diff --git a/src/lib/artifact-version.ts b/src/lib/artifact-version.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5d03ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/artifact-version.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+/** Keep the upload number visible: two builds may share a publisher's release tag. */
+export function artifactVersionLabel(version: { version: number; release_version?: string | null } | null | undefined): string {
+    if (!version) return '—';
+    return version.release_version
+        ? `${version.release_version} (upload ${version.version})`
+        : `v${version.version}`;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/server/db/index.ts b/src/lib/server/db/index.ts
index fb48a5a..ec13947 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/db/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/db/index.ts
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ const SCRIPTS_COLUMNS: Array<{ name: string; ddl: string }> = [
 ];
 
 const SCRIPT_VERSIONS_COLUMNS: Array<{ name: string; ddl: string }> = [
+    { name: 'release_version', ddl: 'ALTER TABLE script_versions ADD COLUMN release_version TEXT' },
     // state was added post-launch to make untested/tested/test-failed visible
     // in the UI. Existing rows default to 'untested' — this is safe because
     // any real promoted version's script has current_version_id set (which is
diff --git a/src/lib/server/db/schema.sql b/src/lib/server/db/schema.sql
index d8db5cf..24f9cca 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/db/schema.sql
+++ b/src/lib/server/db/schema.sql
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS script_versions (
     id           INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
     script_id    INTEGER NOT NULL REFERENCES scripts(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
     version      INTEGER NOT NULL,
+    release_version TEXT,                         -- publisher's version/tag, independent of upload order
     sha256       TEXT NOT NULL,
     size         INTEGER NOT NULL,
     content      BLOB NOT NULL,
diff --git a/src/lib/server/fleet/scripts.ts b/src/lib/server/fleet/scripts.ts
index f4755d0..b3208a8 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/fleet/scripts.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/fleet/scripts.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export interface ScriptVersionRow {
     id: number;
     script_id: number;
     version: number;
+    release_version: string | null;
     sha256: string;
     size: number;
     content: Buffer;
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ export class ScriptError extends Error {
             | 'baseline-requires-scope'
             | 'baseline-exists'
             | 'empty-overlay'
+            | 'invalid-release-version'
     ) {
         super(message);
     }
@@ -75,6 +77,14 @@ function sha256(buf: Buffer): string {
     return createHash('sha256').update(buf).digest('hex');
 }
 
+function normalizeReleaseVersion(value: string | null | undefined): string | null {
+    if (value == null) return null;
+    if (typeof value !== 'string' || value.length > 80 || /[\u0000-\u001f\u007f]/.test(value)) {
+        throw new ScriptError('release version must be a single line of at most 80 characters', 'invalid-release-version');
+    }
+    return value.trim() || null;
+}
+
 export function getScript(id: number): ScriptRow | undefined {
     return db().prepare('SELECT * FROM scripts WHERE id = ?').get(id) as ScriptRow | undefined;
 }
@@ -157,6 +167,8 @@ export interface CreateScriptInput {
     scopeValue?: string | null;
     content: Buffer;
     notes?: string;
+    /** Publisher's release tag, e.g. v3.1.0. Upload numbering stays independent. */
+    releaseVersion?: string;
     /** Defaults to 'script' for back-compat with existing callers. */
     kind?: ArtifactKind;
 }
@@ -206,6 +218,7 @@ export function createScript(input: CreateScriptInput): { script: ScriptRow; ver
     if (getScriptByName(input.name)) throw new ScriptError(`script "${input.name}" already exists`, 'name-taken');
 
     const sha = sha256(input.content);
+    const releaseVersion = normalizeReleaseVersion(input.releaseVersion);
     const size = input.content.byteLength;
 
     const insertScript = db().prepare(
@@ -213,8 +226,8 @@ export function createScript(input: CreateScriptInput): { script: ScriptRow; ver
          VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`
     );
     const insertVersion = db().prepare(
-        `INSERT INTO script_versions (script_id, version, sha256, size, content, notes, kind)
-         VALUES (?, 1, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`
+        `INSERT INTO script_versions (script_id, version, sha256, size, content, notes, kind, release_version)
+         VALUES (?, 1, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`
     );
 
     let scriptId!: number;
@@ -222,7 +235,7 @@ export function createScript(input: CreateScriptInput): { script: ScriptRow; ver
     db().transaction(() => {
         const s = insertScript.run(input.name, targetRelPath, input.scopeType ?? null, input.scopeValue ?? null, kind);
         scriptId = Number(s.lastInsertRowid);
-        const v = insertVersion.run(scriptId, sha, size, input.content, input.notes ?? null, kind);
+        const v = insertVersion.run(scriptId, sha, size, input.content, input.notes ?? null, kind, releaseVersion);
         versionId = Number(v.lastInsertRowid);
     })();
 
