diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.committers.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.committers.feature/epp.website.xml
index 4b11f2ca..e770fc13 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.committers.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.committers.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -34,6 +34,6 @@ Click <a href="https://github.com/eclipse-egit/egit/issues">here</a> to open a b
   </MoreInfo>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-committers-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-committers-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.cpp.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.cpp.feature/epp.website.xml
index be2e35af..6ee91c3e 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.cpp.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.cpp.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@
   </packageMetaData>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-cpp-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-cpp-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.dsl.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.dsl.feature/epp.website.xml
index 29e783a1..073bd0d2 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.dsl.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.dsl.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@
   </MoreInfo>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-dsl-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-dsl-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.embedcpp.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.embedcpp.feature/epp.website.xml
index b1a50459..b2594aea 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.embedcpp.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.embedcpp.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ To avoid compatibility issues with pre 6.x plug-ins, it is recommended to <b>cre
   </packageMetaData>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-embedcpp-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-embedcpp-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.java.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.java.feature/epp.website.xml
index 12ac4b2d..e264dca6 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.java.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.java.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,6 @@
 
 
 	<!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-	<product name="eclipse-java-2025-09-M3" />
+	<product name="eclipse-java-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.jee.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.jee.feature/epp.website.xml
index 29cfd9f3..8deafd42 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.jee.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.jee.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -34,6 +34,6 @@ Click <a href="https://github.com/eclipse-wildwebdeveloper/wildwebdeveloper/issu
   </MoreInfo>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-jee-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-jee-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.modeling.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.modeling.feature/epp.website.xml
index 9d840cbf..e7b94753 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.modeling.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.modeling.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -24,6 +24,6 @@
   </packageMetaData>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-modeling-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-modeling-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.php.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.php.feature/epp.website.xml
index 32773aa6..9575a1cd 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.php.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.php.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -32,6 +32,6 @@ Click <a href="https://github.com/eclipse-wildwebdeveloper/wildwebdeveloper/issu
   </MoreInfo>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-php-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-php-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.rcp.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.rcp.feature/epp.website.xml
index 3f38cfef..c81e3926 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.rcp.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.rcp.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@
   </MoreInfo>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-rcp-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-rcp-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.scout.feature/epp.website.xml b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.scout.feature/epp.website.xml
index a27188c9..99576027 100644
--- a/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.scout.feature/epp.website.xml
+++ b/packages/org.eclipse.epp.package.scout.feature/epp.website.xml
@@ -31,6 +31,6 @@
   </MoreInfo>
 
   <!-- name, the name of the product, used in naming the created files. -->
-  <product name="eclipse-scout-2025-09-M3" />
+  <product name="eclipse-scout-2025-09-RC1" />
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/releng/org.eclipse.epp.config/org.eclipse.epp.releng.updater/src/org/eclipse/epp/releng/updater/Updater.java b/releng/org.eclipse.epp.config/org.eclipse.epp.releng.updater/src/org/eclipse/epp/releng/updater/Updater.java
index 1b5e7309..3ee60d7b 100644
--- a/releng/org.eclipse.epp.config/org.eclipse.epp.releng.updater/src/org/eclipse/epp/releng/updater/Updater.java
+++ b/releng/org.eclipse.epp.config/org.eclipse.epp.releng.updater/src/org/eclipse/epp/releng/updater/Updater.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public class Updater {
 	/**
 	 * M1, M2, M3, RC1, RC2
 	 */
-	private static final String MILESTONE = "M3";
+	private static final String MILESTONE = "RC1";
 
 	private static final String PLATFORM_VERSION = "4.37";
 
diff --git a/releng/org.eclipse.epp.config/parent/pom.xml b/releng/org.eclipse.epp.config/parent/pom.xml
index e274daef..24e74ced 100644
--- a/releng/org.eclipse.epp.config/parent/pom.xml
+++ b/releng/org.eclipse.epp.config/parent/pom.xml
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@
     <PREV_RELEASE_NAME>2025-06</PREV_RELEASE_NAME>
     <NEXT_RELEASE_NAME>2025-12</NEXT_RELEASE_NAME>
     <!-- Name of the milestone -->
-    <RELEASE_MILESTONE>M3</RELEASE_MILESTONE>
+    <RELEASE_MILESTONE>RC1</RELEASE_MILESTONE>
     <!-- Version of the release -->
     <RELEASE_VERSION>4.37.0</RELEASE_VERSION>
     <!-- Name release directory on download.eclipse.org -->
-    <RELEASE_DIR>202508211000</RELEASE_DIR>
+    <RELEASE_DIR>202508281000</RELEASE_DIR>
     <!-- SimRel Repo to build from -->
-    <SIMREL_REPO>https://download.eclipse.org/releases/2025-09/202508221000/</SIMREL_REPO>
+    <SIMREL_REPO>https://download.eclipse.org/staging/2025-09/</SIMREL_REPO>
     <!-- ID used to generate the filename of the packages -->
     <eclipse.simultaneous.release.id>${RELEASE_NAME}-${RELEASE_MILESTONE}</eclipse.simultaneous.release.id>
     <!-- Timestamp used in various places, e.g. the about dialog (see about.mappings) -->