i mean windows 12 keeps being rumored because despite how it seems, Windows 11 has been around for 4 years now (2021) and has had some major changes. it's just that nobody wants to move to it. for perspective, 7 released in 2009 and 10 released in 2015. meaning within those 6 years we had Vista, 8,
and
10 come out. currently, W10 is running on a decade of changes and it took 3 years for it to become the market leader over 7 (which finished its EOL in 2020). meanwhile W11
just
became the market leader a few months ago.
in terms of underlying functions, it was actually last year when Microsoft updated that in a major way. so much so that its the last official version for Windows 11 SE, unless they change their mind with the upcoming one (which is possible as it appears these changes aren't too taxing). getting into the weeds here but 24H2 updated W11 to a newer system under the hood and the upcoming 25H2 is based on that system too. it's unknown what happens after that but it's entirely possible that 26H2 would be the last W11, setting the stage for 6 years between W11 and W12
and
for the extended EOL to kick in. personally i just see that extension as their way of saying "yeah Windows 12 after this is done, Windows 11 will be done beta testing everything."
"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.