diff --git a/cmake/gen-build-info.cmake b/cmake/gen-build-info.cmake
index 00df7ea..5773c89 100644
--- a/cmake/gen-build-info.cmake
+++ b/cmake/gen-build-info.cmake
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ else()
     set(GIT_DIRTY "false")
 endif()
 
-# remote url (assume origin))
+# remote url (assume origin)
 execute_process(
     COMMAND git remote get-url origin
     OUTPUT_VARIABLE GIT_REMOTE_URL
@@ -56,6 +56,16 @@ if(NOT GIT_DESCRIBE_RESULT EQUAL 0)
     set(GIT_TAG "?.?.?")
 endif()
 
+# parse repo owner and name from remote url
+if(GIT_REMOTE_URL MATCHES "([^/]+)/([^/]+)/?$")
+     set(GIT_REPO_OWNER "${CMAKE_MATCH_1}")
+     set(GIT_REPO_NAME "${CMAKE_MATCH_2}")
+     string(REGEX REPLACE "\\.git$" "" GIT_REPO_NAME "${GIT_REPO_NAME}")
+else()
+    set(GIT_REPO_OWNER "")
+    set(GIT_REPO_NAME "")
+endif()
+
 # output to cpp file
 file(WRITE ${OUTPUT_FILE}
     "// DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE. IT IS AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED BY gen-build-info.cmake.\n"
@@ -64,6 +74,8 @@ file(WRITE ${OUTPUT_FILE}
     "const std::string BuildInfo::c_sTargetSDKVersion = \"${ZHMMODSDK_VER}\";\n"
     "const std::string BuildInfo::c_sBuildTag = \"${GIT_TAG}\";\n"
     "const std::string BuildInfo::c_sRemoteUrl = \"${GIT_REMOTE_URL}\";\n"
+    "const std::string BuildInfo::c_sRepoOwner = \"${GIT_REPO_OWNER}\";\n"
+    "const std::string BuildInfo::c_sRepoName = \"${GIT_REPO_NAME}\";\n"
     "const std::string BuildInfo::c_sBranch = \"${GIT_BRANCH}\";\n"
     "const std::string BuildInfo::c_sCommit = \"${GIT_COMMIT_HASH}\";\n"
     "const bool BuildInfo::c_bIsDirty = ${GIT_DIRTY};\n"
@@ -74,6 +86,8 @@ message(STATUS "Generated build info:")
 message(STATUS "  Target SDK Version: ${ZHMMODSDK_VER}")
 message(STATUS "  Build Tag:          ${GIT_TAG}")
 message(STATUS "  Remote URL:         ${GIT_REMOTE_URL}")
+message(STATUS "  Repo Owner:         ${GIT_REPO_OWNER}")
+message(STATUS "  Repo Name:          ${GIT_REPO_NAME}")
 message(STATUS "  Branch:             ${GIT_BRANCH}")
 message(STATUS "  Commit:             ${GIT_COMMIT_HASH}")
 message(STATUS "  Is Dirty?:          ${GIT_DIRTY}")
diff --git a/src/BuildInfo.h b/src/BuildInfo.h
index 9dce5f9..1949e3a 100644
--- a/src/BuildInfo.h
+++ b/src/BuildInfo.h
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ namespace BuildInfo
     extern const std::string c_sBuildTag;
 
     extern const std::string c_sRemoteUrl;
+    extern const std::string c_sRepoOwner;
+    extern const std::string c_sRepoName;
     extern const std::string c_sBranch;
     extern const std::string c_sCommit;
     extern const bool c_bIsDirty;
diff --git a/src/ChaosMod.cpp b/src/ChaosMod.cpp
index 584c0eb..fc66fa5 100644
--- a/src/ChaosMod.cpp
+++ b/src/ChaosMod.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "Helpers/Utils.h"
 #include "Helpers/CompanionMod.h"
 #include "Helpers/Repository/ZHMRepositoryHelper.h"
+#include "Helpers/UpdateCheck/ZUpdateCheck.h"
 
 #include "Registry.h"
 #include "ZConfigurationAccessor.h"
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ ChaosMod::ChaosMod() : m_fFullEffectDuration(60.0f),
                        m_EffectTimer(std::bind(&ChaosMod::OnEffectTimerTrigger, this), 30.0f),
                        m_bEffectTimersUseRealtime(false),
                        m_SlowUpdateTimer(std::bind(&ChaosMod::OnEffectSlowUpdate, this), 0.2f, ZTimer::ETimeMode::RealTime, true), // ~5 FPS
+                       m_pUpdateCheck(std::make_unique<ZUpdateCheck>()),
                        m_pConfiguration(std::make_unique<ZConfigurationAccessor>(this, "ChaosMod"))
 {
 }
@@ -72,6 +74,17 @@ void ChaosMod::Init()
     m_pVotingIntegration = GetDefaultVotingIntegration();
 
