diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7d7dbe3efd..fee7f675e9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,67 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [v1.17.0-rc](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/v1.17.0-rc) (2021-08-26)
+
+[Full Changelog](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/compare/v1.16.0...v1.17.0-rc)
+
+**Breaking changes:**
+
+- Upgrade to Kubernetes 1.20 [\#2186](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2186)
+- Upgrade client-go to v0.20.9. [\#2194](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2194) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+
+**Implemented enhancements:**
+
+- Pass game port to container as env variable [\#2201](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2201)
+- Configurable custom resync period for FleetAutoscaler [\#1955](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/1955)
+- Docs: Player Capacity Integration Pattern [\#2229](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2229) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Docs: Canary Testing Integration Pattern [\#2227](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2227) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Create "Integration Patterns" section in docs [\#2215](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2215) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Update the GameServerAllocation Specification to remove required/pref… [\#2206](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2206) ([cindy52](https://github.com/cindy52))
+- Update proto and allocator for advanced allocation [\#2199](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2199) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- GSA: Advanced Filtering via resource API [\#2188](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2188) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Upgrade terraform to Kubernetes 1.20. [\#2187](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2187) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Allow disabling of all allocator secrets in helm chart [\#2177](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2177) ([sudermanjr](https://github.com/sudermanjr))
+- Custom fleet autoscaler resync interval [\#2171](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2171) ([jie-bao](https://github.com/jie-bao))
+- GSA: Switch LabelSelector to GameServerSelector [\#2166](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2166) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+
+**Fixed bugs:**
+
+- Errors in Unreal Engine SDK BuildAgonesRequest [\#2169](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2169)
+- The documentation for game server allocations is inconsistent [\#2136](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2136)
+- Fleet RollingUpdate strategy is not working correctly with FleetAutoScaler [\#1325](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/1325)
+- Unlock mutex before returning on error in SDKServer.updateState [\#2234](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2234) ([skystar-p](https://github.com/skystar-p))
+- Workaround for bullseye release CI blockage [\#2225](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2225) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Used array of FStringFormatArg to process FString::Format to fix erro… [\#2170](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2170) ([WilSimpson](https://github.com/WilSimpson))
+
+**Security fixes:**
+
+- Update dev dependencies and audit fix security warning [\#2233](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2233) ([steven-supersolid](https://github.com/steven-supersolid))
+- Update github.com/gorilla/websocket to address CVE-2020-27813. [\#2195](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2195) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+
+**Closed issues:**
+
+- Request Releaser role for Agones Repository [\#2232](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2232)
+- Collaborator Request [\#2210](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2210)
+- Release 1.16.0 [\#2183](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2183)
+- Proposal: Update the GameServerAllocation Specification to remove required/preferred [\#2146](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2146)
+
+**Merged pull requests:**
+
+- remove allocated 2 times from dot file [\#2230](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2230) ([dzmitry-lahoda](https://github.com/dzmitry-lahoda))
+- Fix for tabbing in gameserverallocation.md [\#2228](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2228) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Add a missing word to clarify our policy for when to upgrade Kubernetes versions [\#2212](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2212) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- \[docs\] examples allocator fixed link \(without / it did no resolved\) [\#2211](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2211) ([dzmitry-lahoda](https://github.com/dzmitry-lahoda))
+- Rollback \#2200. [\#2204](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2204) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Regenerate Kubernetes resource includes \(ObjectMeta, PodTemplateSpec\) for Kubernetes 1.20 [\#2203](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2203) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Set sidebar\_menu\_compact to true to make the side menu easier to navigate [\#2200](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2200) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Rename metapatch var in applyAllocationToGameServer [\#2198](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2198) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Update CRD API reference for Kubernetes 1.20. [\#2197](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2197) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Update Minikube and Kind dev tooling to Kubernetes 1.20 [\#2193](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2193) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Update the dev version of Kubernetes in the website to 1.20. [\#2192](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2192) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Update prost/prost-types [\#2190](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2190) ([Jake-Shadle](https://github.com/Jake-Shadle))
+- Upgrade kubectl to 1.20 in dev tooling. [\#2189](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2189) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Prep for the 1.17.0 release. [\#2185](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2185) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+
 ## [v1.16.0](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/v1.16.0) (2021-07-20)
 
