diff --git a/release/VERSION b/release/VERSION
index 1c593e17dae..6e272ad31f5 100644
--- a/release/VERSION
+++ b/release/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.48
+2.49
diff --git a/release/datafiles/splash.jpg b/release/datafiles/splash.jpg
index c65b2f37e87..deae8155ff4 100644
Binary files a/release/datafiles/splash.jpg and b/release/datafiles/splash.jpg differ