diff --git a/buildsettings.h b/buildsettings.h
index c29f387..06fa1b5 100644
--- a/buildsettings.h
+++ b/buildsettings.h
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #endif
 
 #define SERVER_PORT 2551
+// must be unsigned integer
+#define GIT_RELEASE_TAG 22
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 
@@ -12,18 +14,20 @@
 #define ASSERT_DO_POPUP_AND_CRASH
 // #define SERVER_ADDRESS "207.246.80.160"
 
-//#define PROFILING
+// #define PROFILING
 #define DEBUG_RENDERING
-//#define DEBUG_WORLD
-//#define UNLOCK_ALL
-//#define INFINITE_RESOURCES
-//#define NO_GRAVITY
-//#define NO_SUNS
+// #define DEBUG_WORLD
+// #define UNLOCK_ALL
+// #define INFINITE_RESOURCES
+// #define NO_GRAVITY
+// #define NO_SUNS
 
 #else
 
 #ifdef RELEASE
 
+// DANGER modifying these, make sure to change them back before releasing
+
 // #define PROFILING
 // #define SERVER_ADDRESS "127.0.0.1"
 #define SERVER_ADDRESS "207.246.80.160"
diff --git a/gamestate.c b/gamestate.c
index a8b65a3..18f723b 100644
--- a/gamestate.c
+++ b/gamestate.c
@@ -60,6 +60,29 @@ enum
 
 FILE *log_file = NULL;
 
+void quit_with_popup(const char *message_utf8, const char *title_utf8)
+{
+#ifdef WIN32
+  size_t message_out_len = 0;
+  size_t title_out_len = 0;
+  wchar_t *message_wchar = fromUTF8(message_utf8, strlen(message_utf8), &message_out_len);
+  wchar_t *title_wchar = fromUTF8(title_utf8, strlen(title_utf8), &title_out_len);
+  int msgboxID = MessageBox(
+      NULL,
+      message_wchar,
+      title_wchar,
+      MB_ICONEXCLAMATION | MB_OK);
+  (void)msgboxID;
+
+  free(message_wchar);
+  free(title_wchar);
+
+  PostQuitMessage(1);
+  (void)message_out_len;
+  (void)title_out_len;
+#endif
+}
+
 void __flight_assert(bool cond, const char *file, int line, const char *cond_string)
 {
   if (!cond)
@@ -74,19 +97,9 @@ void __flight_assert(bool cond, const char *file, int line, const char *cond_str
       fprintf(log_file, "%s", message_buffer);
     }
 #ifdef ASSERT_DO_POPUP_AND_CRASH
-    size_t out_len = 0;
-    wchar_t *output = fromUTF8(message_buffer, strlen(message_buffer), &out_len);
-    wchar_t dialogbox_message[MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE] = {0};
-    _snwprintf_s(dialogbox_message, MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE, MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE, L"Critical error! Please report this in #bug-reports with a screenshot, description of what you were doing, and the file 'atris.log' located next to the executable\n%s\nClosing now.\n", output);
-    int msgboxID = MessageBox(
-        NULL,
-        dialogbox_message,
-        L"Assertion Failed",
-        MB_ICONEXCLAMATION | MB_OK);
-    (void)msgboxID;
-
-    free(output);
-    PostQuitMessage(1);
+    char dialogbox_message[MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE] = {0};
+    snprintf(dialogbox_message, MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE, "Critical error! Please report this in #bug-reports with a screenshot, description of what you were doing, and the file 'atris.log' located next to the executable\n%s\nClosing now.\n", message_buffer);
+    quit_with_popup(dialogbox_message, "Assertion Failed");
 #endif
   }
 }
@@ -982,6 +995,7 @@ typedef struct SerState
 
   // output
   uint32_t version;
+  uint32_t git_release_tag;
 } SerState;
 
 typedef struct SerMaybeFailure
@@ -1412,6 +1426,15 @@ SerMaybeFailure ser_server_to_client(SerState *ser, ServerToClient *s)
   SER_VAR(&ser->version);
   SER_ASSERT(ser->version >= 0);
   SER_ASSERT(ser->version < VMax);
+  SER_VAR(&ser->git_release_tag);
+
+  if (ser->git_release_tag > GIT_RELEASE_TAG)
+  {
+    char msg[2048] = {0};
+    snprintf(msg, 2048, "Current game build %d is old, download the server's build %d! The most recent one in discord!\n", GIT_RELEASE_TAG, ser->git_release_tag);
+    quit_with_popup(msg, "Old Game Build");
+    SER_ASSERT(ser->git_release_tag <= GIT_RELEASE_TAG);
+  }
 
   if (!ser->save_or_load_from_disk)
     SER_MAYBE_RETURN(ser_opus_packets(ser, s->audio_playback_buffer));
diff --git a/release_all.bat b/release_all.bat
index b5cc4ff..e44f3a6 100644
--- a/release_all.bat
+++ b/release_all.bat
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ echo "Now test flight-nonumber and make sure it works. Once everything is confir
 echo "1. Increment the GIT_RELEASE_TAG in buildsettings.h"
 echo "2. Add everything to git and commit"
 echo "3. Tag the new commit the _exact same_ as the previously mentioned GIT_RELEASE_TAG"
-echo "4. Push everything, then update all the servers (@TODO make this a script)"
\ No newline at end of file
+echo "4. Push everything, then update all the servers (@TODO make this a script that works for multiple servers)"
\ No newline at end of file