@@ -232,7 +245,7 @@ export function createScript(input: CreateScriptInput): { script: ScriptRow; ver
     };
 }
 
-export function uploadNewVersion(scriptId: number, content: Buffer, notes?: string): ScriptVersionRow {
+export function uploadNewVersion(scriptId: number, content: Buffer, notes?: string, releaseVersion?: string): ScriptVersionRow {
     const script = getScript(scriptId);
     if (!script) throw new ScriptError(`no such script (id=${scriptId})`, 'no-such-script');
 
@@ -249,13 +262,14 @@ export function uploadNewVersion(scriptId: number, content: Buffer, notes?: stri
     const latest = getLatestVersion(scriptId);
     const nextVersion = (latest?.version ?? 0) + 1;
     const sha = sha256(content);
+    const release = normalizeReleaseVersion(releaseVersion);
 
     const res = db()
         .prepare(
-            `INSERT INTO script_versions (script_id, version, sha256, size, content, notes, kind)
-             VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`
+            `INSERT INTO script_versions (script_id, version, sha256, size, content, notes, kind, release_version)
+             VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`
         )
-        .run(scriptId, nextVersion, sha, content.byteLength, content, notes ?? null, script.kind);
+        .run(scriptId, nextVersion, sha, content.byteLength, content, notes ?? null, script.kind, release);
     return getVersion(Number(res.lastInsertRowid))!;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/components/ArtifactDetail.svelte b/src/lib/ui/components/ArtifactDetail.svelte
index b8e4536..1fa9ad0 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/components/ArtifactDetail.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/components/ArtifactDetail.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
     import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
+    import { artifactVersionLabel } from '$lib/artifact-version.js';
     import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
     import Card from './primitives/Card.svelte';
     import Badge from './primitives/Badge.svelte';
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@
     }
     interface Version {
         id: number; version: number; sha256: string; size: number;
+        release_version: string | null;
         notes: string | null; state: 'untested' | 'tested' | 'test-failed';
         uploaded_at: string;
     }
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@
 
     let versionFile = $state<File | null>(null);
     let versionNotes = $state('');
+    let releaseVersion = $state('');
     let uploadingVersion = $state(false);
 