 [Full Changelog](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/compare/v1.16.0-rc...v1.16.0)
@@ -10,6 +72,7 @@
 
 **Merged pull requests:**
 
+- Release 1.16.0 [\#2184](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2184) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
 - documentation - add godot-sdk to third-party libraries-tools page [\#2182](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2182) ([AndreMicheletti](https://github.com/AndreMicheletti))
 
 ## [v1.16.0-rc](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/v1.16.0-rc) (2021-07-14)
@@ -33,7 +96,6 @@
 - It is not possible to configure Agones HELM with Stackdriver in GCloud when the cluster has Workload Identity. [\#2101](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2101)
 - Add "copy to clipboard" buttons to example commands on the website [\#2096](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2096)
 - Add memory and cpu recommendations to minikube starting documentation [\#1536](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/1536)
-- Allow disabling of all allocator secrets in helm chart [\#2177](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2177) ([sudermanjr](https://github.com/sudermanjr))
 - add copy to clipboard function to code on website [\#2149](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2149) ([cindy52](https://github.com/cindy52))
 - Refactor ReadyGameServerCache to AllocationCache [\#2148](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2148) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Feature gates for advanced Allocation filtering [\#2143](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2143) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
@@ -77,6 +139,7 @@
 - Update the doscy theme [\#2123](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2123) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
 - Adds the Missing TCP protocol spec to the example fleet [\#2122](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2122) ([Rohansjamadagni](https://github.com/Rohansjamadagni))
 - Change the way we generate new version numbers for nodejs [\#2120](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2120) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Respectful code cleanup No.2 [\#2109](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2109) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 
 ## [v1.15.0](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/v1.15.0) (2021-06-08)
 
@@ -120,7 +183,6 @@
 - Release 1.15.0-rc [\#2121](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2121) ([sawagh](https://github.com/sawagh))
 - Update link to contributing guide from the membership template. [\#2118](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2118) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
 - Update our community membership guidelines to add a Releaser role. [\#2111](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2111) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
-- Respectful code cleanup No.2 [\#2109](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2109) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Respectful code cleanup No.1 [\#2107](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2107) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - aks setup improvements [\#2103](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2103) ([dzmitry-lahoda](https://github.com/dzmitry-lahoda))
 - e2e test: Update Fleet replicas 0 with Spec change [\#2095](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2095) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
@@ -597,6 +659,7 @@
 - Add Uninstall instructions when using install.yaml [\#1783](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1783) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 - Added a new 'disableTLS' flag and changed 'disableMTLS' to only disab… [\#1777](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1777) ([devloop0](https://github.com/devloop0))
 - The footnote shouldn't be part of the table. [\#1774](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1774) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Added game-server example [\#1771](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1771) ([Bmandk](https://github.com/Bmandk))
 - Preparation for 1.9.0 [\#1762](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1762) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Add Terraform GKE and Helm modules tests with Terratest [\#1483](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1483) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 
@@ -615,7 +678,6 @@
 
 **Merged pull requests:**
 
-- Added game-server example [\#1771](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1771) ([Bmandk](https://github.com/Bmandk))
 - Release 1.8.0 [\#1760](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1760) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Helm default values in docs \(related to controller limits\) match chart default values [\#1755](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1755) ([pgilfillan](https://github.com/pgilfillan))
 - Best practices for game server shutdown [\#1752](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1752) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
@@ -759,6 +821,7 @@
 - Adding AccelByte in Companies using Agones list [\#1593](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1593) ([accelbyte-raymond](https://github.com/accelbyte-raymond))
 - Metrics: add namespace to distinguish fleets with the same name [\#1585](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1585) ([akremsa](https://github.com/akremsa))
 - Move ContainerPortAllocation to beta [\#1577](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1577) ([akremsa](https://github.com/akremsa))
+- New metric - state duration [\#1468](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1468) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 
 **Fixed bugs:**
 
