The Future of WordPress: Blocks, AI & More in 2025

WordPress has been steadily moving toward a fully block-based experience, reshaping how users design and manage their sites. The transition to blocks and the “Site Editor” interface is becoming the new foundation of WordPress. Even classic themes are seeing significant changes, with features like block-based widgets, a core-integrated site logo block, and the ability to insert block patterns seamlessly.

What does this mean for site owners, developers, and everyday users? No matter if you’re using a classic theme or embracing the excitement of full-site editing, WordPress is evolving to make customization more flexible and intuitive.

This post covers the latest on WordPress’s transition — what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s coming in 2025.

The Ongoing Transition to Blocks

As of January 2025, WordPress has significantly advanced its transition to a block-based editing experience, emphasizing flexibility and user control over site design and content management. Blocks are no longer limited to just posts and pages. They’re now a part of nearly every aspect of WordPress — from widgets to global settings.

The Role of Popular Page Builders in the Block Evolution

While WordPress is pushing the adoption of the “Site Editor,” some of the most popular page builders have also begun integrating block-like functionalities. Builders such as Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi have incorporated features that align with WordPress’s block system, making the transition smoother for users who rely on these tools.

Global Styles and Theme Building

Many page builders now offer global styling options similar to WordPress’s “Global Styles” in the “Site Editor.” These allow users to set consistent typography, colors, and layouts across their websites, reducing the need for manual adjustments on each page. This mirrors the block-based approach of Full-Site Editing, where styles can be managed site-wide without relying on theme customization options.

Reusable and Dynamic Blocks

Some builders have adopted reusable content elements that function similarly to WordPress’s reusable blocks. Users can create dynamic sections and templates that can be applied across different pages, ensuring consistency and streamlining site management.

Integration With Block-Based Features

To stay compatible with WordPress’s direction, many builders now allow users to insert WordPress blocks directly into their designs. This hybrid approach allows for more flexibility, letting users mix and match traditional builder elements with native WordPress blocks.

These advancements show that while WordPress is moving toward a native block-based experience, page builders are developing to complement and integrate with this shift rather than resist it.

Full Site Editing and the Site Editor Interface

The “Site Editor,” a central component of Full-Site Editing (FSE), empowers users to design and customize their entire website using blocks. You can edit templates, individual parts like headers and footers, and the site’s global styles for a streamlined and intuitive site-building experience.

Unlike the traditional theme system, which requires modifying theme files, the “Site Editor” allows for real-time customization within the WordPress interface. Users can create custom layouts, apply site-wide design changes, and fine-tune every aspect of their site — all without touching a single line of code.

Are There Plans to Stop Supporting Classic Themes?

As of January 2025, WordPress has not announced any plans to discontinue support for classic themes. Classic themes, which use PHP templates and traditional customization methods, continue to be widely used and supported within the WordPress ecosystem.

In May 2023, a proposal was introduced to retire older default themes — specifically, those that have been supported for a minimum of five years and are active on fewer than 1% of all WordPress sites. This proposal aimed to streamline maintenance efforts and focus on more modern themes. But, even for themes designated as “retired,” WordPress is committed to providing security updates to guarantee their continued safe use.

Note that “retired” in this context refers to a reduction in active maintenance, such as feature updates and enhancements, rather than complete abandonment. Users of retired themes can continue using them, but they’re encouraged to consider updating to newer themes to take advantage of the latest features and improvements.

So, while WordPress is actively promoting the adoption of block themes and the “Site Editor” interface, there are currently no plans to cease support for classic themes. Users can continue to use classic themes — though they may not receive the same level of feature updates as newer, block-based themes.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for WordPress?

As WordPress continues to advance, the block-based approach will probably become even more refined, with better performance, improved workflows, and new features aimed at making site creation more accessible.

Some expected developments include:

• More advanced block patterns that allow for sophisticated layouts with minimal effort
• Greater integration of AI-powered tools to assist in content generation and design
• Refinements in performance and accessibility, ensuring that the block and site editors work seamlessly for all users

WordPress is transitioning to a fully block-based system, giving users more control and flexibility over website design and content. No matter your level of involvement — site owner, developer, or casual user — adopting this change unlocks a more modern, powerful, and user-friendly WordPress experience.

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