     let scopeDialog = $state<HTMLDialogElement | null>(null);
@@ -143,6 +146,7 @@
     }
     function openUploadModal(): void {
         if (runningBetaId !== null) return;
+        releaseVersion = '';
         versionFile = null;
         versionNotes = '';
         flash = null;
@@ -169,6 +173,7 @@
         uploadingVersion = true; flash = null;
         const form = new FormData();
         form.append('content', versionFile);
+        if (family === 'plugin') form.append('releaseVersion', releaseVersion.trim());
         if (versionNotes.trim()) form.append('notes', versionNotes.trim());
         try {
             const res = await fetch(`/api/scripts/${id}/versions`, { method: 'POST', body: form });
@@ -302,7 +307,7 @@
                     <span class="k">Current version</span>
                     <span class="v mono">
                         {#if currentVersion}
-                            v{currentVersion.version} · {currentVersion.sha256.slice(0, 8)}
+                            {artifactVersionLabel(currentVersion)} · {currentVersion.sha256.slice(0, 8)}
                             <Badge variant="online" size="sm">Promoted</Badge>
                         {:else}
                             <span class="dim">Never promoted — open a <a href="/betas">beta</a></span>
@@ -313,7 +318,7 @@
                     <div class="kv">
                         <span class="k">Latest version</span>
                         <span class="v mono">
-                            v{latestVersion.version} · {latestVersion.sha256.slice(0, 8)}
+                            {artifactVersionLabel(latestVersion)} · {latestVersion.sha256.slice(0, 8)}
                             <Badge variant={stateVariant(latestVersion.state)} size="sm">{latestVersion.state}</Badge>
                         </span>
                     </div>
@@ -332,7 +337,7 @@
                 <div class="version-list">
                     {#each versions as v (v.id)}
                         <div class="version-row" class:current={a.current_version_id === v.id}>
-                            <span class="v-num">v{v.version}</span>
+                            <span class="v-num">{artifactVersionLabel(v)}</span>
                             <span class="v-sha">{v.sha256.slice(0, 12)}</span>
                             <span class="v-size">{v.size} B</span>
                             <span class="v-notes">{v.notes ?? ''}</span>
@@ -391,8 +396,13 @@
                     <button type="button" class="close" onclick={cancelUploadModal} aria-label="Close">×</button>
                 </header>
                 <Field label="File">
-                    <Input type="file" onchange={pickVersionFile} disabled={uploadingVersion} />
+                    <Input type="file" accept={family === 'plugin' ? '.dll' : undefined} onchange={pickVersionFile} disabled={uploadingVersion} />
                 </Field>
+                {#if family === 'plugin'}
+                    <Field label="Release version" hint="Optional. Use the publisher’s version or release tag, such as v3.1.0.">
+                        <Input bind:value={releaseVersion} placeholder="v3.1.0" disabled={uploadingVersion} />
+                    </Field>
+                {/if}
                 <Field label="Notes" hint="Optional. What changed since the previous version.">
                     <Input bind:value={versionNotes} placeholder="what changed" disabled={uploadingVersion} />
                 </Field>
@@ -473,7 +483,7 @@
     .version-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--space-1); }
     .version-row {
         display: grid;
-        grid-template-columns: 60px 130px 80px 1fr 220px auto;
+        grid-template-columns: minmax(100px, 1fr) 130px 80px 1fr 220px auto;
         gap: var(--space-3);
         align-items: center;
         padding: var(--space-2) var(--space-3);
@@ -487,7 +497,7 @@
         border-color: rgba(124, 212, 255, 0.35);
         background: rgba(124, 212, 255, 0.04);
     }
-    .v-num { color: var(--text-primary); font-weight: var(--weight-semibold); }
+    .v-num { color: var(--text-primary); font-weight: var(--weight-semibold); overflow-wrap: anywhere; }
     .v-sha, .v-size, .v-when { color: var(--text-tertiary); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; }
     .v-notes { color: var(--text-secondary); font-family: var(--font-body); font-size: var(--text-sm); }
 
diff --git a/src/routes/api/betas/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/betas/+server.ts
index 8c54395..f5e655a 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/betas/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/betas/+server.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export async function GET({ url }: { url: URL }) {
                 target_rel_path: script?.target_rel_path ?? '',
                 kind: script?.kind ?? bs.kind ?? 'script',
                 version: version
-                    ? { id: version.id, version: version.version, sha256: version.sha256 }
+                    ? { id: version.id, version: version.version, release_version: version.release_version, sha256: version.sha256 }
                     : null
             };
         });
diff --git a/src/routes/api/betas/[id]/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/betas/[id]/+server.ts
index c8f5c5b..13bc775 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/betas/[id]/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/betas/[id]/+server.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export async function GET({ params }: { params: { id: string } }) {
             target_rel_path: script?.target_rel_path ?? '',
             kind: script?.kind ?? bs.kind ?? 'script',
             version: version
-                ? { id: version.id, version: version.version, sha256: version.sha256 }
+                ? { id: version.id, version: version.version, release_version: version.release_version, sha256: version.sha256 }
                 : null
         };
     });
diff --git a/src/routes/api/scripts/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/scripts/+server.ts
index 78a3e5c..f0e3e30 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/scripts/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/scripts/+server.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ export async function GET({ url }: { url: URL }) {
                 ? {
                       id: versions[0].id,
                       version: versions[0].version,
+                      release_version: versions[0].release_version,
                       sha256: versions[0].sha256,
                       size: versions[0].size,
                       state: versions[0].state,
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ export async function GET({ url }: { url: URL }) {
 
