diff --git a/mk_release.sh b/mk_release.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..f174eefb080
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mk_release.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# simple helper script to keep server and client in sync for playground
+
+rm -R build_linux_rel
+rm -R build_win_rel
+
+mkdir build_linux_rel
+mkdir build_win_rel
+
+(
+    cd build_linux_rel
+    cmake .. -GNinja -DDOWNLOAD_GTEST=OFF
+    ninja package_default
+)
+
+(
+    cd build_win_rel
+    cmake .. -GNinja -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=../cmake/toolchains/mingw64.toolchain -DDOWNLOAD_GTEST=OFF
+    ninja package_default
+)
+
+cp build_linux_rel/DDNet-Server ~/ddnet_run
+cp build_linux_rel/DDNet-*.tar.xz /var/www/html/downloads/DDNet.tar.xz
+cp build_win_rel/DDNet-*.zip /var/www/html/downloads/DDNet.zip