Can someone explain what 'Shopify Editions' really is?

[MDD]

I went to this page 

https://www.shopify.com/editions/winter2024

And I don't understand in the slightest what any of this is, what it does, or what any of it means.  Is this a new shopify store I would set up?  Is this stuff that I would integrate into my existing store?  Why is it a new subscription?

What even IS this?

This stuff is all written as if the end user already understands everything about it, it's literally incomprehensible to me.  Can someone tell me what the heck "shopify editions" even IS?

[Brett_Helium · Accepted solution]

Hey @MDD!

"Editions" is the name that Shopify uses for their twice-yearly event where they announce all sorts of updates and new features. A lot of the information presented is primarily intended for developers building sites, themes, and apps, but there is certainly information that is relevant to any Shopify user.

Many of the features and updates probably won't apply to you, but anything that does should be available (or become available later) on your existing shop, there's no need to sign up for a new subscription or create a new shop.

[MDD]

Thank you, your explanation clears it up very nicely.  The concept as presented by Shopify is so confusingly worded and presented that I had no understanding of even what it was or if I needed to do anything to engage with it.  I really hate when platforms present consumer-facing information that is worded as if the consumer is an employee of the platform.  It betrays a complete lack of fundamental understanding of who their customers are, and shows how little they care about the customers understanding of the platform they PAY to use.  It's my firm belief that shopify wants their customers to be confused and unable to understand how to properly use the platform, so that shopify can turn around and sell "apps" with paid subscriptions that solve "problems" that shopify themselves intentionally create.  I regularly tell people to avoid shopify because of exactly this kind of thing.   

[Trevor]

@Brett_Helium Thanks for jumping in and providing that answer!

@MDD Thank you for providing your feedback and how these updates land with you, while also providing feedback on how we can improve these in the future. 

The intent of Shopify Editions is to provide everyone within the ecosystem (Partners, developers, merchants alike) with information on the upcoming feature releases. This allows you insight into what is on our roadmap, which we hope are features that will positively impact you and your business. 

We do not release a new subscription plan with each Edition. We have announced the Shopify Subscription app and improvements to it. It allows merchants to sell subscription-based products using a first-party app. More information can be found here. 

[MDD]

Thank you for the reply Trevor.

Shopify really needs to work on how new features are communicated to people like me and others who run our online businesses via shopify but who do not understand at all any of the technical jargon that you use so often to describe features.  I do not have even the slightest idea what new features are being offered in "Shopify Editions '24", as my original post proves I wasn't even able to figure out what "Shopify Editions" even is.  Using slick tech-bro terminology to announce and describe features may feel cool to the people who write, and more importantly who already understand, that terminology, but for street-level users such as myself it does literally nothing but create confusion and resentment.  For instance, I could really use an AI powered photo enhancer to make the pictures on my storefront look more professional.  I found out via Google that Shopify does (but actually does NOT) offer this in "Shopify Editions '24", which in turn resulted in me being led down a rabbithole of tech chatter that left me not understanding ANYTHING about "Shopify Editions '24" and even starting a new store on accident when apparently there was no need for it!

The end result for me is that I won't be bothering to even look at shopify for AI solutions.  I was told AI solutions were available in my store, but I can't find them anywhere, and when I try to find an explanation of what they are or how/when they will be implemented Shopify runs me through an incomprehensible gauntlet of tech babble that causes me to want to cancel my subscription completely since you can't even provide me with a clear pathway to a solution or even a basic explanation of what you offer to me, a paying customer.  What the hell is "Shopify Magic", for instance?  The only magic I see is you charging me for features that aren't implemented and that I can't even understand.