 // Multipart POST — creates an artifact + version 1 from either an uploaded
 // file (script/plugin/baseline) or a text body (config overlay). Fields:
-// name, scopeType, scopeValue, notes, kind (defaults to 'script'),
+// name, scopeType, scopeValue, notes, releaseVersion, kind (defaults to 'script'),
 // content (file). Configs may alternatively send `text` as a form field.
 export async function POST({ request, url }: { request: Request; url: URL }) {
     const form = await request.formData();
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ export async function POST({ request, url }: { request: Request; url: URL }) {
             scopeValue,
             content,
             notes,
+            releaseVersion: form.has('releaseVersion') ? String(form.get('releaseVersion')) : undefined,
             kind
         });
         return json({ ok: true, script, versionId: version.id });
diff --git a/src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/+server.ts
index 5f76ca0..caf1e52 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/+server.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export async function GET({ params }: { params: { id: string } }) {
     const versions = listVersions(id).map((v) => ({
         id: v.id,
         version: v.version,
+        release_version: v.release_version,
         sha256: v.sha256,
         size: v.size,
         notes: v.notes,
diff --git a/src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/versions/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/versions/+server.ts
index 1b35e28..ee62492 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/versions/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/versions/+server.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ function parseId(idRaw: string): number | null {
 }
 
 // Multipart POST — creates a new version from an uploaded file. Fields:
-// content (file), notes (optional). Response includes a "betaRequired" hint
+// content (file), notes and releaseVersion (optional). Response includes a "betaRequired" hint
 // when the script has a scope so the UI can nudge the operator to open a beta.
 export async function POST({ params, request }: { params: { id: string }; request: Request }) {
     const scriptId = parseId(params.id);
@@ -22,12 +22,14 @@ export async function POST({ params, request }: { params: { id: string }; reques
 
     const content = Buffer.from(await file.arrayBuffer());
     try {
-        const version = uploadNewVersion(scriptId, content, notes);
+        const releaseVersion = form.has('releaseVersion') ? String(form.get('releaseVersion')) : undefined;
+        const version = uploadNewVersion(scriptId, content, notes, releaseVersion);
         return json({
             ok: true,
             version: {
                 id: version.id,
                 version: version.version,
+                release_version: version.release_version,
                 sha256: version.sha256,
                 size: version.size,
                 notes: version.notes,
diff --git a/src/routes/betas/+page.svelte b/src/routes/betas/+page.svelte
index df5ab54..38f9bdc 100644
--- a/src/routes/betas/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/betas/+page.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
     import BetaPlanBuilder from "$ui/components/BetaPlanBuilder.svelte";
     import { defaultPlan, parseBetaPlan } from "$lib/beta-plan.js";
     import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
+    import { artifactVersionLabel } from '$lib/artifact-version.js';
     import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
     import Card from '$ui/components/primitives/Card.svelte';
     import Badge from '$ui/components/primitives/Badge.svelte';
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@
         closed_at: string | null;
         scripts: Array<{
             id: number; name: string; target_rel_path: string; kind: ArtifactKind;
-            version: { id: number; version: number; sha256: string } | null;
+            version: { id: number; version: number; release_version: string | null; sha256: string } | null;
         }>;
         servers: Array<{ server: string; stage: string; error: string | null }>;
     }
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@
         } | null;
         runningBetaId: number | null;
     }
-    interface Version { id: number; version: number; sha256: string; size: number; state: 'untested' | 'tested' | 'test-failed'; }
+    interface Version { id: number; version: number; release_version: string | null; sha256: string; size: number; state: 'untested' | 'tested' | 'test-failed'; }
     interface ServerRow { name: string; game: string | null; map: string | null; }
     interface ScriptDetail { script: ScriptListRow; versions: Version[]; matchedServers: string[]; }
     interface Pick { key: number; scriptId: number | null; versionId: number | null; }
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@
         if (b.scripts.length === 0) return '(no artifacts)';
         if (b.scripts.length === 1) {
             const s = b.scripts[0];
-            return `[${s.kind}] ${s.name} · v${s.version?.version ?? '?'}`;
+            return `[${s.kind}] ${s.name} · ${artifactVersionLabel(s.version)}`;
         }
         const byKind: Record<string, number> = {};
         for (const s of b.scripts) byKind[s.kind] = (byKind[s.kind] ?? 0) + 1;
@@ -265,7 +266,7 @@
                                                 <option value={null}>—</option>
                                             {:else}
                                                 {#each versionsForRow(row) as v (v.id)}
-                                                    <option value={v.id}>v{v.version} · {v.sha256.slice(0, 8)} · {v.state}</option>
+                                                    <option value={v.id}>{artifactVersionLabel(v)} · {v.sha256.slice(0, 8)} · {v.state}</option>
                                                 {/each}
                                             {/if}
                                         </select>
diff --git a/src/routes/betas/[id]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/betas/[id]/+page.svelte
index 32d57d0..b127574 100644
--- a/src/routes/betas/[id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/betas/[id]/+page.svelte
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+    import { artifactVersionLabel } from '$lib/artifact-version.js';
     import BetaTestProgress from "$ui/components/BetaTestProgress.svelte";
     import type { BetaTestView } from "$lib/beta-plan.js";
     import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@
     interface BetaScript {
         id: number; name: string; target_rel_path: string;
         kind: 'script' | 'config' | 'plugin' | 'baseline';
-        version: { id: number; version: number; sha256: string } | null;
+        version: { id: number; version: number; release_version: string | null; sha256: string } | null;
     }
 
