Automattic says it will start contributing to WordPress again after pause

WordPress.com father or mother firm Automattic is altering course… once more.

In a blog post titled “Returning to Core” revealed Thursday night, Automattic introduced it would unpause its contributions to the WordPress challenge. That is regardless of having stated solely final month that the 6.8 WordPress release can be the ultimate main launch for all of 2025.

“After pausing our contributions to regroup, rethink, and plan strategically, we’re able to press play once more and return absolutely to the WordPress challenge,” the brand new weblog submit states. “Anticipate finding our contributions throughout all the biggest hits — WordPress Core, Gutenberg, Playground, Openverse, and WordPress.org. This return is a second of pleasure for us because it’s about persevering with the mission we’ve all the time believed in: democratizing publishing for everybody, all over the place,” it reads.

Automattic says it’s realized so much from the pause when it comes to the various methods WordPress is used, and that it’s now dedicated to serving to it “develop and thrive.”

The submit additionally notes that WordPress immediately powers 43% of the online.

It’s unclear what has modified.

Nevertheless, based on sources who spoke to TechCrunch, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg defined in an inner submit revealed final evening that he desires to get a 6.9 launch out this yr with an admin refresh and one thing from the “new AI workforce.” (The latter references this week’s announcement that WordPress formed a new team to steward the development of AI projects.)

“I don’t assume that can occur with out our contributions,” the submit said, based on a supply acquainted with the interior discussions.

Insiders are speculating there’s extra to it than that, and varied theories are being floated. Some marvel if Mullenweg was pressured into this transfer or if he realized that pulling again wasn’t good for his enterprise or its repute? Others are debating if this modification of coronary heart has to do with Automattic’s ongoing litigation with WordPress’ internet hosting firm, WP Engine, which Automattic has known as a “threat” to the WordPress community and a “cancer to WordPress.”

Nobody is aware of what to imagine, and none of those backchannel theories line up with the formally said purpose.

Automattic was requested for added remark.

Since 2024, Automattic has been engaged in a authorized dispute that has to do with how little, in Mullenweg’s opinion, WP Engine contributes to the WordPress challenge, regardless of its dimension and income.

He sees the internet hosting firm as profiting off the open supply work WordPress is doing with out giving again. Mullenweg additionally alleges that WP Engine advantages from the confusion between WordPress and industrial providers like WP Engine. This led him to ban the corporate from accessing WordPress.org and sue in court docket for unauthorized trademark usage.

Merely put, Mullenweg thinks WP Engine should either pay a direct licensing price or up its contributions to the open supply WordPress challenge, or shouldn’t be allowed to make use of its trademark.

WP Engine responded that it doesn’t assume it wants a license and that Automattic misunderstands trademark legislation, suing Automattic in return.

Final month, Automattic laid off 16% of staff, saying the restructuring was essential to be extra agile and enhance its productiveness and profitability.