diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 989fae043..0c7ff8fea 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,28 @@ script:
   # Check that we can actually build and package the library
   - sbt ++$TRAVIS_SCALA_VERSION publishLocal
 
+
+jobs:
+  include:
+    - stage: test
+      name: "Validations"
+      script: sbt mimaReportBinaryIssues validateCode doc
+      env:
+        - TRAVIS_SCALA_VERSION=2.13.5
+        - TRAVIS_JDK=11
+
+    # TODO: this is not yet working, we need new credentials in CI and test it out
+    # for now, releases from this branch must be done from maintainers machine
+    # - stage: publish
+    #   name: "Publish artifacts to Sonatype"
+    #   script: sbt +publish
+
+stages:
+  - name: test
+  # TODO: enable publish after fixing CI credentials
+  # - name: publish
+  #   if: (tag IS present) AND NOT fork
+
 cache:
   directories:
     - "$HOME/.cache/coursier"
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..29e93ae30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+## Releasing
+
+This is released from the `main` branch from `2.2.0` forward. Unless an older version needs patching, then it must be released from the maintenance branch, for instance `2.1.x` branch. If there is no maintenance branch for the release that needs patching, create it from the tag.
+
+## Cutting the release
+
+### Requires contributor access
+
+- Check the [draft release notes](https://github.com/playframework/play-ws/releases) to see if everything is there
+- Wait until [main branch build finishes](https://travis-ci.com/github/playframework/play-ws/builds) after merging the last PR
+- Update the [draft release](https://github.com/playframework/play-ws/releases) with the next tag version (eg. `2.2.0`), title and release description
+- Check that Travis CI release build has executed successfully (Travis will start a [CI build](https://travis-ci.com/github/playframework/play-ws/builds) for the new tag and publish artifacts to Sonatype)
+
+### Check Maven Central
+
+- The artifacts will become visible at https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/typesafe/play/
diff --git a/build.sbt b/build.sbt
index ddba8a4ca..2eda02584 100644
--- a/build.sbt
+++ b/build.sbt
@@ -424,10 +424,7 @@ lazy val bench = project
 lazy val root = project
   .in(file("."))
   .settings(
-    name := "play-ws-standalone-root",
-    // otherwise same as orgname, and "sonatypeList"
-    // says "No staging profile is found for com.typesafe.play"
-    sonatypeProfileName := "com.typesafe"
+    name := "play-ws-standalone-root"
   )
   .settings(commonSettings)
   .settings(formattingSettings)
diff --git a/project/plugins.sbt b/project/plugins.sbt
index 602299ab5..2fbd91573 100644
--- a/project/plugins.sbt
+++ b/project/plugins.sbt
@@ -1,26 +1,13 @@
+
 resolvers ++= DefaultOptions.resolvers(snapshot = true)
 resolvers += Resolver.typesafeRepo("releases")
 
-// TODO remove when https://github.com/lightbend/mima/issues/422 is fixed
-resolvers += Resolver.url(
-  "typesafe sbt-plugins",
-  url("https://dl.bintray.com/typesafe/sbt-plugins")
-)(Resolver.ivyStylePatterns)
-
 addSbtPlugin("org.xerial.sbt" % "sbt-sonatype" % "3.8.1")
-
 addSbtPlugin("com.jsuereth" % "sbt-pgp" % "2.0.0")
-
-addSbtPlugin("com.eed3si9n" % "sbt-assembly" % "0.14.10")
-
+addSbtPlugin("com.eed3si9n" % "sbt-assembly" % "1.0.0")
 addSbtPlugin("com.github.gseitz" % "sbt-release" % "1.0.12")
-
 addSbtPlugin("org.scalariform" % "sbt-scalariform" % "1.8.3")
-
-addSbtPlugin("com.typesafe" % "sbt-mima-plugin" % "0.6.1")
-
-addSbtPlugin("de.heikoseeberger" % "sbt-header" % "5.3.1")
-
-addSbtPlugin("pl.project13.scala" % "sbt-jmh" % "0.3.7")
-
-addSbtPlugin("com.dwijnand" % "sbt-dynver" % "4.0.0")
+addSbtPlugin("com.typesafe" % "sbt-mima-plugin" % "0.9.2")
+addSbtPlugin("de.heikoseeberger" % "sbt-header" % "5.6.0")
+addSbtPlugin("pl.project13.scala" % "sbt-jmh" % "0.4.3")
+addSbtPlugin("com.dwijnand" % "sbt-dynver" % "4.1.1")