Shopify has unveiled its Summer ’25 Edition, Horizons, a transformative update launched in May 2025 that brings over 150 new features to empower merchants. From intuitive design tools to advanced AI, an upgraded point-of-sale (POS) system, faster checkouts, and expanded global selling options, Horizons seems to make eCommerce simpler and more powerful for businesses of all sizes. Industry experts are buzzing with excitement, and this press release dives into what’s new, why it matters, and what real voices are saying about it.
Revolutionising Store Design
Shopify Horizons redefines how merchants create online stores. It offers a user-friendly system that eliminates the need for coding skills. Thanks to a robust set of design tools, merchants can craft unique, professional storefronts that reflect their brand.
Harley Finkelstein, Shopify’s President, shared his enthusiasm on X: “Just dropped: Horizon. Not just a theme. A new foundation for building online stores on @Shopify. One system. Ten new themes. All live today”.
Conor Jones, an eCommerce expert, echoed this on LinkedIn, noting, “Horizon (the new Dawn /essentially/) - the latest base Shopify theme with strong AI capabilities to generate sections/blocks with AI”.
Why it matters: These design tools save time and money, enabling merchants to create high-converting stores that stand out without technical expertise.
Key Features:
- Over 30 theme blocks for drag-and-drop store building
- 10 free industry-specific themes
- AI-powered theme generator for instant custom designs
- Enhanced theme editor with hover-to-preview and quick text edits
Smarter AI Sidekick
The upgraded Sidekick assistant acts like a tireless business partner, helping merchants streamline tasks and make data-driven decisions. It supports 20 languages, offers voice chat and screen-sharing, and can analyse sales data or create custom theme blocks based on prompts like “simple skincare store.”
Liam Quinn noted, “I'm Interested to see how useful/usable Horizon will be from the off on its prompted GenAI blocks. Sidekick imagery still has some way to go, though; it's no Greenroom.” This reflects excitement with a nod to areas for growth.
Why it matters: Sidekick’s AI capabilities appear to save time, boost efficiency, and enhance customer engagement, driving business growth.
Key Features:
- Supports 20 languages
- Voice chat and screen-sharing capabilities
- Analyses sales data and suggests growth strategies
- Creates custom theme blocks based on prompts
Enhanced In-Store Sales with POS
Horizons elevate physical retail with an upgraded Shopify POS app (version 10), offering a faster, more intuitive interface. It blends online and in-store orders, allows branded customer screens, and includes features like SMS marketing consent and cash rounding in select countries. Shopify highlighted, “Shopify POS now supports Tap to Pay on iPhone, making it easier than ever to sell in person, wherever your customers are”.
Why it matters: These updates likely streamline in-store operations and personalise customer experiences, which are crucial for merchants with physical locations.
Key Features:
- Upgraded to version 10, faster and easier to use
- Handles online and in-store orders together
- Customisable customer screens with branding
- SMS marketing permission at checkout
- Automatic cash rounding in select countries
Faster, Smoother Checkouts
Horizons appears to tackle checkout friction head-on, speeding up the process by up to two seconds to reduce cart abandonment. A groundbreaking Roblox integration lets customers buy physical products in a virtual world while enhanced security meets compliance rules. Additional options like Apple Pay for subscriptions and eco-friendly shipping cater to modern shoppers.
Anti Toska commented on LinkedIn, “Faster checkouts = more $$ in the bank. I love that Shopify's fixing the lag issues.” Damian Biricevski added, “The mobile checkout speed boost is a game-changer. When shoppers are tapping away on phones, those saved seconds truly make all the difference in completing purchases.”
Andy Thorne noted, “More than 2 seconds feels like a lifetime, and friction creeps in. Love how Shopify’s update goes after invisible blockers like load speed. That’s real momentum for mobile UX”.
Why it matters: Faster, more flexible checkouts, which meet modern shopping demands, will likely boost sales and customer satisfaction.
Key Features:
- Checkouts are up to two seconds faster
- Roblox integration for virtual purchases
- Enhanced security meeting new compliance rules
- More payment options like Apple Pay for subscriptions
- Eco-friendly shipping choices
- Flat-rate split shipping
- Better handling of out-of-stock items
Global Selling Simplified
Horizons makes international selling easier with Shopify Payments, which is now available in 16 new countries, including Lithuania, Poland, and Mexico. Payouts in multiple currencies reduce fees, while tools like the HS code finder and duties in product prices simplify trade compliance.
Why it matters: These features remove barriers to global expansion, helping merchants tap into new markets and grow revenue.
Key Features:
- Shopify Payments in 16 new countries
- Payouts in multiple currencies
- HS code finder for international trade
- Duties included in product prices
- Region-specific stores
Tools for Growth and Development
Horizons empowers merchants with tools to boost marketing and innovation. A single discount code simplifies promotions, while updated ShopifyQL makes customer segmentation easier. Plain-language address targeting streamlines local campaigns, and the Collabs app strengthens creator partnerships with mobile sales data access. Store credit reminders encourage repeat purchases.
Developers benefit from faster app-building tools, POS API access, and the AI-first Hydrogen Cookbook and Shopify Catalogue API. Shopify noted, “New developer tools in Horizons make building apps faster and easier, empowering custom solutions for merchants.”
Why it matters: These tools likely enhance customer engagement and enable custom solutions, driving growth for merchants and developers alike.
Key Features:
- Single discount code for products, orders, and shipping
- Updated ShopifyQL for customer segmentation
- Plain-language address targeting for local campaigns
- Collabs app for content creators
- Store credit reminders
- Developer tools: faster app-building, POS API access, AI-first Hydrogen Cookbook, Shopify Catalogue API
Powering the Future of eCommerce
Shopify Horizons sets a new benchmark for eCommerce, offering merchants the tools to thrive in a dynamic market. From AI-driven design to seamless global selling, it simplifies complex tasks and unlocks growth opportunities.
As Gavin McKew, Director at Shero Commerce, put it on LinkedIn, “AI is basically a teenager right now and has no idea how to dress itself. The direction of travel and how the outfit will eventually look are what matter most. Get your data wardrobe in order today or watch someone else’s well-dressed agent walk away with your next sale. This is the first glimpse from Shopify on where it is really going”. Whether launching a new store or scaling globally, Horizons appears to deliver the flexibility and power to succeed.
For more news updates on building a future-ready eCommerce business, explore our eCommerce Tech Blog.
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