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WordPress themes are facing a significant crisis. The rapid evolution of Full Site Editing (FSE) has introduced complexities that make it increasingly difficult to create and sustain a successful theme product. As a result, the number of new high-quality, well-maintained themes remains limited.

Compounding this challenge is an ongoing debate about the very nature of themes. Questions like “What is a theme?” and “Do we even need themes anymore?” have sparked confusion within the WordPress ecosystem. This lack of clarity has led to hesitation among developers and users, slowing the adoption of new theme paradigms.

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For years, WordPress has been the go-to platform for building websites of all kinds. It empowered both users and developers with a lean core and a vibrant plugin ecosystem for endless customization. Lately, however, I’ve started to feel that the balance between simplicity and flexibility is tipping in the wrong direction.

Some troubling numbers back this concern. Contributor churn has reached a record high. WordPress growth has stagnated for several years. The adoption of Blocks and Full Site Editing (FSE) has also been slow, with FSE adoption being almost nonexistent.

I’ve been using WordPress since 2006, working professionally with it since 2010, and building client sites with the block editor since 2017. Over the years, I’ve celebrated its growth and supported its vision. Recently, though, I’ve begun questioning whether its current path truly meets the needs of its diverse users and the broader community that sustains it.

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