@@ -836,7 +899,6 @@
 - Release 1.6.0 [\#1588](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1588) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Fix flaky Local SDK test [\#1586](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1586) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 - Warning to release checklist. [\#1580](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1580) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
-- Fix Local SDK nil Players with test [\#1572](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1572) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 
 ## [v1.6.0-rc](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/v1.6.0-rc) (2020-05-20)
 
@@ -922,6 +984,7 @@
 **Merged pull requests:**
 
 - Release 1.6.0-rc [\#1574](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1574) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Fix Local SDK nil Players with test [\#1572](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1572) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 - Fixed a typo sercerCA -\> serverCa [\#1567](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1567) ([pooneh-m](https://github.com/pooneh-m))
 - Player Tracking Proto: Players =\> players [\#1560](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1560) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Player Tracking Proto: IDs =\> ids [\#1559](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1559) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
@@ -961,7 +1024,6 @@
 
 **Implemented enhancements:**
 
-- New metric - state duration [\#1468](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1468) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 - FAQ for Agones [\#1460](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1460) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 
 **Fixed bugs:**
@@ -1072,6 +1134,10 @@
 - Fix for critical GKE/GCP Terraform Bugs [\#1373](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1373) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Updated documentation for multi-cluster allocation [\#1365](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1365) ([pooneh-m](https://github.com/pooneh-m))
 
+**Implemented enhancements:**
+
+- Release NPM package, and Node update [\#1356](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1356) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+
 **Fixed bugs:**
 
 - Terraform: clean up duplicate tf config files. [\#1372](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/1372)
@@ -1111,7 +1177,6 @@
 - Add Fuzz Tests [\#1098](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/1098)
 - agones-allocator service should scale up independent to gameserverallocation extension API server [\#1018](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/1018)
 - Missing documentation/example for new matchmaker support \(Allocate and Reserve\) [\#976](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/976)
-- Release NPM package, and Node update [\#1356](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1356) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Unreal SDK add Allocate + Reserve and changes to the plugin settings [\#1345](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1345) ([WVerlaek](https://github.com/WVerlaek))
 - Adding SuperTuxKart to the examples page [\#1336](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1336) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - CRD implementation of alpha player tracking [\#1324](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1324) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
@@ -1234,7 +1299,6 @@
 - Fixup Helm Configuration table [\#1255](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1255) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Handling of PVM shutdown/maintenance events [\#1254](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1254) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Fix cleanup Agones resources script [\#1240](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1240) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
-- Fix documentation for multi-cluster allocation [\#1235](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1235) ([pooneh-m](https://github.com/pooneh-m))
 - Health Checking: Fix doc errors and expand [\#1233](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1233) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 
 **Security fixes:**
@@ -1278,6 +1342,7 @@
 **Fixed bugs:**
 
 - `agones.allocator.http.expose` and `agones.allocator.http.response` are documented but not consumed by Helm [\#1216](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/1216)
+- Fix documentation for multi-cluster allocation [\#1235](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1235) ([pooneh-m](https://github.com/pooneh-m))
 - Revert: Make it possible to create a Fleet with 0 replicas [\#1226](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1226) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Fix documentation for allocator helm args [\#1221](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1221) ([pooneh-m](https://github.com/pooneh-m))
 - Setting Unreal plugin version to 3 [\#1209](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/1209) ([domgreen](https://github.com/domgreen))
@@ -2025,6 +2090,7 @@
 - GKE scopes in installation and testing are overkill [\#614](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/614)
 - Release 0.8.0 [\#604](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/604)
 - Grafana: add basic API Server graphs [\#546](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/546)
+- Replace global allocation mutex with fine-grained concurrency controls. [\#535](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/535)
 - Remove all the kubectl custom commands from the quickstarts [\#521](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/521)
 
