diff --git a/docs/release-notes/2_16_0_summary.md b/docs/release-notes/2_16_0_summary.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6e60c2a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/release-notes/2_16_0_summary.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+## Major Changes
+
+### Table of Contents
+
+- **[Upgrade Path](#upgrade-path)**
+  - **[MySQL](#mysql-upgrade-path)**
+
+### <a id="upgrade-path"/>Upgrade Path</a>
+
+#### <a id="mysql-upgrade-path"/>MySQL</a>
+
+With the latest version of Vitess (`v23.0.0`) the default MySQL version changed from `8.0.40` to `8.4.6`.
+
+In order for you to correctly upgrade, there is a certain path to follow:
+
+1. Add `innodb_fast_shutdown=0` to your extra cnf in your YAML file.
+2. Apply this file.
+3. Wait for all the pods to be healthy.
+4. Then change your YAML file to use the new Docker Image (`mysql:8.4.6`).
+5. Remove `innodb_fast_shutdown=0` from your extra cnf in your YAML file.
+6. Apply this file.
diff --git a/pkg/apis/planetscale/v2/defaults.go b/pkg/apis/planetscale/v2/defaults.go
index a2e8f2de..f6f2e2d8 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/planetscale/v2/defaults.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/planetscale/v2/defaults.go
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ const (
 	DefaultMysqlPortName = "mysql"
 
 	defaultVitessLiteImage = "vitess/lite:latest"
-	defaultMySQLImage      = "mysql:8.0.40"
+	defaultMySQLImage      = "mysql:8.4.6"
 
 	DefaultInitCPURequestMillis   = 100
 	DefaultInitMemoryRequestBytes = 32 * (1 << 20) // 32 MiB
diff --git a/pkg/operator/environment/environment.go b/pkg/operator/environment/environment.go
index 94ccdcbc..0f537d5b 100644
--- a/pkg/operator/environment/environment.go
+++ b/pkg/operator/environment/environment.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	reconcileTimeout   time.Duration
-	MySQLServerVersion = "8.0.40-Vitess"
+	MySQLServerVersion = "8.4.6-Vitess"
 	// truncateUILen truncate queries in debug UIs to the given length. 0 means unlimited.
 	truncateUILen = 512
 	// truncateErrLen truncate queries in error logs to the given length. 0 means unlimited.
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml
index 28c036bf..85746bce 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ spec:
     vtorc: vitess/lite:latest
     vtbackup: vitess/lite:latest
     mysqld:
-      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.0.40
+      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.4.6
     mysqldExporter: prom/mysqld-exporter:v0.14.0
   cells:
   - name: zone1
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_unmanaged_tablet.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_unmanaged_tablet.yaml
index a1bb1218..b5d6963b 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_unmanaged_tablet.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_unmanaged_tablet.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ spec:
     vtbackup: vitess/lite:latest
     vtorc: vitess/lite:latest
     mysqld:
-      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.0.40
+      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.4.6
     mysqldExporter: prom/mysqld-exporter:v0.14.0
   cells:
   - name: zone1
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_vtorc_vtadmin.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_vtorc_vtadmin.yaml
index d2929484..eebe0117 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_vtorc_vtadmin.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/101_initial_cluster_vtorc_vtadmin.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ spec:
     vtbackup: vitess/lite:latest
     vtorc: vitess/lite:latest
     mysqld:
-      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.0.40
+      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.4.6
     mysqldExporter: prom/mysqld-exporter:v0.14.0
   cells:
   - name: zone1
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/102_keyspace_teardown.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/102_keyspace_teardown.yaml
index deb4031b..7a450eef 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/102_keyspace_teardown.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/102_keyspace_teardown.yaml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ spec:
     vtorc: vitess/lite:latest
     vtbackup: vitess/lite:latest
     mysqld:
-      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.0.40
+      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.4.6
     mysqldExporter: prom/mysqld-exporter:v0.14.0
   cells:
   - name: zone1
diff --git a/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_autoscale.yaml b/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_autoscale.yaml
index 6bbd1d0d..13ebeb3e 100644
--- a/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_autoscale.yaml
+++ b/test/endtoend/operator/cluster_autoscale.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ spec:
     vtorc: vitess/lite:latest
     vtbackup: vitess/lite:latest
     mysqld:
-      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.0.40
+      mysql80Compatible: mysql:8.4.6
     mysqldExporter: prom/mysqld-exporter:v0.14.0
   cells:
   - name: zone1