Just a year after Microsoft adopted a yearly update cadence for the Windows operating system, the company is reportedly switching back to the three-year update cycle. This indicates that Windows 12 could arrive in 2024, a year later than scheduled.
According to Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, Microsoft will now adopt a three-year release cycle to push out major Windows upgrades. Consequently, Microsoft’s next major version release, Windows 12, may arrive in 2024 instead of the previously scheduled 2023 (Sun Valley 3).
However, Microsoft will reportedly continue to roll out feature updates for existing Windows versions roughly once every quarter, internally called Moments. This is quite different from last year, when Microsoft said it would release a big-bang OS update in the year’s second half.
If the Windows Central report is accurate, some of the features scheduled to be released as part of the 23H2 (Sun Valley 3) update will be shipped in 22H2 (Sun Valley 2). As per the new schedule, 22H2 is slated for release in the September-October period though the 23H2 release is completely scrapped.
The increased frequency for existing versions could mean more work for IT and system administrators. However, feature release isn’t something that should concern administrators, considering they already handle security updates on a monthly basis.
What’s a tad disconcerting is the increasing use of the term “client†instead of “workstation†as terminology for Windows machines. As part and parcel of feature upgrades, Windows systems increasingly have cloud services such as OneDrive, Office, etc., bundled within the OS.
A long-time Windows user may question the need for such remote services integrated into the OS. Google’s ChromeOS is designed with the same approach.
For Windows 12, Bowden said that the OS is being called Nexy Valley and that it is under “early planning and engineering stages.â€
Microsoft’s shift back to a three-year update cadence could expose the incoherence behind its repeated changes in strategy. Then again, by announcing Windows 11Opens a new window , the company already damaged its credibility as Windows 10 was supposed to be the last Windows version ever.
Nevertheless, since Microsoft hasn’t officially spoken on either Windows 12 or an updated release cadence, it remains to be seen if Windows 12 is on the way or if it’ll just be called Windows 11 24H2.
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