Update release notes for 9.6.0 (#4460)

wjrosa · daledupreez · web-flow · commit 80704cb8c647 · 2025-07-04T18:20:42.000-03:00
* Release notes for 9.6.0

* Moving some entries to internal changes

* Moving the new OC filter to the internal changes section

* Moving the legacy checkbox removal entry

* Use [Optimized Checkout] prefix instead of [OC]

* Implement my own feedback :D

* Add two more missing entries

* Moving up the WC_Stripe_Order class deprecation entry

---------

Co-authored-by: daledupreez &lt;dale.du.preez@automattic.com&gt;
Co-authored-by: Dale du Preez &lt;dale@automattic.com&gt;
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
@@ -112,62 +112,73 @@ If you get stuck, you can ask for help in the [Plugin Forum](https://wordpress.o
 
 = 9.6.0 - xxxx-xx-xx =
 
-* Update - Removes the change display order feature from the settings page when the Optimized Checkout is enabled
+**New Features**
+
+* Legacy checkout experience has been deprecated, new checkout experience is now the default for all sites
+* Voucher payment methods (Boleto, Multibanco, and Oxxo) can now be used when purchasing subscriptions if manual renewals are enabled or required
+* Show an icon beside the payment methods that support automatic recurring payments
+* Include extension data from block checkout when submitting an express checkout order
+
+**Important Fixes and Updates**
+
+* Update - Support block checkout custom fields when using express payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay
+* Update - Express Checkout: introduce new WP actions for supporting custom checkout fields for classic, shortcode-based checkout
+* Fix - Apply shipping country restrictions to Express Checkout
+* Add - Introduced `wc_stripe_force_save_payment_method` filter
 * Update - Removes the customization of individual payment method titles and descriptions
-* Fix - Fixes some inconsistencies related to the Optimized Checkout feature and improves its unit tests
-* Add - Introduces a new marketing note to promote BNPLs (Buy Now Pay Later) payment methods (Klarna and Affirm) on WooCommerce admin home page
-* Fix - Throws a specific exception on an edge case where a saved payment method could not be found when processing an order in the new checkout experience
-* Fix - Checks if the store has other BNPL extensions installed before displaying the promotional banner
+* Fix - Add order locking when processing payment redirects, to mitigate cases of double status updates
+* Fix - Correctly handle countries without states when using the express payment methods
+* Update - Remove legacy checkout checkbox from settings
+* Update - Remove BACS from the unsupported ‘change payment method for subscription’ page
+* Update - Remove verification steps for Apple Pay domain registration, as this is no longer required by Stripe
+* Update - Update deprecation notice message to specify that legacy checkout experience has been deprecated since version 9.6.0
 * Fix - Correctly notifies customers and merchants of a failed refund and reverts the refunded status
-* Update - Legacy checkout experience has been deprecated, new checkout experience is now the default for all sites
+* Fix - Void intent when cancelling an uncaptured order
+* Fix - Fixes page crash when Klarna payment method is not supported in the merchant's country by returning an empty array instead of throwing an error
+* Dev - Deprecates the WC_Stripe_Order class and removes its inclusion call
+
+**Other Fixes**
+
+* Fix - Fix payment processing for $0 subscription with recurring coupon
 * Fix - Fixes an edge case where the express payment method buttons would not be displayed on the checkout if taxes used to be enabled
-* Add - Voucher payment methods (Boleto, Multibanco, and Oxxo) can now be used when purchasing subscriptions if manual renewals are enabled or required
-* Add - Adds a new filter (`wc_stripe_is_optimized_checkout_available`) to allow merchants to test the Optimized Checkout feature earlier
-* Fix - Restricts the BNPLs promotional banner to only be displayed after version 9.7.0
-* Add - Adds a new promotional banner to promote the BNPL payment methods (Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm) on the settings page.
-* Dev - Deprecates the WC_Stripe_Order class and removes its inclusion call.
-* Fix - Fixes the availability of the saving payment method checkbox in the classic checkout when the Optimized Checkout is enabled and signup is disabled during checkout.
-* Dev - Implements the PSR-4 autoloading standard for the plugin unit tests (PHP).
-* Fix - Sends missing information to Stripe when completing transactions with WeChat Pay, Blik and Klarna, using the Optimized Checkout.
-* Dev - Moves the main Stripe class to a new file.
-* Dev - Renames all PHP Unit test files to follow the PSR-4.
-* Dev - Dynamically retrieves versions of WooCommerce and WordPress to use in the PHP code coverage GitHub Actions Workflow.
-* Fix - Makes payment methods dynamically available on the shortcode checkout when the Optimized Checkout is enabled depending on the saving method checkbox value.
-* Fix - Fixes a fatal error when the fingerprint property is not available for a card payment method.
-* Add - Show an icon beside the payment methods that support automatic recurring payments.
-* Fix - Fixes the payment method title when using the classic checkout with the Optimized Checkout enabled.
-* Update - Remove BACS from the unsupported 'change payment method for subscription' page.
+* Fix - Fixes a fatal error when the fingerprint property is not available for a card payment method
