diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 6abb735d9..d919b395c 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,34 @@
+45.beta
+=======
+* Load extensions as modules [Florian; !2795]
+* Run "perf" tests as external scripts [Florian; !2812]
+* Remove toLocaleFormat() from date [Evan; !2827]
+* Use Tecla for keyboard layout previews [Carlos; !2834]
+* Fix accessibility of quick settings sliders [Lukáš; !2762]
+* Port to EcmaScript modules [Evan, Florian; !2842, !2822, !1499, !2868]
+* Overhaul ExtensionUtils API for modules [Florian; !2832, !2837, !2838]
+* Add a camera indicator [Robert]
+* Add keyboard backlight quick toggle [Florian; !2820]
+* Hide popup menu ornaments by default [Florian, Sebastian; !2843]
+* Improve light style variant [Sam; !2823]
+* Add InjectionManager convenience API for extensions [Florian; !2809]
+* Use per-direction labels on ring/strip tablet actions [Carlos; !2766]
+* Misc. bug fixes and cleanups [Florian, Robert, Carlos, Daniel, Sebastian,
+  Takao; !2807, !2814, !2831, !2830, !2829, !2835, !2836, !2824, !2841, !2845,
+  !2846, !2850, !2849, !2844, !2854, !2852, !2855, !2856, !2860, !2718, !2861,
+  !2862, !2864, !2668, !2666]
+
+Contributors:
+  Takao Fujiwara, Carlos Garnacho, Sam Hewitt, Sebastian Keller, Robert Mader,
+  Florian Müllner, Lukáš Tyrychtr, Daniel van Vugt, Evan Welsh
+
+Translators:
+  Vasil Pupkin [be], Fabio Tomat [fur], Balázs Úr [hu], Ekaterine Papava [ka],
+  Yuri Chornoivan [uk], Artur So [ru], Danial Behzadi [fa], Ngọc Quân Trần [vi],
+  Yosef Or Boczko [he], Boyuan Yang [zh_CN], Hugo Carvalho [pt],
+  Daniel Rusek [cs], Jiri Grönroos [fi], Florentina Musat [ro],
+  Fran Dieguez [gl], Daniel Mustieles [es]
+
 45.alpha
 ========
 * Improve background apps menu [Florian; !2732, !2790]
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index b6bfc58da..1543dc5f4 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('gnome-shell', 'c',
-  version: '45.alpha',
+  version: '45.beta',
   meson_version: '>= 0.58.0',
   license: 'GPLv2+'
 )
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ gio_req = '>= 2.56.0'
 gi_req = '>= 1.49.1'
 gjs_req = '>= 1.73.1'
 gtk_req = '>= 4.0'
-mutter_req = '>= 45.alpha'
+mutter_req = '>= 45.beta'
 polkit_req = '>= 0.100'
 schemas_req = '>= 42.beta'
 startup_req = '>= 0.11'
diff --git a/subprojects/extensions-app/data/metainfo/org.gnome.Extensions.metainfo.xml.in b/subprojects/extensions-app/data/metainfo/org.gnome.Extensions.metainfo.xml.in
index 9c5346b47..2e285f92c 100644
--- a/subprojects/extensions-app/data/metainfo/org.gnome.Extensions.metainfo.xml.in
+++ b/subprojects/extensions-app/data/metainfo/org.gnome.Extensions.metainfo.xml.in
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
   </description>
 
   <releases>
+    <release version="45.beta" date="2023-08-07" type="development"/>
     <release version="45.alpha" date="2023-07-03" type="development">
       <p>Modernize layout</p>
     </release>
diff --git a/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build b/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
index 60d1e752f..ef8e50561 100644
--- a/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('gnome-extensions-app',
-  version: '45.alpha',
+  version: '45.beta',
   meson_version: '>= 0.58.0',
   license: 'GPLv2+'
 )
diff --git a/subprojects/extensions-tool/meson.build b/subprojects/extensions-tool/meson.build
index cc6d46784..0fc765c0d 100644
--- a/subprojects/extensions-tool/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/extensions-tool/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('gnome-extensions-tool', 'c',
-  version: '45.alpha',
+  version: '45.beta',
   meson_version: '>= 0.58.0',
   license: 'GPLv2+'
 )
diff --git a/subprojects/shew/meson.build b/subprojects/shew/meson.build
index 9bb372b58..18c180f6d 100644
--- a/subprojects/shew/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/shew/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('shew', 'c',
-  version: '45.alpha',
+  version: '45.beta',
   meson_version: '>= 0.58.0',
   license: 'LGPLv2+',
 )