diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7740d80..0a10697 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ Semantic Versioning.
 
 - Agent workflow now requires maintaining this changelog for every patch, minor, and major version.
 
-## [Unreleased]
+## [0.10.0-rc.1] — 2026-11-03
 
 ### Added
 
diff --git a/MEMORY.md b/MEMORY.md
index 7e151ef..947d643 100644
--- a/MEMORY.md
+++ b/MEMORY.md
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
 - **Priority change (2026-11-02):** the map optimization, pre-build NPC revisit,
   0.9.3 UI polish, 0.9.4 NPC visual optimization, 0.9.5 texture/material pass and
   0.9.6 integration are complete and in `DONE.md`. 0.10.0 release-candidate work
-  is next. The source version is 0.9.6.
+  is next. The source version is 0.10.0-rc.1.
 - **Release/legal blockers (0.10.0 work, 2026-11-03):** macOS remains unsigned
   (quarantine instructions only); AI image provider terms/commercial rights and
   external storefront/rating approval are not cleared; external playtests and the
diff --git a/PLAN.md b/PLAN.md
index f70c352..4487dfe 100644
--- a/PLAN.md
+++ b/PLAN.md
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ Primary decisions: [ADR-0007](docs/adr/0007-locomotion-and-input-layers.md), [AD
 
 ## Versioning and Delivery
 
-`config/version` in `project.godot` is the single version source (currently `0.9.6`). Releases are tagged `v<version>`; the CI pipeline builds and publishes the standard artifacts plus the optional Desktop HQ zip. Version bumps follow [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/). See [`docs/RELEASING.md`](docs/RELEASING.md) and [`README.md`](README.md) for commands.
+`config/version` in `project.godot` is the single version source (currently `0.10.0-rc.1`). Releases are tagged `v<version>`; the CI pipeline builds and publishes the standard artifacts plus the optional Desktop HQ zip. Version bumps follow [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/). See [`docs/RELEASING.md`](docs/RELEASING.md) and [`README.md`](README.md) for commands.
 
 ## Design Direction
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 19a21e6..f7c9c2e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ precision walk, the Joke Shop's Sunset Strip frontage, the TV Studio arrival, an
 > maps and the v0.9.3 UI/accessibility polish, with the full gallery, smoke matrix
 > and Web/Desktop HQ build re-verified.
 >
-> **Current source: v0.9.6** — tagged and built from the same commit.
+> **Current source: v0.10.0-rc.1** — the release-candidate source; the final tag is pending external playtest and legal review.
 > Releases are built automatically when a `vX.Y.Z` tag is pushed
 > (see [`docs/RELEASING.md`](docs/RELEASING.md)); manual builds use
 > `./tools/build_releases.sh`. Installer/AppImage packaging runs in the same pipeline
@@ -134,8 +134,9 @@ Full setup, every run/test/smoke command, and the controls table are in
 
 ## Development Status
 
-v0.9.6 is the current source version: the integrated texture/material and UI
-checkpoint on top of the 0.9.5 texture refinement (256² NPC maps, a 4× fabric weave with baked-AO removal, repaired
+v0.10.0-rc.1 is the current release-candidate source: the 0.9.6 integration
+checkpoint plus save-migration hardening and release tooling, on top of the 0.9.5
+texture refinement (256² NPC maps, a 4× fabric weave with baked-AO removal, repaired
 Walk of Fame/awning surfaces and per-phase skyline haze), on top of the v0.9.4
 NPC visual optimization and the v0.9.3 UI/accessibility polish pass. It builds on
 v0.9.2's Hollywood/Joke Shop map rebuilds, v0.9.1's Godot 4.7.2 baseline,
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index aa00d46..9271a33 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -62,8 +62,9 @@ verify every distribution path. This is the next minor release after the 0.9.x p
       may land after the freeze. (Frozen 2026-11-03 after the 0.9.6 integration
       checkpoint; this pass is limited to release reliability, accessibility,
       balance evidence and packaging.)
-- [ ] Produce a release-candidate build with the tutorial, campaign, all three venues, Help,
-      accessibility settings and checkpoint/resume enabled.
+- [-] Produce a release-candidate build with the tutorial, campaign, all three venues, Help,
+      accessibility settings and checkpoint/resume enabled. (claimed; building
+      `0.10.0-rc.1` from a clean worktree)
 - [ ] Run at least five first-time-player sessions covering the tutorial and one full venue shift;
       record where players get stuck, misunderstand evidence or choose disproportionate escalation.
 - [ ] Triage findings by severity (P0/P1/P2) and fix every P0/P1 onboarding/accessibility issue;
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 82dcadc..f00e613 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ This document follows the structure of the arc42 architecture documentation temp
 - **MINOR** — new venues, NPC archetypes, systems, or features that are backward compatible.
 - **PATCH** — bug fixes and small polish that do not change behavior.
 
-The single source of truth for the version is `config/version` in `project.godot` (currently `0.9.6`). Each release is tagged in git as `v<version>` (e.g. `v0.6.0`). The `0.x` series is pre-stable, so MINOR bumps may introduce breaking changes while the prototype is still stabilizing. `tools/build_releases.sh` and `tools/publish_release.sh` read the version from `project.godot`, so bumping it there is the only required step before a release. The full bump checklist lives in [`RELEASING.md`](RELEASING.md).
+The single source of truth for the version is `config/version` in `project.godot` (currently `0.10.0-rc.1`). Each release is tagged in git as `v<version>` (e.g. `v0.6.0`). The `0.x` series is pre-stable, so MINOR bumps may introduce breaking changes while the prototype is still stabilizing. `tools/build_releases.sh` and `tools/publish_release.sh` read the version from `project.godot`, so bumping it there is the only required step before a release. The full bump checklist lives in [`RELEASING.md`](RELEASING.md).
 
 ## 3. Context and Scope
 
diff --git a/project.godot b/project.godot
index b79920f..62f1067 100644
--- a/project.godot
+++ b/project.godot
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ config_version=5
 
 config/name="Gig Line"
 config/description="Workplace security simulation about observation, access verification, and proportionate escalation."
-config/version="0.9.6"
+config/version="0.10.0-rc.1"
 run/main_scene="res://scenes/main.tscn"
 config/features=PackedStringArray("4.7", "GL Compatibility")