     LoadConfiguration();
+
+    bool s_bUpdateCheckDefault =
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+        false;
+#else
+        true;
+#endif
+    if (m_pConfiguration->GetBool("CheckForUpdates", s_bUpdateCheckDefault))
+    {
+        m_pUpdateCheck->CheckUpdatesAsync();
+    }
 }
 
 void ChaosMod::OnEngineInitialized()
diff --git a/src/ChaosMod.h b/src/ChaosMod.h
index e090dd4..4b5a819 100644
--- a/src/ChaosMod.h
+++ b/src/ChaosMod.h
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
 
+class ZUpdateCheck;
+
 class ZConfigurationAccessor;
 
 class ChaosMod : public IPluginInterface
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@ class ChaosMod : public IPluginInterface
   private: // Misc.
     ZTimer m_SlowUpdateTimer;
     std::queue<std::function<void()>> m_qDeferredFrameUpdateActions;
+    std::unique_ptr<ZUpdateCheck> m_pUpdateCheck;
 
     void ForeachEffect(const bool p_bIsLifecycleCall, std::function<void(std::shared_ptr<IChaosEffect> p_pEffect)> p_Callback);
 
diff --git a/src/ChaosModUI.cpp b/src/ChaosModUI.cpp
index 80c721e..ceb2176 100644
--- a/src/ChaosModUI.cpp
+++ b/src/ChaosModUI.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "Helpers/CompanionMod.h"
 #include "Helpers/ZPerfCounter.h"
 #include "Helpers/Utils.h"
+#include "Helpers/UpdateCheck/ZUpdateCheck.h"
 
 #include "BuildInfo.h"
 
@@ -122,6 +123,25 @@ void ChaosMod::DrawMainUI(const bool p_bHasFocus)
 
         ImGui::SeparatorText("About");
         ImGui::TextWrapped(fmt::format("ZHMChaosMod Version {}, developed by {}.", BuildInfo::GetDisplayVersion(), m_sAuthorNames).c_str());
+
+        switch (m_pUpdateCheck->GetResult())
+        {
+        case ZUpdateCheck::EResult::None:
+        default:
+            break;
+        case ZUpdateCheck::EResult::Checking:
+            ImGui::TextUnformatted("Checking for updates...");
+            break;
+        case ZUpdateCheck::EResult::UpToDate:
+            ImGui::TextUnformatted("You are using the latest version of the Chaos Mod.");
+            break;
+        case ZUpdateCheck::EResult::UpdateAvailable:
+            ImGui::TextLinkOpenURL(fmt::format("An update is available: {}", m_pUpdateCheck->GetLatestVersion()).c_str(), m_pUpdateCheck->GetUpdateUrl().c_str());
+            break;
+        case ZUpdateCheck::EResult::Failed:
+            ImGui::TextUnformatted("Failed to check for updates.");
+            break;
+        }
     }
 
