diff --git a/CHANGES.markdown b/CHANGES.markdown
--- a/CHANGES.markdown
+++ b/CHANGES.markdown
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## Changes in 2.8.5
+  - hspec-core: Include help.txt in package tarball (close #568)
+  - hspec-discover: Require base >=4.5.0.0 (fixes #554)
+
 ## Changes in 2.8.4
   - Better support for GHC 9.2.1
   - Support for setting options by individual environment variables, e.g.
diff --git a/hspec.cabal b/hspec.cabal
--- a/hspec.cabal
+++ b/hspec.cabal
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 -- see: https://github.com/sol/hpack
 
 name:             hspec
-version:          2.8.4
+version:          2.8.5
 license:          MIT
 license-file:     LICENSE
 copyright:        (c) 2011-2021 Simon Hengel,
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@
   build-depends:
       QuickCheck >=2.12
     , base ==4.*
-    , hspec-core ==2.8.4
-    , hspec-discover ==2.8.4
+    , hspec-core ==2.8.5
+    , hspec-discover ==2.8.5
     , hspec-expectations ==0.8.2.*
   exposed-modules:
       Test.Hspec
diff --git a/version.yaml b/version.yaml
--- a/version.yaml
+++ b/version.yaml
@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
-&version 2.8.4
+&version 2.8.5