diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index e5f4a27..f6422c1 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "9.7.1"
+  ".": "9.8.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..569a790
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Changelog
+
+## [9.8.0](https://github.com/rive-app/rive-react-native/compare/v9.7.1...v9.8.0) (2026-01-16)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* bump native versions for scripting support ([2659b21](https://github.com/rive-app/rive-react-native/commit/2659b217ffb42cfd56115793b470147428c19bf4))
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **ios:** fix memory leak in custom asset loader closure ([0068df8](https://github.com/rive-app/rive-react-native/commit/0068df8ebb9c79bc07094795c97635e6558ab5fe))
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a9713f5..db24a02 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "rive-react-native",
-  "version": "9.7.1",
+  "version": "9.8.0",
   "runtimeVersions": {
     "ios": "6.13.0",
     "android": "11.1.0"