Every six months, Shopify unveils a new Edition—a comprehensive showcase of updates and innovations that reflects where Shopify is now and where it’s headed. But the Winter ’25 Edition? It’s breaking all the rules.
Instead of dazzling us with flashy new features, Shopify’s focus this time is on refining what already exists. Over 150 updates have been rolled out to improve performance, integration, and reliability. Sounds boring, right? Think again. This Edition leans into the concept of “boring” and transforms it into something quirky, playful, and undeniably engaging.
Refining, Not Redefining
The Winter ’25 Edition is a departure from Shopify’s usual approach of unveiling flashy features. Instead, it’s all about the details that make the biggest difference—enhancing reliability, boosting performance, and simplifying workflows. This focus reflects Shopify’s commitment to creating tools that just work, without fanfare or friction.
Commerce is inherently complex, and Shopify’s updates aim to simplify it. The platform leans into its role as a foundation for businesses, delivering what merchants need today and building toward a future-proof ecosystem.
The Edition Hub Experience
At first glance, the Winter ’25 Edition hub presents a provocatively simple, text-based design reminiscent of the early days of the web—think old-school Wikipedia. The deliberately minimal interface is a bold nod to simplicity, focusing on functionality and clarity. But don’t let its retro aesthetic fool you—hidden within this straightforward design lies a playful, immersive experience that’s full of surprises.
- Interactive Easter Eggs: Drag the “boring” text in the corner to hear it pronounced. Browse the site and discover merchandise you can purchase using Shopify Checkout. Or, for an extra quirky touch, try calling the number provided to listen to the Edition—it’s a playful nod to retro interactivity.
- The Magic “Non-Boring” Switch: With a single click, the site transforms into a retro CRT TV, showcasing Shopify’s updates through 150+ AI-generated videos. These videos, created using tools like MidJourney, Runway, and ElevenLabs, highlight each feature in a quirky, engaging way.
- QR Code Remote Control: Every visitor receives a unique QR code that, when scanned, turns their mobile device into a remote control for the TV interface. Powered by Google Firebase, this feature demonstrates Shopify’s technical flexibility and creativity.
The hub showcases Shopify’s capabilities while emphasizing the endless possibilities for entrepreneurs building on the platform.
Technical Highlights
The Winter ’25 Edition hub doesn’t just look good; it’s a technical achievement that combines innovation and attention to detail. Let’s have a peak behind the curtain and take a look at some technical highlights!
The retro vibe of the TV interface is achieved through an authentic CRT effect, inspired by Martin Upitis’s classic CRT shader, and modified to fit Shopify’s unique aesthetic. Smooth channel transitions are brought to life using shader uniforms to manipulate colors, frames, and static effects, with React Spring ensuring animations are seamless and fluid.
Adding to the realism, the TV screen material incorporates a roughness map that creates lifelike smudges and imperfections, making the visuals feel tactile and grounded. Text elements, such as channel numbers and volume, are rendered using R3F RenderTexture and Drei’s Text component, fully integrated into the TV shader for a cohesive and polished interface.
Subtitles for the videos, generated and translated at scale using AI, are implemented via VTT files, ensuring clarity across the interactive experience. A single environment map with custom rotations lights the TV and remote, adding depth and consistency to the visuals. Engaging animations, including the TV’s entrance sequence, were crafted in Blender and exported as a GLTF file, while the background’s crashing text effect is controlled by custom physics for added precision.
The experience goes beyond visuals, with Firebase enabling dynamic remote control functionality. Visitors can scan a QR code to turn their mobile phone into a remote that seamlessly communicates with the TV interface. Accessibility is also front and center, with R3F’s A11y component ensuring all interactive elements are screen-reader friendly, making the hub inclusive for all users.
These features come together to offer an experience that’s as delightfully playful as it is technically ingenious, blending retro-inspired creativity with technical ingenuity.
Why This Edition Matters
The Winter ’25 Edition isn’t about flashy announcements or big reveals. It’s about doing the foundational work that often goes unnoticed but has a massive impact. By focusing on refining its existing tools, Shopify ensures that merchants and developers can depend on a platform that performs seamlessly, day in and day out.
This Edition also challenges how we think about creativity and innovation. By leaning into the concept of “boring,” Shopify has crafted something that surprises, engages, and inspires. It’s a reminder that the smallest details can have the biggest impact when approached thoughtfully.
Ready to see what “boring” really looks like? Explore the Winter ’25 Edition hub for yourself and discover the possibilities.