     ImGui::PopFont();
diff --git a/src/Helpers/UpdateCheck/ZUpdateCheck.cpp b/src/Helpers/UpdateCheck/ZUpdateCheck.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14c4bd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Helpers/UpdateCheck/ZUpdateCheck.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+#include "ZUpdateCheck.h"
+
+#include <Logging.h>
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include <ixwebsocket/IXHttpClient.h>
+
+#include <BuildInfo.h>
+
+#define TAG "[ZUpdateCheck] "
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+ZUpdateCheck::~ZUpdateCheck()
+{
+    if (m_UpdateCheckThread.joinable())
+    {
+        m_UpdateCheckThread.join();
+    }
+}
+
+void ZUpdateCheck::CheckUpdatesAsync()
+{
+    std::lock_guard s_Lock(m_ResultMutex);
+    if (m_eResult != EResult::None)
+    {
+        Logger::Debug(TAG "Update check already performed, skipping start of another check.");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (m_UpdateCheckThread.joinable())
+    {
+        Logger::Error(TAG "Update check thread already running, but state does not match!");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    m_UpdateCheckThread = std::thread(&ZUpdateCheck::CheckUpdatesInternal, this);
+    m_eResult = EResult::Checking;
+}
+
+void ZUpdateCheck::CheckUpdatesInternal()
+{
+    Logger::Info(TAG "Starting update check for {}/{}...", BuildInfo::c_sRepoOwner, BuildInfo::c_sRepoName);
+
+    std::string s_sUrl = "https://api.github.com/repos/"
+                         + BuildInfo::c_sRepoOwner
+                         + "/"
+                         + BuildInfo::c_sRepoName
+                         + "/releases/latest";
+    Logger::Debug(TAG "Update check URL: {}", s_sUrl);
+
+    ix::HttpClient s_Client;
+    ix::HttpRequestArgsPtr s_pRequest = s_Client.createRequest();
+    const auto s_pResponse = s_Client.get(s_sUrl, s_pRequest);
+    if (!s_pResponse)
+    {
+        Logger::Error(TAG "Failed to perform update check HTTP request!");
+
+        {
+            std::lock_guard s_Lock(m_ResultMutex);
+            m_eResult = EResult::Failed;
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (s_pResponse->statusCode < 200 || s_pResponse->statusCode >= 300)
+    {
+        Logger::Error(TAG "update check failed: {} {}", s_pResponse->statusCode, s_pResponse->body);
+
+        {
+            std::lock_guard s_Lock(m_ResultMutex);
+            m_eResult = EResult::Failed;
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    json s_ResponseJson;
+    try
+    {
+        s_ResponseJson = json::parse(s_pResponse->body);
+    }
+    catch (const json::exception& e)
+    {
+        Logger::Error(TAG "Failed to parse update check response as JSON: {}", e.what());
+        {
+            std::lock_guard s_Lock(m_ResultMutex);
+            m_eResult = EResult::Failed;
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const auto s_sName = s_ResponseJson.value("name", "");
+    const auto s_sTagName = s_ResponseJson.value("tag_name", "");
+    const auto s_bIsPrerelease = s_ResponseJson.value("prerelease", false);
+    const auto s_bIsDraft = s_ResponseJson.value("draft", false);
+
+    if (s_sName.empty() || s_sTagName.empty())
+    {
+        Logger::Error(TAG "Invalid response from update check: missing name or tag_name field!");
+        {
+            std::lock_guard s_Lock(m_ResultMutex);
+            m_eResult = EResult::Failed;
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    Logger::Debug(TAG "Got latest release: name={}, tag_name={} (build={}), prerelease={}, draft={}", s_sName, s_sTagName, BuildInfo::c_sBuildTag, s_bIsPrerelease, s_bIsDraft);
+
+    auto s_bUpdateAvailable = false;
+    if (!s_bIsPrerelease && !s_bIsDraft)
+    {
+        s_bUpdateAvailable = s_sTagName != BuildInfo::c_sBuildTag;
+    }
+
+    {
+        std::lock_guard s_Lock(m_ResultMutex);
+        m_sLatestTag = s_sTagName;
+        m_sLatestVersionName = s_sName;
+        m_eResult = s_bUpdateAvailable ? EResult::UpdateAvailable : EResult::UpToDate;
+    }
+}
+
+std::string ZUpdateCheck::GetUpdateUrl() const
+{
+    return "https://github.com/"
+           + BuildInfo::c_sRepoOwner
+           + "/"
+           + BuildInfo::c_sRepoName
+           + "/releases/latest";
+}
diff --git a/src/Helpers/UpdateCheck/ZUpdateCheck.h b/src/Helpers/UpdateCheck/ZUpdateCheck.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b35b26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Helpers/UpdateCheck/ZUpdateCheck.h
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <thread>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <string>
+
+class ZUpdateCheck
+{
+  public:
+    enum class EResult
+    {
+        None,
+        Checking,
+        UpToDate,
+        UpdateAvailable,
+        Failed
+    };
+
+    ~ZUpdateCheck();
+
+    /**
+     * Start an asynchronous check for updates.
+     * @note this function will only perform the check once, even when called multiple times.
+     */
+    void CheckUpdatesAsync();
+
+    /**
+     * Get the result of the update check.
+     */
+    EResult GetResult() const
+    {
+        std::lock_guard s_Lock(m_ResultMutex);
+        return m_eResult;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the display name of the latest version as displayed on Github releases.
+     */
+    std::string GetLatestVersion() const
+    {
+        std::lock_guard s_Lock(m_ResultMutex);
+        return m_sLatestVersionName;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the update URL that a user can visit to download the latest version.
+     */
+    std::string GetUpdateUrl() const;
+
+  private:
+    std::thread m_UpdateCheckThread;
+
+    mutable std::recursive_mutex m_ResultMutex;
+    EResult m_eResult = EResult::None;
+    std::string m_sLatestTag;
+    std::string m_sLatestVersionName;
+
+    void CheckUpdatesInternal();
+};