Google skips Chrome version 82

Google will not release version 82 of Chrome. The work already done on the new version will be merged with the efforts already made for version 83. Earlier, Google announced that version updates are delayed.

Jason Kersey, Google’s Director of Technical Program Management, said in a discussion group for Chromium developers that Chrome 82 will not be released. That version was already available through the Dev channel, which sits in between the Canary and Beta channels. The goal now is to move Chrome 83 to the Dev channel as soon as possible; that version is currently in the Canary phase. The changes that were intended for version 82 are included in version 83.

Chrome 80 is currently the latest stable version. Chrome 81 was supposed to come out last week, but it didn’t. Google then announced that version updates are being paused due to changes to working hours and conditions related to the new coronavirus. Chrome 81 is currently in beta and will remain there until Chrome 83 is promoted to the Dev channel, Kersey says.

Due to the disappearance of Chrome 82, there will probably be more time between the upcoming stable releases of Chrome. That only affects the addition of relatively large features; security updates are added in between with smaller updates. Kersey expects to provide more details about the expected release of Chrome 81 and the schedule for Chrome 83 in the coming days.