     let test = $state<BetaTestView | null>(null);
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@
                             <Badge variant="neutral" size="sm" uppercase>{s.kind}</Badge>
                             <a class="s-name" href="/scripts/{s.id}">{s.name}</a>
                             <span class="s-target">{s.target_rel_path}</span>
-                            <span class="s-ver">v{s.version?.version ?? '?'}</span>
+                            <span class="s-ver">{artifactVersionLabel(s.version)}</span>
                             <span class="s-sha">{s.version?.sha256.slice(0, 8) ?? ''}</span>
                         </div>
                     {/each}
diff --git a/src/routes/plugins/+page.svelte b/src/routes/plugins/+page.svelte
index 88e363d..de778cb 100644
--- a/src/routes/plugins/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/plugins/+page.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
     import { onMount } from 'svelte';
+    import { artifactVersionLabel } from '$lib/artifact-version.js';
     import Card from '$ui/components/primitives/Card.svelte';
     import Badge from '$ui/components/primitives/Badge.svelte';
     import Button from '$ui/components/primitives/Button.svelte';
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@
         kind: ArtifactKind;
         latestVersion: {
             id: number; version: number; sha256: string; size: number;
+            release_version: string | null;
             state: 'untested' | 'tested' | 'test-failed'; uploaded_at: string;
         } | null;
         versionCount: number;
@@ -33,9 +35,10 @@
     let flash = $state<string | null>(null);
     let uploading = $state(false);
     let scopeOptions = $state<ScopeOptions>({ games: [], mapsByGame: {} });
-    let successBanner = $state<{ name: string; artifactId: number; version: number } | null>(null);
+    let successBanner = $state<{ name: string; artifactId: number; version: number; release_version: string | null } | null>(null);
 
