Any news about Xenforo 3.0, can we expect modern forum?

[qnkov]

Hello. For half a year, I have been looking for a modern forum system to start an anime/manga site with various features. For example, a video system for watching movies/episodes, a way to add manga/anime as pages with information about them, topics with posters, etc. I saw that all of this is possible with Invision Community.

I waited to see version 5, but it turned out that the self-hosted platform is extremely expensive and has functionality limits. They also changed the way we acquire add-ons, significantly restricting options, and almost no themes exist for their latest version.

On the other hand, XenForo seems like a better alternative in terms of user base and price, but the forum and themes, in general, look like they’re from the early 2000s. I understand that some may find this nostalgic, but it looks incredibly outdated and is not visually appealing.

That’s why I’m wondering what exactly to expect with version 3.0. Can we anticipate a modern interface similar to Invision Community? I really don't want to go to invision as they may drop self-hosted in next version, as they aim for big comapanies, not common users now.

 

[smallwheels]

reality shows

I know that you think you would be the only person with a clue, you have written it countless times over the last year. But sadly you seem to live in your own, very personal reality. You were a very prominent part of the moaner's cohort last year and probably the most aggressive, repetitive and destructive one - and you were proud of what you did to the culture of the forum, as you wrote. Probably you still are. I'd assume your attitude is way less liked than you assume.

After Chris' post in Dec. I wrote:

Your post should leave a couple of people very red faced, ashamed and embarrassed. I would love to say "I guess they've learned their lesson" but unfortunately I am pretty sure they did not - which is clearly not your fault.

I guess I was right back then.

 

[smallwheels]

Eventually people take notice of this instead of remaining delusional.

Well: People have noticed that the XF crew is not very fast paced, pretty over-optimistic when it comes to assumptions about release targets and pretty bad in terms of communication. They took notice and as they can't change it, decided to live with that or leave. Which is the only realistic way to deal with it in the end.

You on the other hand can't stop to mistake vague release targets from years ago as a promise, live in a dream world from 15 years ago, behave like you'd own the company, expect XF to do things you want them to do despite they never agreed to that, think you are the only one with a clue and know the company and their business better than the people running the company and can't stop to swallow out the frustration that comes from your unfulfilled (unrealistic) expectations. So the question is who is delusional...

 

[Wing]

I know that you think you would be the only person with a clue, you have written it countless times over the last year. But sadly you seem to live in your own, very personal reality. You were a very prominent part of the moaner's cohort last year and probably the most aggressive, repetitive and destructive one - and you were proud of what you did to the culture of the forum, as you wrote. Probably you still are. I'd assume your attitude is way less liked than you assume.

After Chris' post in Dec. I wrote:


I guess I was right back then.

I’m just going to say it again. The reality is, literally nothing has changed. Even since Chris’s post. Wish it was different, but I am not the one who is going to sit here in delusion.

Hopefully you are getting a payment from Xenforo tho keep it up.

 

[Tamer]

Are you a spy? It's not nice to arbitrarily label people. How much money are they paying you to make such a fuss here?

 

[smallwheels]

I am not the one who is going to sit here in delusion.

You have been asked in the past by the moderators to search yourself a new hobby for a reason. I was a friendly hint to stop your toxic and destructive behavior. Sadly, you didn't listen.

 

[mysimsek]

Honestly, checking this thread feels like watching a loop. Both sides have valid points but taking it out on each other won't make XF 3.0 arrive any faster. It’s no secret that XF’s communication and timeline estimates have been frustratingly slow, and users have every right to feel anxious about the future of their forums. On the other hand, turning this into personal feuds doesn't help either. At this point, we just need solid development updates from the staff, not more community infighting

 

[Wing]

Honestly, checking this thread feels like watching a loop. Both sides have valid points but taking it out on each other won't make XF 3.0 arrive any faster. It’s no secret that XF’s communication and timeline estimates have been frustratingly slow, and users have every right to feel anxious about the future of their forums. On the other hand, turning this into personal feuds doesn't help either. At this point, we just need solid development updates from the staff, not more community infighting

Exactly my point. Nothing ever changes. Exact re-run year after year of the same concerns, and then the same loyalty discrediting people’s feedback. It’s humor these days.

 

[Wing]

Are you a spy? It's not nice to arbitrarily label people. How much money are they paying you to make such a fuss here?