 **Merged pull requests:**
@@ -2107,6 +2173,7 @@
 - Fix concurrency bug in port allocator. [\#514](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/514) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Go download link has changed [\#494](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/494) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Fix for the controller panic issue on metrics.enabled is false [\#486](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/486) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
+- Apply fix for goroutines leak [\#461](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/461) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 
 **Security fixes:**
 
@@ -2115,7 +2182,6 @@
 **Closed issues:**
 
 - Grafana: add graph of nodes in cluster [\#547](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/547)
-- Replace global allocation mutex with fine-grained concurrency controls. [\#535](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/535)
 - Approver access for @jkowalski [\#526](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/526)
 - Docker images layers not optimal [\#481](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/481)
 - Release 0.7.0 [\#477](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/477)
@@ -2213,7 +2279,6 @@
 **Fixed bugs:**
 
 - This should fail e2e in any command fails [\#462](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/462) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
-- Apply fix for goroutines leak [\#461](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/461) ([aLekSer](https://github.com/aLekSer))
 - GameServerSets: DeleteFunc could receive a DeletedFinalStateUnknown [\#442](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/442) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 
 **Security fixes:**
@@ -2633,7 +2698,6 @@
 - Update create\_gameserver.md [\#143](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/143) ([royingantaginting](https://github.com/royingantaginting))
 - Fixed spelling issues in gameserver\_spec.md [\#141](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/141) ([mattva01](https://github.com/mattva01))
 - Handle stop signal in the SDK Server [\#140](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/140) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
-- go vet: 3 warnings, 2 of them are easy. [\#139](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/139) ([Deleplace](https://github.com/Deleplace))
 - Update Go version to 1.10 [\#137](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/137) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Cleanup of grpc go generation code [\#136](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/136) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Update base version to 0.2 [\#133](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/133) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
@@ -2723,6 +2787,7 @@
 
 **Merged pull requests:**
 
+- go vet: 3 warnings, 2 of them are easy. [\#139](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/139) ([Deleplace](https://github.com/Deleplace))
 - Godoc badge! [\#131](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/131) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - add missing link to git message documentation [\#129](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/129) ([cyriltovena](https://github.com/cyriltovena))
 - Minor tweak to top line description of Agones. [\#127](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/127) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
diff --git a/install/helm/agones/Chart.yaml b/install/helm/agones/Chart.yaml
index be97dfa7e6..f48322eeea 100644
--- a/install/helm/agones/Chart.yaml
+++ b/install/helm/agones/Chart.yaml
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 # Declare variables to be passed into your templates.
 
