Earlier this week, a wave of speculation surged through the tech community regarding the anticipated release of Windows 12, as highlighted by PCWorld. However, Windows Central swiftly reached out to its sources, dispelling these rumors with clarity.
The good news is the report is false. According to contacts that are familiar with the Windows roadmap, there is no plan to ship a Windows 12 this year.
The decisive nature of this statement, coupled with its early morning release—around 6 a.m. in New York and 5 a.m. in Arkansas—suggests a well-considered response aimed at quelling any misinformation. Windows Central elaborates that Microsoft’s roadmap for 2026 is primarily focused on enhancing Windows 11, addressing user feedback, and improving the operating system’s overall reputation. Key areas of improvement include reducing the perceived overload of AI and UI elements, as well as reinstating the movable taskbar.
The original report from PCWorld, which gained traction on platforms like Reddit thanks to Tech4Gamer, mentioned that Windows 12, codenamed Hudson Valley Next, could potentially debut in 2026. This new operating system was rumored to feature a modular CorePC architecture and a deep integration of artificial intelligence through Copilot. However, Windows Central has also refuted these claims.
The modular OS claims are also misplaced. CorePC, which is the project the report refers to, was an effort from 2023 that attempted to revive the WCOS vision with a version of the Windows desktop that could scale up and down with various levels of app compatibility, along with state separation for faster OS updates and better system security. Given that CorePC was supposed to launch in 2024, it’s likely the project has since been scrapped. As far as I’m aware, there are no plans to ship a CorePC product this year, and especially not under “Windows 12” branding.
Furthermore, the codename Hudson Valley is rooted in 2023 and bears no connection to Windows 12. The speculations regarding a dramatically redesigned user interface stem from a leaked concept from 2022 that never received official approval, while rumors about a subscription-based Windows model have circulated since 2012.
It seems to me that this report is either AI generated or AI researched, and has been published without much fact checking.
Zac Bowden from Windows Central posits that if Windows 12 is ever released, it is unlikely to occur before 2027, and it will almost certainly not draw from the current wave of rumors. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that discussions within Microsoft about “starting over with Windows 12” are indeed taking place, reflecting the mixed reception of Windows 11.
In related news, Windows 11 has recently achieved a record high market share as support for Windows 10 comes to an end.
