/linux.yml
index aea5f181..9b7de8cc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ on: [push]
 
 env: 
   VCPKG_BINARY_SOURCES: "clear;x-gha,readwrite"
+  CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE: "Release"
 
 jobs:
   debian-11-build:
@@ -147,4 +148,4 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test
         run: |
             chmod +x ./BeamMP-Server-tests
-            ./BeamMP-Server-tests
\ No newline at end of file
+            ./BeamMP-Server-tests
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 3b607a50..1105fd5a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ on:
 
 env:
   VCPKG_BINARY_SOURCES: "clear;x-gha,readwrite"
+  CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE: "Release"
 
 jobs:
   create-release:
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ jobs:
           prerelease: true
           body: |
               Files included in this release:
-              - `BeamMP-Server.exe` is the windows build.
+              - `BeamMP-Server.exe` is the windows build. You need to install the [Visual C++ Redistributables](https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe) to run this.
               - `BeamMP-Server-debian` is a Debian 11 build, requires `liblua5.3-0`.
               - `BeamMP-Server-ubuntu` is a Ubuntu 22.04 build, requires `liblua5.3-0`.
 
@@ -163,6 +164,6 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         with:
           upload_url: ${{ needs.create-release.outputs.upload_url }}
-          asset_path: ./bin/BeamMP-Server.exe
+          asset_path: ./bin/Release/BeamMP-Server.exe
           asset_name: BeamMP-Server.exe
-          asset_content_type: application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
\ No newline at end of file
+          asset_content_type: application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index c7e64505..f33ed92b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ on: [push]
 env:
   VCPKG_DEFAULT_TRIPLET: x64-windows-static
   VCPKG_BINARY_SOURCES: "clear;x-gha,readwrite"
+  CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE: "Release"
 
 jobs:
   windows-build:
@@ -38,5 +39,5 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
         with:
           name: BeamMP-Server-windows
-          path: ./bin/BeamMP-Server.exe
+          path: ./bin/Release/BeamMP-Server.exe
 
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 00f22364..a87bb373 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -126,9 +126,10 @@ include(FindThreads)
 # enables compile_commands.json for clang-related tools (such as the clang LS)
 set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON)
 
-# build debug builds by default (if not specified otherwise)
-if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
-  set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Debug")
+# build release builds by default (if not specified otherwise)
+if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+    message(NOTICE "No build type specified, defaulting to 'Release'")
+    set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Release")
 endif()
 
 if(UNIX)
diff --git a/include/Common.h b/include/Common.h
index 6df16157..47b08120 100644
--- a/include/Common.h
+++ b/include/Common.h
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class Application final {
     static inline std::mutex mShutdownHandlersMutex {};
     static inline std::deque<TShutdownHandler> mShutdownHandlers {};
 
-    static inline Version mVersion { 3, 1, 2 };
+    static inline Version mVersion { 3, 1, 3 };
 };
 
 std::string ThreadName(bool DebugModeOverride = false);
diff --git a/scripts/windows/2-build.sh b/scripts/windows/2-build.sh
index 28fee9bb..95124100 100755
--- a/scripts/windows/2-build.sh
+++ b/scripts/windows/2-build.sh
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 set -ex
 
-cmake --build bin --parallel -t BeamMP-Server
+cmake --build bin --parallel -t BeamMP-Server --config Release