 apiVersion: v1
-appVersion: "1.17.0-dev"
-version: 1.17.0-dev
+appVersion: "1.17.0-rc"
+version: 1.17.0-rc
 name: agones
 description: a library for hosting, running and scaling dedicated game servers on Kubernetes.
 keywords:
diff --git a/install/helm/agones/values.yaml b/install/helm/agones/values.yaml
index 8c4b5f215e..fc458e772c 100644
--- a/install/helm/agones/values.yaml
+++ b/install/helm/agones/values.yaml
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ agones:
     totalRemoteAllocationTimeout: 30s
   image:
     registry: gcr.io/agones-images
-    tag: 1.17.0-dev
+    tag: 1.17.0-rc
     controller:
       name: agones-controller
       pullPolicy: IfNotPresent
diff --git a/install/yaml/install.yaml b/install/yaml/install.yaml
index c5f047b701..85e1cae063 100644
--- a/install/yaml/install.yaml
+++ b/install/yaml/install.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 ---
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 ---
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: default
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 ---
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: "agones-1.17.0-dev"
+    chart: "agones-1.17.0-rc"
     release: "agones-manual"
     heritage: "Helm"
 type: Opaque
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: "agones-1.17.0-dev"
+    chart: "agones-1.17.0-rc"
     release: "agones-manual"
     heritage: "Helm"
 data:
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: "agones-1.17.0-dev"
+    chart: "agones-1.17.0-rc"
     release: "agones-manual"
     heritage: "Helm"
 data:
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: "agones-1.17.0-dev"
+    chart: "agones-1.17.0-rc"
     release: "agones-manual"
     heritage: "Helm"
 data:
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: crd
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -4389,7 +4389,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: crd
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -4530,7 +4530,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: crd
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -8607,7 +8607,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: crd
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
   name: gameserverallocationpolicies.multicluster.agones.dev
@@ -8683,7 +8683,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: crd
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -12893,7 +12893,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 rules:
@@ -12924,7 +12924,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 rules:
@@ -12970,7 +12970,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 rules:
@@ -12990,7 +12990,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 subjects:
@@ -13010,7 +13010,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: agones-system
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 subjects:
@@ -13062,7 +13062,7 @@ metadata:
   namespace: default
   labels:
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 subjects:
@@ -13083,7 +13083,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: ping
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -13105,7 +13105,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: ping
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -13141,7 +13141,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     agones.dev/role: controller
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -13177,7 +13177,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: allocator
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -13213,7 +13213,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: controller
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -13256,7 +13256,7 @@ spec:
       serviceAccountName: agones-controller
       containers:
       - name: agones-controller
-        image: "gcr.io/agones-images/agones-controller:1.17.0-dev"
+        image: "gcr.io/agones-images/agones-controller:1.17.0-rc"
         imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         env:
         # minimum port that can be exposed to GameServer traffic
@@ -13266,7 +13266,7 @@ spec:
         - name: MAX_PORT
           value: "8000"
