Automattic’s WordPress Whiplash: Back to Core Contributions After Abrupt Pause – What’s Driving the U-Turn?

In a move that’s sending ripples through the WordPress community, Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, has abruptly reversed its decision to pause contributions to the open-source WordPress project. This startling U-turn comes just weeks after announcing that the upcoming WordPress 6.8 release would be the final major update for all of 2025.

In a blog post published Thursday evening, titled “Returning to Core,” Automattic declared its renewed commitment. “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 post stated. It further promised contributions across key areas including “WordPress Core, Gutenberg, Playground, Openverse, and WordPress.org,” emphasizing a continuation of their mission to “democratiz[e] publishing for everyone, everywhere.”

Automattic claims this brief hiatus provided valuable insights into the diverse ways WordPress – which powers an impressive 43% of the web – is utilized, and that they are now re-energized to help it “grow and thrive.”

However, the official explanation leaves many wondering what truly changed in such a short span.

The Internal Track: AI Ambitions and Release Schedules

According to sources speaking with TechCrunch, the internal picture painted by Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg offers a more specific rationale. In an internal communication, Mullenweg reportedly expressed a desire to release WordPress 6.9 this year, featuring an admin interface refresh and contributions from WordPress’s newly formed AI team. “I don’t think that will happen without our contributions,” Mullenweg allegedly stated, suggesting a direct link between Automattic’s involvement and the platform’s development roadmap.

Whispers and Theories: More Than Meets the Eye?

Despite these internal explanations, the sudden reversal has fueled speculation within the WordPress ecosystem. Various theories are circulating:

• External Pressure? Some insiders wonder if Mullenweg faced pressure to recommit resources.

• Business & Reputation? Others speculate that pulling back from the core open-source project was perceived as detrimental to Automattic’s business or its standing within the community.

• The WP Engine Factor? A prominent theory links this change of heart to Automattic’s ongoing, and often contentious, legal battle with WordPress hosting giant WP Engine. Automattic has publicly criticized WP Engine, calling it a “threat” and a “cancer to WordPress” for allegedly profiting from the open-source project without contributing sufficiently and for trademark misuse.

This legal dispute, active since 2024, sees Mullenweg advocating for WP Engine to either pay a direct licensing fee, significantly increase its contributions to WordPress, or cease using the WordPress trademark. WP Engine has countered, denying the need for a license and accusing Automattic of misunderstanding trademark law, even countersuing.

None of these backchannel theories align perfectly with Automattic’s officially stated reasons, leaving the community to piece together the puzzle.

This strategic pivot also comes shortly after Automattic laid off 16% of its staff last month, a restructuring aimed at improving agility, productivity, and profitability.

The rapid succession of these major decisions – layoffs, pausing contributions, and now abruptly resuming them – paints a picture of a company in significant flux, leaving the wider WordPress community to watch, wait, and wonder about the long-term implications for the world’s most popular content management system.