Digest 123: Matt Mullenweg Town Hall Highlights

This week’s edition is packed with major industry and product news. We have the first look at the game-changing features coming in WordPress 6.9, including the new AI Bridge and block-level collaboration. Plus, dive into the massive industry shakeup as Adobe acquires Semrush for $1.9 billion. We also cover WPBakery’s transparency-focused performance study, the rebrand of WP Crowdfunding to Growfund, and the launch of key new plugins like WPFilters and Simple Points and Rewards.

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💡 WordPress Spotlight

• WordPress 6.9 Release Candidate 3 Upcoming
  WordPress 6.9 Release Candidate 3 is scheduled for November 25, 2025. This milestone focuses on final adjustments before the general release on December 2. Developers are encouraged to test this version in a staging environment to ensure stability. (Source)
• Anand Upadhyay Honored with Yoast Care Fund
  Anand Upadhyay has been awarded the Yoast Care fund for his significant contributions to WordPress education. Nominated by Destiny Kanno, Anand was recognized for his work establishing the “WordPress Campus Connect” initiative and leading local meetups in Ajmer, efforts that have empowered students and new contributors to join the community. (Source)
• In Loving Memory: Zeel Thakkar Honored
  The WordPress community is mourning the loss of Zeel Thakkar, who passed away recently at WordCamp Surat 2025. Prior to her passing, she was awarded the Yoast Care fund for her extensive contributions as a Core, Meta, and Training contributor, as well as her role in organizing WordCamps. Nominated by Michelle Frechette, Zeel was known for her dedication to mentoring new contributors and encouraging women to join the community. (Source)
• WPBakery Releases Page Builder Performance Benchmark
  WPBakery has released a comprehensive benchmark study measuring Time to First Byte (TTFB) across popular WordPress page builders. Testing under identical conditions without external caching, the data shows that several builders achieve sub-200ms response times, with WPBakery averaging 187ms. The study aims to replace performance anecdotes with transparent, repeatable evidence regarding site speed and code efficiency. (Source)
• Richard Tabor Rethinks Admin UI in “WordPress Explorations”
  Richard Tabor has introduced “WordPress Explorations,” a series dedicated to reimagining the WordPress interface beyond current constraints. Recent concepts like “Pages & Layers” and “Application Menu” propose a persistent, app-like sidebar to unify navigation and editing, aiming to significantly reduce the mental effort required to manage sites. (Source)
• PHP 8.5 Released with Pipe Operator and URI Extension
  PHP 8.5 was released on November 20, 2025, as a major update bringing several new features for better performance and developer experience. Key additions include the Pipe Operator (|>) for cleaner function chaining, a new built-in URI extension for standard URL handling, and Clone With syntax for easier property updates during cloning. It also introduces the \#[\NoDiscard] attribute to warn when a return value is unused, enhancing API safety. (Source)
• WordPress 6.9 Features: AI Bridge, Live Collaboration, and New Blocks
  The WordPress 6.9 Release Candidate 1 is available, detailing new features ahead of the December 2 release. Key additions include the new Abilities API, which acts as a bridge for secure and consistent AI tool integration, and a Notes system for in-editor block-level collaboration. Other improvements are enhanced dynamic data sources via the Block Bindings API, a smoother client-side navigation system using the Interactivity API, and new user-focused blocks like mathematics, reading time, and accordion blocks. (Source)
• WPPhotos.info Highlights Anne McCarthy’s Dolomites Photo
  The website WPPhotos.info, which curates images from the WordPress.org Photos repository, has featured a striking photo by contributor Anne McCarthy. The photo, taken in the Dolomites in Italy, is part of her recent efforts to upload more of her photography to the free-to-use community platform. (Source)
• WordPress VIP Launches Collaborative Editing Features
  WordPress VIP is evolving its platform to include a full suite of collaborative editing features, aiming to match the seamless experience of tools like Google Docs within the enterprise CMS environment. Currently, this includes real-time co-authoring and the release of in-line commenting (Notes) with WordPress 6.9 in December. The next phase will introduce suggested edits and a full merge flow, providing enterprise teams with improved governance and faster publishing cycles by consolidating drafting, reviewing, and approval into one secure platform. (Source)
• Etch Transitions to Custom Block Authoring for Stability
  Etch, a visual development environment for WordPress, is shifting its “Auto Block Authoring” feature to generate custom blocks instead of relying on WordPress core blocks. This change was made because core blocks proved too limited and required “hacky” workarounds to maintain design fidelity and a seamless editing experience. The move to custom blocks offers greater stability, better design representation, improved editing control, and the potential for developers to visually build and share custom blocks with non-Etch users. (Source)
• Matt Mullenweg Town Hall Highlights WordPress’s Future
  At WordCamp Canada 2025, WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg hosted a Town Hall/AMA, outlining the future of the platform through his three-part mission to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging. He highlighted the rising potential of Web Assembly (WASM) for tools like WordPress Playground and the substantial growth of WooCommerce. Mullenweg also used the session to call on the community to hold companies accountable by “voting with their pocketbooks” to support contributors who uphold open-source values. (Source)
• Bit Form Claims ‘Lowest Price Ever’
  Bit Form is offering a massive 74% Black Friday discount. The company is positioning itself as the “lowest price form builder ever” with an offer of $169 for unlimited sites, claiming it provides a feature set that can “beat any form builder.” (Source)
• Adobe to Buy Semrush for $1.9 Billion
  Adobe announced on November 19, 2025, that it is acquiring Semrush for approximately $1.9 billion ($12.00 per share) in an all-cash deal. The acquisition is driven by Adobe’s need to integrate Semrush’s SEO and emerging Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) capabilities to help marketers maintain brand visibility across traditional search and new AI-driven platforms like large language models. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026. (Source)