     let newName = $state('');
+    let newReleaseVersion = $state('');
     let newScopeType = $state<'none' | 'game' | 'map'>('none');
     let newScopeGame = $state('');
     let newScopeMap = $state('');
@@ -85,6 +88,7 @@
         const form = new FormData();
         form.append('name', newName.trim());
         form.append('kind', 'plugin');
+        form.append('releaseVersion', newReleaseVersion.trim());
         form.append('scopeType', newScopeType);
         if (scopeValue) form.append('scopeValue', scopeValue);
         if (newNotes.trim()) form.append('notes', newNotes.trim());
@@ -94,9 +98,10 @@
             const body = (await res.json()) as { ok: boolean; error?: string; script?: { id: number; name: string } };
             if (!res.ok || !body.ok) { flash = body.error ?? `HTTP ${res.status}`; return; }
             successBanner = body.script
-                ? { name: body.script.name, artifactId: body.script.id, version: 1 }
+                ? { name: body.script.name, artifactId: body.script.id, version: 1, release_version: newReleaseVersion.trim() || null }
                 : null;
             newName = ''; newScopeType = 'none'; newScopeGame = ''; newScopeMap = ''; newNotes = ''; newFile = null;
+            newReleaseVersion = '';
             await load();
         } finally {
             uploading = false;
@@ -121,7 +126,7 @@
         if (!a.latestVersion) return '';
         if (a.current_version_id === null) return 'untested';
         if (a.latestVersion.id !== a.current_version_id) {
-            return `v${a.latestVersion.version} ${a.latestVersion.state.replace('-', ' ')}`;
+            return `${artifactVersionLabel(a.latestVersion)} ${a.latestVersion.state.replace('-', ' ')}`;
         }
         return '';
     }
@@ -148,7 +153,7 @@
         <h2 class="panel-title">Upload a plugin</h2>
         {#if successBanner}
             <div class="banner">
-                <strong>v{successBanner.version} of "{successBanner.name}" uploaded — untested.</strong>
+                <strong>{artifactVersionLabel(successBanner)} of "{successBanner.name}" uploaded — untested.</strong>
                 <span>Open a beta on <a href="/betas">the betas page</a> to test it before promotion.</span>
             </div>
         {/if}
@@ -156,6 +161,9 @@
             <Field label="Name">
                 <Input bind:value={newName} placeholder="my plugin" disabled={uploading} />
             </Field>
+            <Field label="Release version" hint="Optional. Use the publisher’s version or release tag, such as v3.1.0.">
+                <Input bind:value={newReleaseVersion} placeholder="v3.1.0" disabled={uploading} />
+            </Field>
             <Field label="Notes" hint="Optional. What changed in this version.">
                 <Input bind:value={newNotes} placeholder="what changed" disabled={uploading} />
             </Field>
@@ -218,7 +226,7 @@
                         </div>
                         <div class="row-meta">
                             <span class="path">{a.target_rel_path}</span>
-                            <span>v{a.latestVersion?.version ?? '—'} · {a.versionCount} version{a.versionCount === 1 ? '' : 's'}</span>
+                            <span>{artifactVersionLabel(a.latestVersion)} · {a.versionCount} version{a.versionCount === 1 ? '' : 's'}</span>
                             {#if a.servers.length}
                                 <span>{a.servers.length} matching server{a.servers.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}</span>
                             {/if}
diff --git a/tests/unit/config-flow.test.ts b/tests/unit/config-flow.test.ts
index 2d5eb0d..5417d15 100644
--- a/tests/unit/config-flow.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/config-flow.test.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ describe('plugin kind writes to plugin destination', () => {
         const { script } = createScript({
             name: 'demo plugin',
             kind: 'plugin',
+            releaseVersion: 'v3.1.0',
             targetRelPath: 'demo.dll',
             scopeType: 'game',
             scopeValue: 't5',
@@ -149,5 +150,8 @@ describe('plugin kind writes to plugin destination', () => {
         const bytes = await readFile(pluginPath);
         expect(bytes.equals(Buffer.from([0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03]))).toBe(true);
         expect(betaId).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+        const { GET } = await import('../../src/routes/api/betas/[id]/+server.js');
+        const detail = await (await GET({ params: { id: String(betaId) } })).json();
+        expect(detail.scripts[0].version.release_version).toBe('v3.1.0');
     });
 });
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugin-versions.test.ts b/tests/unit/plugin-versions.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3940824
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/plugin-versions.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { newFixture, type Fixture } from '../helpers/fixture.js';
