According to Robert Montti’s article on Search Engine Journal, “WordPress Delays Release Of Version 7.0 To Focus On Stability,” WordPress has postponed the release of WordPress 7.0 in order to improve stability and address concerns surrounding its new Real-Time Collaboration (RTC) feature.
WordPress Puts Stability First
Montti says WordPress 7.0 was supposed to come out on April 9, but the team decided to delay it for more testing and improvements. WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg said the release should aim for “extreme stability,” especially with important new AI-driven features planned for version 7.0.
Real-Time Collaboration Raises Concerns
One big reason for the delay is the new Real-Time Collaboration feature, which brings:
- New database tables
- Changes to editing workflows
- Synchronization and session management challenges
Contributors reportedly raised concerns about:
- Database performance
- Cache handling
- Compatibility with existing systems
- Potential upgrade risks for live websites
One specific problem is that RTC temporarily turns off persistent post caches during active editing sessions, and developers are still working to improve this.
Longer Release Candidate Phase
Instead of going back to beta releases, WordPress will keep using a longer Release Candidate (RC) phase. Montti explains this helps avoid technical problems with version order and plugin compatibility, while giving developers more time to test and improve the features.
AI Remains a Key Focus
Even with the delay, WordPress leaders say version 7.0 is still a major release because it adds infrastructure to support the platform’s bigger AI plans.
Mullenweg also said WordPress wants to get back to a regular release schedule, aiming for four releases a year by 2027, helped by AI-assisted development.
What This Means for Developers and Hosts
Montti notes the delay also gives:
- Developers have more time to test RTC-related changes.
- Hosting companies are given additional time to evaluate the impact of real-time collaboration on shared hosting environments.
Because RTC uses more dynamic database activity, hosting providers are still looking at possible effects on performance.
Main Takeaway
The delay shows WordPress is choosing stability, compatibility, and real-world testing over a strict release schedule. As Montti’s report points out, this highlights how complex features like real-time collaboration and AI are changing the future of WordPress development.