✨ Fresh Features Rollout

1. SureForms 2.0 Launches with Payment Support
   SureForms has released version 2.0, featuring a redesigned, lighter UI, an improved AI-powered form creation flow, and a smarter Entries Page. The key highlight is the new Payment Forms feature, which allows all users (free and Pro) to accept payments directly through their forms without requiring extra add-ons. (Source) 
2. Fluent Forms 6.1.5 Delivers Gutenberg Styler and Authorize.net
   Fluent Forms 6.1.5 is out, adding a Gutenberg Block Styler for Free users, allowing design customization directly in the editor. The Pro version gains the highly requested Authorize.net payment gateway, along with Accordion & Tab Input Fields to organize complex forms and Net Promoter Score (NPS) support for Conversational Forms. (Source)
3. WPCafe 3.0 Relaunches with Multi-Location Support
   ThemeWinter released WPCafe 3.0, a complete restaurant management system with a rebuilt, intuitive dashboard. The key updates include new Multi-location support, instant QR Code generation for contactless ordering, and AI assistance for menu creation. The plugin also features new systems for Smart Discounts and Custom Receipt Slips. (Source)
4. Elementor 3.33 Launches Design System Tools
   Elementor 3.33, built on the Editor V4 architecture, introduces the Variables Manager (Pro) for centralized control over design tokens (colors, sizes, typography). The update also features re-engineered, element-level Custom CSS (Pro) to prevent style conflicts, native CSS Blend Modes for visual effects, and improved media handling for template transfers. (Source)

🆕 Fresh Releases

• WP Crowdfunding Rebrands to Growfund for a ‘New Era of Fundraising’
  The popular WordPress plugin WP Crowdfunding has officially rebranded and launched as Growfund. The change marks what the company calls “the new era of fundraising,” signaling a focus on simplifying the process of creating backer sites and donation platforms using WordPress and WooCommerce. (Source)
• Smart Sales Proof: Social Proof Tool for Conversions
  Smart Sales Proof (SSP) is a WordPress plugin designed to boost conversions by displaying real-time social proof. It uses notifications to show live activities like sales, signups, testimonials, and visitor activity. SSP features a Product-Based Campaign System which connects events to specific products, full control over timing and frequency, and an Embed Code feature to display proof on any site, including external funnels. It also includes a Testimonials Manager and Geo-location detection for enhanced credibility. (Source)
• WPFilters: New Filtering Plugin from SearchWP
  SearchWP has launched WPFilters, a new WordPress plugin designed to enhance user experience by providing powerful, intuitive content filtering. It allows users to easily create and customize various filter types (checkboxes, dropdowns, radio buttons) based on categories, tags, custom fields, and WooCommerce product attributes. The plugin is code-free, features a simple setup wizard, and offers multiple embed options like a Gutenberg block and shortcode for placement anywhere on the site. (Source)
• Simple Points and Rewards: Loyalty Program for WooCommerce
  RelyWP launched Simple Points and Rewards for WooCommerce, a feature-rich plugin to create a comprehensive customer loyalty program. Key features include an Intuitive Rewards Dashboard for customers, flexible earning rules (for spending, signups, referrals, birthdays, reviews), and multiple redemption options (Coupon Vouchers, Free Products). It also features a Levels & Badges System for gamification, a powerful Refer a Friend System, a site-wide Floating Rewards Widget, and Admin Reports & Analytics to track program success. (Source)
• WPSyncSheets Launches Integration for Bricks Builder
  WPSyncSheets has introduced an integration specifically for the Bricks Builder, allowing users to automatically sync all Bricks Form submissions directly to Google Sheets. This new add-on streamlines data management by providing real-time export of form entries, supports multiple forms syncing to separate sheets, and offers full control over column settings (Form Field Mapping, add/edit/delete/reorder). It also includes general settings for sheet creation, formatting, and styling. (Source)

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar 

If you’re looking for opportunities to network and learn, check out these upcoming WordPress events and meetups:

• WordCamp Netherlands (November 27-28, 2025)
• WordCamp Brasil (November 28-29, 2025)
• WordCamp Sofia (November 29-30, 2025)
• WordCamp Malaysia (December 6-7, 2025)
• WordCamp Bangkok (December 13-14, 2025)
• WordCamp Nepal (Butwal, January 23-24, 2026)
• WordCamp Zaragoza (January 24, 2026)
• WordCamp Nice (March 06, 2026)
• WordCamp Asia (Mumbai, April 9 – 11, 2026)
• WordCamp Europe (Poland, June 4-6, 2026)
• WordCamp US (Phoenix, 2026)

That’s a wrap for this week’s WPDigest! Stay tuned for more exciting WordPress updates next week.

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