diff --git a/changelogs/4.4-beta.md b/changelogs/4.4-beta.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..063cc7b6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/4.4-beta.md
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+**For Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 1.18.30**
+
+### Note about API versions
+Plugins which don't touch the protocol and compatible with any previous 4.x.y version will also run on these releases and do not need API bumps.
+Plugin developers should **only** update their required API to this version if you need the changes in this build.
+
+**WARNING: If your plugin uses the protocol, you're not shielded by API change constraints.** You should consider using the `mcpe-protocol` directive in `plugin.yml` as a constraint if you do.
+
+# 4.4.0-BETA1
+Released 25th May 2022.
+
+## General
+- The server will now shut itself down if any of the following errors occur during startup:
+  - Any plugin fails to load or enable (plugins loaded by other plugins post-startup are **not** affected by this change) (**PR [#4951](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4951)**)
+    - The motivation for this change is to prevent situations where plugins failing to load could result in adverse outcomes, such as a world protection plugin leaving a lobby unprotected from griefing.
+    - If you encounter this problem, remove the offending plugin(s) or prevent it from loading using `plugin_list.yml`.
+    - See **PR [#4951](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4951)** for more detail on this change.
+  - Any world mentioned in `server.properties` or `pocketmine.yml` fails to load (worlds loaded by plugins are **not** affected by this change)
+  - Any world mentioned in `server.properties` or `pocketmine.yml` fails to generate (e.g. due to invalid generator settings)
+- Enabling the server whitelist while the server is running (e.g. using `/whitelist on`) will now kick any non-whitelisted players currently on the server (**PR [#4774](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4774)**).
+- Help for commands (`/help <name of command>`) now displays a list of aliases of that command.
+- A CRITICIAL log message is now generated if a plugin disables itself when enabling, in case the plugin doesn't emit any error of its own.
+- The `/give` command now shows the alias used to find the given item in the success message, instead of the item ID/meta.
+
+## Fixes
+- Block placement has been fixed in many places where it previously didn't work correctly (**PR [#4886](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4886)**):
+  - torches on top of slabs, upside-down stairs
+  - torches on the back face of stairs
+  - flower pots on top of fences
+  - the list goes on and on ...
+- Fixed backslash escapes not getting properly removed from commands in some cases.
+- Fixed aliases defined in the `aliases` section of `pocketmine.yml` not being treated as quote-aware.
+
+## Gameplay
+- Plants in flower pots can now be removed by right-clicking on the flower pot.
+- Leaves now have a 2% chance of dropping sticks when destroyed by hand (**PR [#5019](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/5019)**).
+- Food exhaustion now matches Bedrock 1.18.30 (**PR [#5034](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/5034)**).
+- Implemented Stonecutter block (**PR [#4732](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4732)**).
+
+## API
+### Block
+- Added `Block->getSupportType(Facing) : SupportType` (**PR [#4886](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4886)**).
+  - This is used to determine the kind of support a block face can provide to a block (e.g. a torch) placed on it.
+- Added `utils\SupportType` enum (**PR [#4886](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4886)**).
+- `tile\Spawnable->isDirty()` and `tile\Spawnable->setDirty()` are now `@deprecated`.
+
+### Command
+- Added `CommandStringHelper::parseQuoteAware()`. This static method contains the code used by `SimpleCommandMap` used to parse quoted command arguments.
+
+### Entity
+- Added `Human::emote()` (**PR [#4610](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4610)**)
+
+### Event
+- `PlayerCommandPreprocessEvent` is now `@deprecated`, since its functionality is entirely replaced by other, general-purpose events.
+  - Use `CommandEvent` to intercept commands.
+  - Use `PlayerChatEvent` to intercept chat messages.
+  - To convert a chat message into a command, pass it directly to `Server->dispatchCommand()` with the player as sender.
+- Added `PlayerPostChunkSendEvent` (**PR [#4937](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4937)**).
+- Added `PlayerDeathEvent->setKeepXp()` (**PR [#4015](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4015)**).
+- `InventoryCloseEvent` is now called **after** the target window has been removed. This fixes various feedback loops caused by trying to open new windows to a player while there was one still active.
+  - As a side effect, this now means that `Player->getCurrentWindow()` will return `null` during `InventoryCloseEvent`. Use `InventoryCloseEvent->getInventory()` instead.
+
+### Item
+- `StringToItemParser` now recognizes `cod`, `raw_cod` and `cooked_cod` aliases.
+
+### Plugin
+- `DisablePluginException` may now be thrown from `Plugin::onEnable()` to make the server gracefully disable the plugin (without crashing) (**PR [#4780](https://github.com/pmmp/PocketMine-MP/pull/4780)**).
+- `PluginManager->registerEvent()` now returns the `RegisteredListener` created for the handler, to permit unregistering it later.
+
+## Internals
+- Private property declarations now use typed properties (PHP 7.4) and promoted constructor properties (PHP 8.0) wherever possible.
+  - Protected and public properties remain unchanged, since they can't be changed without breaking subclasses.
+- Promoted constructor properties are only used when it's consistently possible to promote most or all properties in a class.
+- Simplified and improved legibility of `FormattedCommandAlias`.
+- Added unit tests for the quote-aware command parser used by `SimpleCommandMap`.
+- Various hardcoded values in `block` package classes have been moved to private constants to improve readability.
+- Added various constants used in the `LevelDB` world provider.
diff --git a/src/VersionInfo.php b/src/VersionInfo.php
index 7eec0a987..b0182b947 100644
--- a/src/VersionInfo.php
+++ b/src/VersionInfo.php
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ use function str_repeat;
 
 final class VersionInfo{
 	public const NAME = "PocketMine-MP";
-	public const BASE_VERSION = "4.4.0";
-	public const IS_DEVELOPMENT_BUILD = true;
+	public const BASE_VERSION = "4.4.0-BETA1";
+	public const IS_DEVELOPMENT_BUILD = false;
 	public const BUILD_CHANNEL = "beta";
 
 	private function __construct(){