Automattic Resumes WordPress Contributions After Brief Hiatus
In a surprising turn of events, Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, has announced it will resume contributing to the WordPress project after a brief pause. This decision comes just a month after indicating that the 6.8 WordPress release would be the final major release for 2025. The company made the announcement in a blog post titled “Returning to Core”, signaling a renewed commitment to the open-source platform.
“After pausing our contributions to regroup, rethink, and plan strategically, we’re ready to press play again and return fully to the WordPress project,” the blog post stated. Automattic plans to contribute across key areas including WordPress Core, Gutenberg, Playground, Openverse, and WordPress.org. The company emphasized that this return aligns with its mission of democratizing publishing for everyone, everywhere.
Automattic acknowledged that the pause allowed them to gain valuable insights into the diverse ways WordPress is utilized, reinforcing their commitment to its growth and success. The post also highlighted that WordPress currently powers 43% of the web.
The reasons behind this change of heart remain somewhat unclear. According to sources who spoke to TechCrunch, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg mentioned in an internal post the desire to release a 6.9 version this year, featuring an admin refresh and contributions from the “new AI team.” This alludes to the recent formation of a dedicated AI team within WordPress to guide AI project development.
“I don’t think that will happen without our contributions,” the internal post reportedly stated.
Speculation abounds regarding the underlying motivations for Automattic’s return. Some speculate whether Mullenweg faced external pressure or recognized the potential harm to his business and reputation. Others ponder if the decision is linked to Automattic’s ongoing legal dispute with WordPress hosting provider, WP Engine, which Automattic views as a “threat” to the WordPress community and a “cancer to WordPress.”
The dispute stems from Automattic’s belief that WP Engine is profiting from WordPress’s open-source work without adequately contributing back. Mullenweg has accused WP Engine of benefiting from confusion between WordPress and its commercial services, leading to a lawsuit over unauthorized trademark usage.
WP Engine responded by filing a counter-suit against Automattic, claiming that they do not require a license and that Automattic misunderstands trademark law.
Notably, Automattic laid off 16% of its staff last month, citing the need for restructuring to enhance agility, productivity, and profitability.