+
+let fixture: Fixture;
+beforeEach(async () => {
+    vi.resetModules();
+    fixture = await newFixture();
+    delete process.env.KOMODO_ADDRESS;
+    delete process.env.RCON_PASSWORD;
+});
+afterEach(async () => { await fixture.cleanup(); });
+
+const plugin = {
+    name: 't6-gsc-utils', kind: 'plugin' as const,
+    targetRelPath: 't6-gsc-utils.dll', content: Buffer.from([0, 1, 2, 3])
+};
+
+describe('plugin release versions', () => {
+    it('keeps release tags independent of upload order and preserves binary identity', async () => {
+        const { createScript, uploadNewVersion, listVersions, getVersion } = await import('../../src/lib/server/fleet/scripts.js');
+        const { script, version } = createScript({ ...plugin, releaseVersion: ' v3.1.0 ' });
+        expect(version).toMatchObject({ version: 1, release_version: 'v3.1.0' });
+        const older = uploadNewVersion(script.id, Buffer.from([4, 5]), 'Known good release', 'v3.0.4');
+        const rebuild = uploadNewVersion(script.id, Buffer.from([6, 7]), 'Rebuilt', 'v3.0.4');
+        expect(listVersions(script.id).map(v => [v.version, v.release_version])).toEqual([
+            [3, 'v3.0.4'], [2, 'v3.0.4'], [1, 'v3.1.0']
+        ]);
+        expect(older.sha256).not.toBe(rebuild.sha256);
+        expect(getVersion(version.id)!.content).toEqual(plugin.content);
+    });
+
+    it('allows unlabeled uploads and non-semver release tags', async () => {
+        const { createScript, uploadNewVersion } = await import('../../src/lib/server/fleet/scripts.js');
+        const { script, version } = createScript(plugin);
+        expect(version.release_version).toBeNull();
+        expect(uploadNewVersion(script.id, plugin.content, undefined, '   ').release_version).toBeNull();
+        expect(uploadNewVersion(script.id, plugin.content, undefined, '2026.09-rc1').release_version).toBe('2026.09-rc1');
+    });
+
+    it('rejects invalid labels before storing an artifact or new upload', async () => {
+        const { createScript, uploadNewVersion, listScripts, listVersions } = await import('../../src/lib/server/fleet/scripts.js');
+        expect(() => createScript({ ...plugin, releaseVersion: 'x'.repeat(81) })).toThrow(/release version/);
+        expect(listScripts()).toHaveLength(0);
+        const { script } = createScript(plugin);
+        expect(() => uploadNewVersion(script.id, plugin.content, undefined, 'v3\n.1')).toThrow(/release version/);
+        expect(listVersions(script.id)).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+
+    it('migrates an existing database without changing its stored versions', async () => {
+        const { createScript, getVersion } = await import('../../src/lib/server/fleet/scripts.js');
+        const { db, closeDb } = await import('../../src/lib/server/db/index.js');
+        const { version } = createScript(plugin);
+        db().exec('ALTER TABLE script_versions DROP COLUMN release_version');
+        closeDb();
+        expect(getVersion(version.id)).toMatchObject({
+            id: version.id, version: 1, release_version: null, sha256: version.sha256, content: plugin.content
+        });
+        closeDb();
+        expect(getVersion(version.id)!.release_version).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('round trips release versions through plugin creation, version upload, list and detail APIs', async () => {
+        const plugins = await import('../../src/routes/api/plugins/+server.js');
+        const detail = await import('../../src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/+server.js');
+        const uploads = await import('../../src/routes/api/scripts/[id]/versions/+server.js');
+        const url = new URL('http://localhost/api/plugins');
+        const form = new FormData();
+        form.set('name', plugin.name);
+        form.set('releaseVersion', 'v3.1.0');
+        form.set('content', new File([plugin.content], plugin.targetRelPath));
+        const created = await plugins.POST({ url, request: new Request(url, { method: 'POST', body: form }) });
+        expect(created.status).toBe(200);
+        const { script } = await created.json();
+        const listed = await (await plugins.GET({ url })).json();
+        expect(listed.scripts[0].latestVersion.release_version).toBe('v3.1.0');
+        const next = new FormData();
+        next.set('releaseVersion', 'v3.1.1');
+        next.set('content', new File([new Uint8Array([4, 5])], plugin.targetRelPath));
+        const uploaded = await uploads.POST({ params: { id: String(script.id) }, request: new Request(url, { method: 'POST', body: next }) });
+        expect(uploaded.status).toBe(200);
+        expect((await uploaded.json()).version).toMatchObject({ version: 2, release_version: 'v3.1.1' });
+        const result = await (await detail.GET({ params: { id: String(script.id) } })).json();
+        expect(result.versions.map((v: { release_version: string }) => v.release_version)).toEqual(['v3.1.1', 'v3.1.0']);
+        expect(result.versions[0]).not.toHaveProperty('content');
+    });
+});