diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8826d5a..54c512d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # DougleyBot
-[![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-1.2.7-green.svg?style=flat-square)](https://github.com/SteamingMutt/DougleyBot/releases)
+[![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-1.2.8-green.svg?style=flat-square)](https://github.com/SteamingMutt/DougleyBot/releases)
 [![Status](https://img.shields.io/badge/Status-Ready-green.svg?style=flat-square)]()
 [![Node](https://img.shields.io/badge/Node-4.2.2-blue.svg?style=flat-square)](http://nodejs.org)
 [![NPM](https://img.shields.io/badge/NPM-3.5.0-blue.svg?style=flat-square)](http://nodejs.org)
@@ -34,6 +34,6 @@ Check the wiki for more info.
 - [ ] Integrate a WolframAlpha command. The original DiscordBot had one, but that didn't work.
 - [ ] Make it so that log files are written when !log is used, instead of printing them to the console.
 - [x] Make it so that !help outputs into a DM, instead of printing it into the channel.
-- [ ] Intergrate Cleverbot support, but restrict it to a certain channel.
+- [ ] Integrate Cleverbot support, but restrict it to a certain channel.
 - [ ] Integrate a function to make DougleyBot stream music to a certain voice channel. (discord.js is being rewritten to support voice.)
 - [ ] Create a function to make DougleyBot create text/voice channels, but restrict it to a certain permission.
diff --git a/discord_bot.js b/discord_bot.js
index 5955309..2e4bba2 100644
--- a/discord_bot.js
+++ b/discord_bot.js
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@
 */
 //PMX breaks end-user functions
 //var pmx = require('pmx').init();
+var VersionChecker	= require("./versioncheck");
 
 var maintenance;
 
-var version = "1.2.7";
+var version = "1.2.8";
 
 var Discord = require("discord.js");
 
@@ -811,6 +812,14 @@ When all commands are loaded, start the connection to Discord!
 
 bot.on("ready", function () {
     loadFeeds();
+    console.log("Initializing...");
+    console.log("Checking for updates...");
+    VersionChecker.getStatus(function(err, status) {
+      if (err) { error(err); } // error handle
+      if (status && status !== "failed") {
+        console.log(status);
+      }
+    });
 	console.log("Ready to begin! Serving in " + bot.channels.length + " channels");
   bot.setPlayingGame(Math.floor(Math.random() * (max - min)) + min);
 });
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e1ba60a..6d9988d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "DougleyBot",
-  "version": "1.2.7",
+  "version": "1.2.8",
   "description": "Bot for Discord app",
   "readme": "README.md",
   "maintainers": [],
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@
     "youtube-node": "1.2.x"
   },
   "main": "discord_bot.js"
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/versioncheck.js b/versioncheck.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0203768
--- /dev/null
+++ b/versioncheck.js
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+var Request		= require("request");
+
+// ========================================================================
+// Version Fetching
+// ========================================================================
+
+var version = require("../package.json").version.split(".");
+
+exports.getCurrentVersion	= function() { return version.join("."); };
+exports.getCurrentMajor		= function() { return version[0]; };
+exports.getCurrentMinor		= function() { return version[1]; };
+exports.getCurrentPatch		= function() { return version[2]; };
+
+exports.getLatestVersion = function(callback) {
+
+	// fetch latest version number from GitHub
+	Request("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/SteamingMutt/DougleyBot/master/package.json", function (error, response, body) {
+
+		if (error) { return callback(error, null); } // error handle
+
+		if (response.statusCode == 200) {
+
+			var latest = JSON.parse(body).version.split(".");
+			return callback(null, JSON.parse(body).version); // return version
+
+		} else { // some other response code...
+			console.log("versioncheck failed:", { response: response.statusCode });
+			return callback(null, "failed");
+		}
+	});
+};
+
+exports.getLatestMajor = function(callback) {
+	this.getLatest(function(err, latest) {
+		if (err) { return callback(err, null); } // error handle
+		return callback(null, parseInt(latest.split(".")[0]));
+	});
+};
+
+exports.getLatestMinor = function(callback) {
+	this.getLatest(function(err, latest) {
+		if (err) { return callback(err, null); } // error handle
+		return callback(null, parseInt(latest.split(".")[1]));
+	});
+};
+
+exports.getLatestPatch = function(callback) {
+	this.getLatest(function(err, latest) {
+		if (err) { return callback(err, null); } // error handle
+		return callback(null, parseInt(latest.split(".")[2]));
+	});
+};
+
+// ========================================================================
+// Version Checking
+// ========================================================================
+
+exports.getStatus = function(callback) {
+
+	// fetch latest version number from GitHub
+	this.getLatestVersion(function(err, latest) {
+
+		if (err) { return callback(err, null); } // error handle
+		if (latest === "versioncheck failed") { return callback(null, latest); } // failure handle
+
+		// split result into an array
+		latest = latest.split(".");
+
+		// create variables for differences
+		var majorDiff = parseInt(latest[0]) - parseInt(version[0]);
+		var minorDiff = parseInt(latest[1]) - parseInt(version[1]);
+		var patchDiff = parseInt(latest[2]) - parseInt(version[2]);
+
+		// check for major updates
+		if (majorDiff < 0) {
+			return callback(null, "Bot is " + Math.abs(majorDiff) + " major versions ahead! (current: " + version.join(".") + ", latest: " + latest.join(".") + ")");
+		} else if (majorDiff > 0) {
+			return callback(null, "Bot is " + Math.abs(majorDiff) + " major versions behind. (current: " + version.join(".") + ", latest: " + latest.join(".") + ")");
+		}
+
+		// check for minor updates
+		if (minorDiff < 0) {
+			return callback(null, "Bot is " + Math.abs(minorDiff) + " minor versions ahead! (current: " + version.join(".") + ", latest: " + latest.join(".") + ")");
+		} else if (minorDiff > 0) {
+			return callback(null, "Bot is " + Math.abs(minorDiff) + " minor versions behind. (current: " + version.join(".") + ", latest: " + latest.join(".") + ")");
+		}
+
+		// check for patch updates
+		if (patchDiff < 0) {
+			return callback(null, "Bot is " + Math.abs(patchDiff) + " patch versions ahead! (current: " + version.join(".") + ", latest: " + latest.join(".") + ")");
+		} else if (patchDiff > 0) {
+			return callback(null, "Bot is " + Math.abs(patchDiff) + " patch versions behind. (current: " + version.join(".") + ", latest: " + latest.join(".") + ")");
+		}
+
+		// up to date :)
+		return callback(null, "Bot is fully up to date. (version: " + version.join(".") + ")");
+	});
+};