         - name: SIDECAR_IMAGE # overwrite the GameServer sidecar image that is used
-          value: "gcr.io/agones-images/agones-sdk:1.17.0-dev"
+          value: "gcr.io/agones-images/agones-sdk:1.17.0-rc"
         - name: ALWAYS_PULL_SIDECAR # set the sidecar imagePullPolicy to Always
           value: "false"
         - name: SIDECAR_CPU_REQUEST
@@ -13355,7 +13355,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: ping
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -13390,7 +13390,7 @@ spec:
       priorityClassName: agones-system
       containers:
         - name: agones-ping
-          image: "gcr.io/agones-images/agones-ping:1.17.0-dev"
+          image: "gcr.io/agones-images/agones-ping:1.17.0-rc"
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           livenessProbe:
             httpGet:
@@ -13463,7 +13463,7 @@ spec:
           secretName: allocator-client-ca
       containers:
       - name: agones-allocator
-        image: "gcr.io/agones-images/agones-allocator:1.17.0-dev"
+        image: "gcr.io/agones-images/agones-allocator:1.17.0-rc"
         imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         livenessProbe:
           httpGet:
@@ -13531,7 +13531,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: controller
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 spec:
@@ -13567,7 +13567,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: controller
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 webhooks:
@@ -13610,7 +13610,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     component: controller
     app: agones
-    chart: agones-1.17.0-dev
+    chart: agones-1.17.0-rc
     release: agones-manual
     heritage: Helm
 webhooks:
diff --git a/sdks/csharp/sdk/AgonesSDK.nuspec b/sdks/csharp/sdk/AgonesSDK.nuspec
index b9ef95d6f9..ea264cff56 100644
--- a/sdks/csharp/sdk/AgonesSDK.nuspec
+++ b/sdks/csharp/sdk/AgonesSDK.nuspec
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <package >
   <metadata>
     <id>AgonesSDK</id>
-    <version>1.17.0-dev</version>
+    <version>1.17.0-rc</version>
     <authors>Google LLC</authors>
     <owners>Google LLC</owners>
     <requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
diff --git a/sdks/csharp/sdk/csharp-sdk.csproj b/sdks/csharp/sdk/csharp-sdk.csproj
index 92d7e7e8c1..baf735c09e 100644
--- a/sdks/csharp/sdk/csharp-sdk.csproj
+++ b/sdks/csharp/sdk/csharp-sdk.csproj
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     <PackageProjectUrl>https://agones.dev</PackageProjectUrl>
     <PackageLicenseUrl>http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0</PackageLicenseUrl>
     <AssemblyName>AgonesSDK</AssemblyName>
-    <Version>1.17.0-dev</Version>
+    <Version>1.17.0-rc</Version>
     <PackageTags>agones, googleforgames, kuberenetes, multiplayer, gameservers</PackageTags>
     <Company>agones.dev</Company>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;DebugProtoGen</Configurations>
diff --git a/sdks/nodejs/package-lock.json b/sdks/nodejs/package-lock.json
index 7da59c9a7e..77a6fab687 100644
--- a/sdks/nodejs/package-lock.json
+++ b/sdks/nodejs/package-lock.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@google-cloud/agones-sdk",
-  "version": "1.17.0-dev",
+  "version": "1.17.0-rc",
   "lockfileVersion": 1,
   "requires": true,
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/sdks/nodejs/package.json b/sdks/nodejs/package.json
index 7f6c125e53..12bfb0658a 100644
--- a/sdks/nodejs/package.json
+++ b/sdks/nodejs/package.json
@@ -26,5 +26,5 @@
     "publishConfig": {
         "access": "public"
     },
-    "version": "1.17.0-dev"
+    "version": "1.17.0-rc"
 }
diff --git a/site/content/en/blog/releases/1.16.0.md b/site/content/en/blog/releases/1.16.0.md
index 755d2ccb43..b3042056f7 100644
--- a/site/content/en/blog/releases/1.16.0.md
+++ b/site/content/en/blog/releases/1.16.0.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ If you are **using Fleet autoscalers with a webhook that is also configured with
 The helm parameters for setting the service account names were modified to make them more consistent. If you are setting these
 names you will need to modify your helm scripts to use the new parameters.
 
