diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index 49a8ef0ae..7f0e736f0 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@nativescript/core",
-  "version": "8.4.8",
+  "version": "8.5.0-alpha.0",
   "description": "A JavaScript library providing an easy to use api for interacting with iOS and Android platform APIs.",
   "main": "index",
   "types": "index.d.ts",