Automattic Resumes WordPress Contributions: What WordPress Users Need to Know in 2025
If you’ve been wondering whether Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, will continue its active role in WordPress development, here’s the latest update. After a brief pause earlier this year, Automattic has officially announced it will resume contributing to the WordPress project — a move that could significantly impact the platform powering over 43% of the web. This return comes with promises of exciting improvements, including a refreshed admin experience and cutting-edge AI integrations designed to enhance WordPress’s usability and extend its dominance in the content management system (CMS) landscape.
Automattic’s Strategic Pause and What Changed
Just last month, Automattic signaled that WordPress 6.8 would be its last major release for 2025, leaving many in the community questioning the company’s future involvement. The sudden pivot to “pause” contributions was framed as a strategic regrouping to rethink and plan future innovations. Now, in a new blog post titled “Returning to Core,” Automattic reveals it is ready to press play again, reaffirming its commitment to WordPress Core, Gutenberg editor, Openverse, and other key components.
This move highlights Automattic’s dedication to the platform’s mission of democratizing publishing worldwide. The company reflects on lessons learned during the pause about the diverse ways WordPress is used and stresses the importance of nurturing its growth to meet evolving user needs.
What to Expect from Automattic’s Return
One of the most anticipated updates is the planned release of WordPress 6.9 later this year, which promises a refreshed admin interface aimed at improving user experience for site owners and developers alike. Additionally, Automattic’s new AI team will bring artificial intelligence-powered features that could revolutionize how content is created, managed, and optimized within WordPress.
Industry Reactions and Speculations Behind the Scenes
While Automattic’s CEO Matt Mullenweg cited internal strategic planning as the reason for the pause and subsequent return, speculation abounds. Some insiders suggest external pressures or business considerations influenced the decision to recommit to WordPress development. Others link this shift to ongoing litigation between Automattic and WP Engine, a major WordPress hosting company that Automattic has publicly criticized as harmful to the community.
Regardless of the behind-the-scenes reasons, this recommitment reassures the millions of WordPress users and developers who rely on continuous innovation and support from Automattic to keep the platform competitive and secure.
Why This Matters for WordPress Users and Developers
Automattic’s renewed focus means WordPress remains at the forefront of open-source CMS platforms, ensuring users benefit from timely updates, security patches, and new features that leverage the latest in AI technology. For website owners, marketers, and developers, this translates into improved workflows, better SEO tools, and richer content creation capabilities.
A Positive Outlook for WordPress’s Future
Automattic’s decision to re-engage with the WordPress project after a strategic pause reflects its long-term belief in the platform’s potential. With WordPress powering nearly half of the internet’s websites, continuous innovation backed by Automattic’s expertise will drive forward the future of web publishing. Users and developers should stay tuned for the WordPress 6.9 release, where AI features and admin improvements are expected to set new standards for content management.
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