-Check the <a href="https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/release-1.16.0" data-proofer-ignore>README</a> for details on features, installation and usage.
+Check the <a href="https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/release-1.16.0" >README</a> for details on features, installation and usage.
 
 **Breaking changes:**
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Check the <a href="https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/release-1.16.0"
 - Refactor ReadyGameServerCache to AllocationCache [\#2148](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2148) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 - Feature gates for advanced Allocation filtering [\#2143](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2143) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
 
-See <a href="https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/blob/release-1.16.0/CHANGELOG.md" data-proofer-ignore>CHANGELOG</a> for more details on changes.
+See <a href="https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/blob/release-1.16.0/CHANGELOG.md" >CHANGELOG</a> for more details on changes.
 
 Images available with this release:
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ Images available with this release:
 
 Helm chart available with this release:
 
-- <a href="https://agones.dev/chart/stable/agones-1.16.0.tgz" data-proofer-ignore>
+- <a href="https://agones.dev/chart/stable/agones-1.16.0.tgz" >
   <code>helm install agones agones/agones --version 1.16.0</code></a>
 
 > Make sure to add our stable helm repository using `helm repo add agones https://agones.dev/chart/stable`
diff --git a/site/content/en/blog/releases/1.17.0-rc.md b/site/content/en/blog/releases/1.17.0-rc.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b29b3b61fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/site/content/en/blog/releases/1.17.0-rc.md
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+---
+title: "1.17.0 - Release Candidate"
+linkTitle: "1.17.0-rc"
+date: "2021-08-26"
+---
+
+This is the 1.17.0-rc release of Agones.
+
+This release brings us support for Kubernetes 1.20, so if you are testing this release candidate, remember to upgrade your clusters.
+
+Check the <a href="https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/tree/release-1.17.0-rc" data-proofer-ignore>README</a> for details on features, installation and usage.
+
+**Breaking changes:**
+
+- Upgrade to Kubernetes 1.20 [\#2186](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2186)
+- Upgrade client-go to v0.20.9. [\#2194](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2194) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+
+**Implemented enhancements:**
+
+- Pass game port to container as env variable [\#2201](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/2201)
+- Configurable custom resync period for FleetAutoscaler [\#1955](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/issues/1955)
+- Docs: Player Capacity Integration Pattern [\#2229](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2229) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Docs: Canary Testing Integration Pattern [\#2227](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2227) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Create "Integration Patterns" section in docs [\#2215](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2215) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Update the GameServerAllocation Specification to remove required/pref… [\#2206](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2206) ([cindy52](https://github.com/cindy52))
+- Update proto and allocator for advanced allocation [\#2199](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2199) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- GSA: Advanced Filtering via resource API [\#2188](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2188) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+- Upgrade terraform to Kubernetes 1.20. [\#2187](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2187) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+- Allow disabling of all allocator secrets in helm chart [\#2177](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2177) ([sudermanjr](https://github.com/sudermanjr))
+- Custom fleet autoscaler resync interval [\#2171](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2171) ([jie-bao](https://github.com/jie-bao))
+- GSA: Switch LabelSelector to GameServerSelector [\#2166](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2166) ([markmandel](https://github.com/markmandel))
+
+**Security fixes:**
+
+- Update dev dependencies and audit fix security warning [\#2233](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2233) ([steven-supersolid](https://github.com/steven-supersolid))
+- Update github.com/gorilla/websocket to address CVE-2020-27813. [\#2195](https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/pull/2195) ([roberthbailey](https://github.com/roberthbailey))
+
+Documentation: https://development.agones.dev/site/
+
+See <a href="https://github.com/googleforgames/agones/blob/release-1.17.0-rc/CHANGELOG.md" data-proofer-ignore>CHANGELOG</a> for more details on changes.
+
+Images available with this release:
+
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/agones-controller:1.17.0-rc](https://gcr.io/agones-images/agones-controller:1.17.0-rc)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/agones-sdk:1.17.0-rc](https://gcr.io/agones-images/agones-sdk:1.17.0-rc)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/agones-ping:1.17.0-rc](https://gcr.io/agones-images/agones-ping:1.17.0-rc)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/agones-allocator:1.17.0-rc](https://gcr.io/agones-images/agones-allocator:1.17.0-rc)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/autoscaler-webhook:0.3](https://gcr.io/agones-images/autoscaler-webhook:0.3)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/cpp-simple-server:0.13](https://gcr.io/agones-images/cpp-simple-server:0.13)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/crd-client:0.5](https://gcr.io/agones-images/crd-client:0.5)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/nodejs-simple-server:0.5](https://gcr.io/agones-images/nodejs-simple-server:0.5)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/rust-simple-server:0.9](https://gcr.io/agones-images/rust-simple-server:0.9)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/simple-game-server:0.3](https://gcr.io/agones-images/simple-game-server:0.3)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/supertuxkart-example:0.3](https://gcr.io/agones-images/supertuxkart-example:0.3)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/unity-simple-server:0.3](https://gcr.io/agones-images/unity-simple-server:0.3)
+- [gcr.io/agones-images/xonotic-example:0.8](https://gcr.io/agones-images/xonotic-example:0.8)
+
+Helm chart available with this release:
+
+- <a href="https://agones.dev/chart/stable/agones-1.17.0-rc.tgz" data-proofer-ignore>
+  <code>helm install agones agones/agones --version 1.17.0-rc</code></a>
+
+> Make sure to add our stable helm repository using `helm repo add agones https://agones.dev/chart/stable`
+