The Update: Chapter 1

Chess.com is counting down to their January 1, 2026 update titled "New Year, New Style". No one knows what exactly is coming, as it's not in open beta, but after a hidden message is found in the announcement, they know the update has to be stopped.

For the full backstory of the characters, read Bottom Gun first [Warning: Chaos and confusion]: https://www.chess.com/blog/TheAuthorOfChickens/the-notes-of-bottom-gun-chapter-1

This is a work of fiction and is not meant to accurately represent any people or events it references. This blog is not meant to claim Chess.com cannot be trusted [insert better explanation] (you get what I'm trying to say, right?). I promise this is just a cool idea for a story

Username Colors and their Meaning in Clubs

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November 7, 2025

Announcing the 2026 Update! New Year, New Style - November 7, 2025

Chess.com is proud to announce that we are developing a major update, set to release site-wide on January 1, 2026. It's in closed beta, but here are some things to expect:

• Re-designed forum layout with new sections and ways to filter content so you only see the forums you want to see
• Premium will be removed
• More board customization options
• A legacy bots section for previous months' featured bots
• All new new blog layout to make life even easier
• Completely customizable profile pages to them best represent your style
• Daily puzzle will be removed

Our developers are working hard to ensure the transition will be smooth, doing their best to work out all the bumps in the road before this update goes public. Please give them a big round of applause!

And finally, here's a sneak peek of what the homepage might look like after the update (we're still working on that so you might get surprised)!

2026 will be the year chess is revolutionized!

In the notes of Chess.org vs. ChessChild

Pfpsarelame: Did you guys see CC's new announcement? Pretty interesting.

Magnus: I don't trust it.

Pfpsarelame: Why not?

Magnus: The Chess.com logo in the screenshots is blue.

Pfpsarelame: Maybe it's a rendering issue

Magnus: I doubt it.

Pfpsarelame: They're removing premium

Magnus: All the more reason to be distrustful. Look, it says "Free Trial" down in the corner and yet they're removing premium? And why doesn't the official account of the site have premium?

Pfpsarelame: They literally said that they're still working on the homepage.

I_Like_Top_Gun: Where'd Daniel run off to? I haven't seen him for a while and he's usually pretty talkative

Pfpsarelame: Stubby? IDK

Pfpsarelame: I never demoted him. I always thought he'd just demoted himself.

I_Like_Top_Gun: He isn't in here anymore

*Pfpsarelame checks the audit log*

Agentneck: He's allowed to leave the club

Pfpsarelame: The audit log doesn't register him leaving

I_Like_Top_Gun: Wha-

lets_go_brandon_54: He removed all traces of himself.

Pfpsarelame: But WHY though?

lets_go_brandon_54: I dunno

*I_Like_Top_Gun goes to bring up StubbyToe's profile but gets an "Error 404" message*

I_Like_Top_Gun: He must've changed his username because I can't get to his profile

Pfpsarelame: Well I hope we find him. He was a nice guy to talk to

A_Parrot_Named_Taco: Hey guys what should I do with my leftover Halloween candy? I still have 5 pounds of it

I_Like_Top_Gun: Wdym "5 pounds"?! HOW DO YOU GET 5 POUNDS OF CANDY FROM TRICK OR TREATING?!

A_Parrot_Named_Taco: That's not what I'm asking

I_Like_Top_Gun: AND WDYM YOU STILL HAVE IT HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD 5 POUNDS OF HALLOWEEN CANDY

I_Like_Top_Gun: I'm not participating in the illegal candy business

*I_Like_Top_Gun goes offline*

In the notes of Top Gun Fans (previously Bottom Gun)

fighterjetsarecool: I watched Top Gun for the first time today

dangerzone52: What did you think of it?

fighterjetsarecool: The dogfights were atrocious and the maintenance people should be fired.

dangerzone52: Imma direct you to the "Yelling at the realism" AKA the forum titled "Critics"

fighterjetsarecool: And the flat spin?! THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IF THEY WERE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL

dangerzone52: Okay dude calm down

*fighterjetsarecool checks his notifications and sees the announcement from Chess.com*

fighterjetsarecool: AND THEY'RE CHANGING THE COLOR OF THE LOGO?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

*fighterjetsarecool goes offline*

damgerzone52: Wait they're changing the logo?

TomCruise_33: Yeah. Everyone's going nuts in the comments

In the notes of Chess.org vs ChessChild

MrCroissant: Well, you could donate the candy to some place

A_Parrot_Named_Taco: Like where?

SlytherinRules1942: THEY'RE REMOVING DAILY PUZZLES?!

MrCroissant: Isn't there a place that gives the candy to deployed soldiers?

A_Parrot_Named_Taco: -_-

SlytherinRules1942: WELP, THERE GOES MY 1,284 DAY STREAK

A_Parrot_Named_Taco: *that was to Slytherin not you Croissant

A_Parrot_Named_Taco: I just want a normal convo

SlytherinRules1942: Well is there SOMEWHERE I can complain?

A_Parrot_Named_Taco: Anyways, excellent idea Croissant. I'll have to check them out.

Agentneck: The comments of the article.

SlytherinRules1942: Too many anime pfps

Agentneck: Make a discussion forum, then.

SlytherinRules1942: Still too many anime pfps

Agentneck: I meant in here

arandomceilingfan: The fanfiction is confirmed. Slytherins hate Anime.

Agentneck: ???????????????????

*SlytherinRule1942 posts a forum titled "Chess.com New Year Update: Discussions"*

A_Parrot_Named_Taco: Thank you.

LaggyComputer: Hey guys!

The_new_Josh: Wait hold up

I-own-a-million-clubs: Dude

LovingPuppy: No way.

RussianGoose22: People might claim it's edited but I'm still ssing this

iHaveYourBankAccount: HE SPEAKS

LaggyComputer: ....what

The_new_Josh: You're not laggy anymore!

LaggyComputer: Oh yeah, I got a new computer and router.

RussianGoose22: But now your username isn't true

LaggyComputer: Hm

iHaveYourBankAccount: Yeah now you're just Computer

LaggyComputer: lol

LaggyComputer: Now that I have better wifi, I can finally read stuff. Chess.com's planning some...interesting changes for 2026 aren't they?

Agentneck: Don't say that when Slytherin's still on ;-;

In the forum titled "Chess.com New Year Update: Discussions", posted in Chess.org vs. ChessChild

SlytherinRules1942: I think the thing I'm the most mad about is removing daily puzzles -_-

Desolate: By "removing premium", do they mean they're making the premium features free for everyone or do they mean they're removing the features you pay for in premium?

SlytherinRules1942: It had better be the first one.

YourAverageObanaiFan: Some of the letters are bolded in the second-to-last paragraph.

Magnus: I noticed that too

Magnus: Wait...hold on

HappyCoffee02: I'm scared of what the new profile page customizer could be

I_Like_Top_Gun: *sighs* Looks like we've got even more reasons to move to Lichess

YourAverageObanaiFan: I thought you said you didn't want to move to Lichess

I_Like_Top_Gun: I don't. That's the point.

*a few minutes later*

Magnus:

If you delete the spaces and turn it into groups of five letters, you get Bacon's code

Ourde velop ersar ework

Then, take the bold letters and use this key

And you get:

"DDoS"