Automattic Reverses Course, Resumes Contributions to WordPress Core 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, reversing a decision made just last month to pause contributions. The announcement, made via a blog post titled “Returning to Core,” signals a renewed commitment to the open-source platform.
Automattic had previously indicated that the upcoming WordPress 6.8 release would be the last major release for 2025. This new announcement marks a significant shift in strategy.
“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. The company plans to contribute across various areas, including WordPress Core, Gutenberg, Playground, Openverse, and WordPress.org. “This return is a moment of excitement for us as it’s about continuing the mission we’ve always believed in: democratizing publishing for everyone, everywhere,” the post added.
Automattic stated that this pause provided insight into diverse WordPress usage, recommitting to its growth and prosperity. Notably, WordPress currently powers 43% of the web.
The reasons behind this change of heart remain somewhat unclear. TechCrunch reports that 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, which was recently formed.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Mullenweg’s internal post stated, “I don’t think that will happen without our contributions.”
This decision has sparked speculation within the WordPress community. Theories range from external pressure and concerns about business reputation to the ongoing legal dispute with WP Engine. Automattic has previously criticized WP Engine, a WordPress hosting company, for not contributing sufficiently to the WordPress project and has even called them a “cancer to WordPress.” This issue led to Automattic banning the company from WordPress.org and suing them for unauthorized trademark usage.
Automattic’s legal issues with WP Engine began in 2024, revolving around WP Engine’s contributions to WordPress relative to their profits derived from it. Mullenweg has suggested WP Engine either pay a licensing fee or increase open-source contributions to continue using the WordPress trademark. WP Engine has countered with a lawsuit, claiming Automattic misunderstands trademark law.
This news follows Automattic’s recent layoff of 16% of its staff last month, a restructuring aimed at improving agility, productivity, and profitability.