That makes absolutely no sense. Sorry again for checking back year after year - to stand firm on the disappointing reality that things have become. It’s okay for users to express the feedback that even after Chris’s last post, nothing has actually changed. It’s been years now of this. Why does this frustrate you so much when users are expressing this feedback? Instead maybe look at the overall business situation of the said product we are all invested in. Instead of the fake finger pointing at users to try and discredit concerns.

Any other product would be under the same scrutiny level at this point in time. Not sure why it’s so different here for users like Smallwheels and other loyalists.

 

[Tamer]

You’re confusing criticism with entitlement. Nobody’s saying users can’t criticize XenForo. Slow progress, weak communication, an outdated visual presentation, and uncertainty around 3.0 are all fair things to question. The issue is the way you keep framing your own opinion as reality while calling everyone who doesn’t share the same level of negativity delusional or loyalists. That’s not feedback. That’s just a way to shut down disagreement before it even starts. And let’s not rewrite what happened. You were the one who told Smallwheels, “hopefully you’re getting a payment from XenForo,” so let’s not pretend the payment insinuation came from nowhere. Maybe you didn’t literally say XenForo is paying him, but the insinuation was obvious. So acting like others are the ones doing fake finger pointing is a bit rich.

Also, this whole product we’re all invested in line needs some perspective. We’re customers and license holders, not shareholders, investors, board members, or business partners. Buying a XenForo license gives us the right to use the software under the license terms. It doesn’t give anyone a contractual right to demand a specific roadmap, a specific 3.0 release date, or a specific design direction. That doesn’t mean XenForo is above criticism. It isn’t. People can criticize the product, the communication, the pace of development, or the lack of a more modern interface. Those are valid points. But repeating nothing has changed for three years and calling it reality doesn’t make it more objective. It just turns every discussion into the same hostile loop.

If XenForo no longer fits someone’s needs, that’s a fair conclusion. Move to another platform, stop renewing, or explain what’s missing in a clear way. But stop pretending that everyone who doesn’t share your tone is delusional or blindly defending XenForo.

 

[Wing]

You’re confusing criticism with entitlement. Nobody’s saying users can’t criticize XenForo. Slow progress, weak communication, an outdated visual presentation, and uncertainty around 3.0 are all fair things to question. The issue is the way you keep framing your own opinion as reality while calling everyone who doesn’t share the same level of negativity delusional or loyalists. That’s not feedback. That’s just a way to shut down disagreement before it even starts. And let’s not rewrite what happened. You were the one who told Smallwheels, “hopefully you’re getting a payment from XenForo,” so let’s not pretend the payment insinuation came from nowhere. Maybe you didn’t literally say XenForo is paying him, but the insinuation was obvious. So acting like others are the ones doing fake finger pointing is a bit rich.

Also, this whole product we’re all invested in line needs some perspective. We’re customers and license holders, not shareholders, investors, board members, or business partners. Buying a XenForo license gives us the right to use the software under the license terms. It doesn’t give anyone a contractual right to demand a specific roadmap, a specific 3.0 release date, or a specific design direction. That doesn’t mean XenForo is above criticism. It isn’t. People can criticize the product, the communication, the pace of development, or the lack of a more modern interface. Those are valid points. But repeating nothing has changed for three years and calling it reality doesn’t make it more objective. It just turns every discussion into the same hostile loop.

If XenForo no longer fits someone’s needs, that’s a fair conclusion. Move to another platform, stop renewing, or explain what’s missing in a clear way. But stop pretending that everyone who doesn’t share your tone is delusional or blindly defending XenForo.

What has actually changed when it comes to the communication, innovation, updates, business model ect with Xenforo over the last 3 years? This isn’t opinion anymore.

 

[Tamer]

No, it’s still opinion. Repeating it with more confidence doesn’t turn it into fact. Not enough has changed is a reasonable criticism. Literally nothing has changed is an exaggeration. XenForo has had updates, features, and changes over the last few years. You just don’t think they were enough or meaningful enough. That’s a valid position, but it’s still your position.

The problem is that you keep taking fair criticism and turning it into an absolute. Then anyone who doesn’t accept that framing becomes delusional or a loyalist. Criticize the communication, the pace, the design direction, or the lack of clarity around 3.0. That’s all fair. But stop pretending your frustration has somehow graduated into objective fact.

 

[Mendalla]

You just don’t think they were enough or meaningful enough. That’s a valid position, but it’s still your position.

And, to be honest, that's how some are going to respond to 2.4 and even 3.0 when they finally drop. People have visions in their heads of what their ideal forum software should be and then expect Xenforo to deliver exactly that, heedless of the fact that Xenforo is being developed for a broad community of users, not them personally.