 * Fix - Fix payment method title display when new payment settings experience is enabled
-* Fix - Prevent styles from non-checkout pages affecting the appearance of Stripe element.
-* Dev - Add e2e tests for BLIK
-* Dev - Add e2e tests for BECS
-* Fix - Send correct attribute when setting the default payment method.
-* Dev - Build dynamic WordPress and WooCommerce dependencies for unit tests.
-* Fix - Void intent when cancelling an uncaptured order
+* Fix - Prevent styles from non-checkout pages affecting the appearance of Stripe element
+* Fix - Send correct attribute when setting the default payment method
 * Fix - Hide future payments message from payment element when manual renewal is required
-* Tweak - Fix a rare warning when searching customers with missing name
-* Fix - Apply shipping country restrictions to Express Checkout
-* Dev - Prevent changelog entries with trailing periods
+* Fix - Fix a rare warning when searching customers with missing name
 * Fix - Fix legacy deprecation notice displayed on new plugin installs
-* Update - Remove verification steps for Apple Pay domain registration, as this is no longer required by Stripe
 * Fix - When the user is deleted via WP CLI, take into account the environment type before detaching their payment methods
-* Tweak - Add prefix to the custom database cache keys
-* Update - Support block checkout custom fields when using express payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay
-* Dev - Fix failing optimized checkout e2e test due to incorrect order of operations
-* Tweak - Remove Payment Method Configurations fallback cache
-* Dev - Add Klarna e2e tests
-* Tweak - Update deprecation notice message to specify that legacy checkout experience has been deprecated since version 9.6.0
-* Update - Remove legacy checkout checkbox from settings
-* Add - Introduced `wc_stripe_force_save_payment_method` filter
-* Update - Express Checkout: introduce new WP actions for supporting custom checkout fields for classic, shortcode-based checkout
-* Fix - Fixes page crash when Klarna payment method is not supported in the merchant's country by returning an empty array instead of throwing an error
-* Fix - Fix payment processing for $0 subscription with recurring coupon
+* Fix - Throws a specific exception on an edge case where a saved payment method could not be found when processing an order in the new checkout experience
+* Fix - Register Express Checkout script before use to restore buttons on “order-pay” pages
+* Fix - Add safety check when checking error object
+
+**Internal Changes and Upcoming Features**
+
+* Update - Remove Payment Method Configurations fallback cache
+* Update - Add prefix to the custom database cache keys
+* Add - Introduces a new marketing note to promote BNPLs (Buy Now Pay Later) payment methods (Klarna and Affirm) on WooCommerce admin home page
+* Add - Adds a new promotional banner to promote the BNPL payment methods (Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm) on the settings page.
+* Fix - Checks if the store has other BNPL extensions installed before displaying the promotional banner
+* Fix - Restricts the BNPLs promotional banner to only be displayed after version 9.7.0
+* Add - [Optimized Checkout] Adds a new filter (wc_stripe_is_optimized_checkout_available) to allow merchants to test the Optimized Checkout feature earlier
+* Fix - [Optimized Checkout] Sends missing information to Stripe when completing transactions with WeChat Pay, Blik and Klarna, using the Optimized Checkout
+* Fix - [Optimized Checkout] Fixes the availability of the saving payment method checkbox in the classic checkout when the Optimized Checkout is enabled and signup is disabled during checkout
+* Fix - [Optimized Checkout] Makes payment methods dynamically available on the shortcode checkout when the Optimized Checkout is enabled depending on the saving method checkbox value
+* Fix - [Optimized Checkout] Fixes the payment method title when using the classic checkout with the Optimized Checkout enabled
+* Update - [Optimized Checkout] Removes the change display order feature from the settings page when the Optimized Checkout is enabled
+* Fix - [Optimized Checkout] Fixes some inconsistencies related to the Optimized Checkout feature and improves its unit tests
+* Dev - Implements the PSR-4 autoloading standard for the plugin unit tests (PHP)
+* Dev - Moves the main Stripe class to a new file
+* Dev - Renames all PHP Unit test files to follow the PSR-4
+* Dev - Dynamically retrieves versions of WooCommerce and WordPress to use in the PHP code coverage GitHub Actions Workflow.
+* Dev - Add e2e tests for BLIK
+* Dev - Add e2e tests for BECS
 * Dev - Add e2e tests to cover Affirm purchase flow
+* Dev - Add Klarna e2e tests
 * Dev - Improve e2e tests of some of the LPMs
-* Fix - Add safety check when checking error object
-* Fix - Correctly handle countries without states when using the express payment methods
-* Update - Include extension data from block checkout when submitting an express checkout order
-* Fix - Add order locking when processing payment redirects, to mitigate cases of double status updates
-* Fix - Register Express Checkout script before use to restore buttons on “order-pay” pages
+* Dev - Build dynamic WordPress and WooCommerce dependencies for unit tests
+* Dev - Prevent changelog entries with trailing periods
+* Dev - Fix failing optimized checkout e2e test due to incorrect order of operations
 
 [See changelog for full details across versions](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/woocommerce/woocommerce-gateway-stripe/trunk/changelog.txt).
