Google Won’t Release New Google Chrome Updates Due to COVID-19

Google has recently announced that Google Chrome and Chrome OS would no longer receive new releases in an attempt to ease the pressure on developers.

Technically, Google says that by suspending major updates for the browser and the OS, it avoids forcing developers to work on any changes in terms of compatibility, especially as many of them are staying home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“Due to adjusted work schedules, we’re pausing upcoming Chrome & Chrome OS releases. Our goal is to ensure they continue to be stable, secure, & reliable for anyone who depends on them. We’ll prioritize updates related to security, which will be included in Chrome 80. Stay tuned,” Google announced.

“Given the current situation we want to ensure developers don’t have to react to changes or features,” Paul Kinlan, a member of the Google Chrome team, explained in a follow-up tweet.

Videoconferencing fixes on their way

On the other hand, leaving users on Chrome 80 during these difficult times raises other concerns, as this particular release is known for including issues related to videoconferencing, as someone signaled on Twitter. And given that so many people are working from home these days to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, such a bug could easily cause additional troubles for users.

But Google says it’s already working on fixing this problem, so a minor update that could address the videoconferencing glitches might go live in the coming days.

“We very much care about the use of the product right now and stabilizing that. Thanks for the ping on that issue!” Dion Almaer, another engineer part of the Chrome team, explained.

Google hasn’t mentioned whether it plans to continue updating Google Chrome Canary and Dev, but there’s a chance nothing changes here, as these two versions are specifically aimed at testing new features and not at production devices.