In context: Considering the truth that Windows 11 and Windows 10 reached a mixed whole of 1.4 billion month-to-month lively PCs earlier this yr, it appeared like the best choice for Microsoft to decelerate the tempo of Windows characteristic updates with the intention to give attention to system stability with month-to-month safety patches and bug fixes. However, the corporate is now reportedly shifting to a brand new Windows growth cycle that contains pushing out characteristic updates as much as 4 instances a yr, with a brand new main model of the Windows consumer popping out each three years.
With Windows 11, Microsoft stated it will be releasing characteristic updates on an annual foundation, which is able to arrive within the second half of every calendar yr. Soon after the announcement, the corporate additionally shifted Windows 10’s characteristic replace schedule from its twice-a-year cycle to the identical single replace cadence.
It’s why we did not get an official 22H1 model of both working system, although Microsoft did launch a Windows 11 characteristic replace earlier this yr that arrived exterior of the corporate’s established roadmap.
Now, with the upcoming 22H2 launch for Windows 11 (code-named Sun Valley 2), Microsoft is tweaking the Windows growth cycle additional by ramping up the frequency of future characteristic updates and is shifting to a three-year launch cycle for ‘main’ Windows variations.
This new roadmap, studies Windows Central, can have Microsoft rolling out new options and experiences for its present OS as much as 4 instances a yr. The deliberate characteristic drops will arrive as a part of Microsoft’s new engineering effort internally known as ‘Moments,’ which suggests IT admins may quickly be having extra of their very own as properly. And since Microsoft is again to numbering its main OS releases, the corporate might probably find yourself asserting Windows 12 by 2024.
As of now, particulars round Microsoft’s subsequent main OS model are expectedly scarce. It’s apparently known as ‘Next Valley’ inside the corporate and is at the moment within the early planning and engineering section.