The problem is that you keep taking fair criticism and turning it into an absolute. Then anyone who doesn’t accept that framing becomes delusional or a loyalist. Criticize the communication, the pace, the design direction, or the lack of clarity around 3.0.

This. There's lots to criticize about Xenforo's management style, but to launch PAs against anyone who argues in their defense or against your position is going way too far.

I am all about a company like Xenforo delivering a solid, stable, highly customizable core. Most of what I see touted as being a "modern forum" is surface level stuff and could be achieved through styling and add-ons that build on that core. Sure, the core could probably support it better but even then you are not going to get something like that out of the box. Styling and customising would still be necessary.

So I am fine with the general current direction, even if more clarity would be nice. It's hard even for a fairly basic forum like me to do planning beyond a fairly short horizon when we keep getting mixed messages about the timeline for the next first or second level release. But we are getting patch releases regularly and security patches happen when needed so I'm basically good.

 

[Tamer]

XF should modernize its default look, improve layout flexibility, and communicate its roadmap better. Those are fair criticisms. But expecting one affordable self-hosted forum product to magically become everyone’s ideal community platform is not realistic.

Serious projects build on top of that with styling, add-ons, custom development, and planning. At some point, people need to decide whether they want forum software they can build on, or bespoke software built exactly for their imagination. Those are not the same product, and they’re definitely not the same price.

 

[Wing]

This. There's lots to criticize about Xenforo's management style, but to launch PAs against anyone who argues in their defense or against your position is going way too far.

People exposing users like Smallwheels and others who have attempted for over 3 years now to discredit any sort of concern or negative feedback expressed here about the current state of affairs, is not launching a PA.

For example you on the other hand have actually been ethical and more realistic about things over the years here. And that’s respectable.

I take issue with certain users who start calling people names, writing paragraphs to attempt to discredit said feedback ect. for who knows what reason. Be upset with the company itself - not the users that are disappointed.

 

[JamesBrown]

 

[Itworx4me]

If we are judging this performance under the strict, glittering eye of a high-stakes dance competition, we have to look past the stick-horse and focus entirely on the artistry, athleticism, and execution.

The Scorecard​

Criteria	Score	Judge's Commentary
Technical Execution	8.5 / 10	Remarkable leg extension and high knees during the gallop sequences. The footwork is crisp, and the landing on those high-impact leaps shows excellent joint stability and core strength.
Choreography & Spatial Awareness	7.5 / 10	Great utilization of the floor space. The routine maintains a steady, rhythmic tempo that perfectly mimics equestrian dressage. However, the upper body remains a bit rigid—likely due to the demands of handling the "reins."
Showmanship & Expression	9.0 / 10	Absolute, unshakeable commitment to the performance. The dancer maintains intense focus and competitive gravity, which elevates the routine from quirky to artistic. Zero breaks in character.
Prop Integration	8.0 / 10	The prop is seamlessly integrated into the movement. It doesn't obstruct the dancer's agility, though it does limit lyrical arm styling.

---

Highlights & Critique​

• The Power Gallop: The elevation achieved in the mid-routine leaps is genuinely impressive. There is great ballon (the ability to appear weightless during a jump) happening here.
• The Dressage Dynamic: Structuring the dance around the discipline of hobby horsing gives it a unique, avant-garde contemporary feel. It’s athletic theater at its finest.
• Room for Improvement: To take this to a perfect 10, we'd love to see a bit more fluid upper-body isolation or a dramatic, theatrical finish to really wow the judges' panel.

Final Verdict: 8.25 / 10​

A highly energetic, flawlessly executed, and delightfully intense performance. It’s precise, athletic, and leaves a memorable impression on the floor. Gold medal energy!

 

[vbresults]

For people who are wanting modernization right now, this add-on could help.

https://xenforo.com/community/resources/big-board-whats-new-feed.10482/

 

[beerForo]

Wow, one feed for all content... (does that include profile posts?)

 

[vbresults]

Wow, one feed for all content... (does that include profile posts?)

It is an extension of the built-in Latest Activity feed and profile posts can be enabled with a checkbox.



Profile posts are not one of the big 4 content types (threads, posts, resources, gallery media) so that uses the default layout.

However, in a later update profile posts will use the new layout if it is requested enough.

 

[beerForo]

The reason I disabled my galleries was the disconnect. And for some reason I pay to renew them every year.