Changed usage limit messages to refer to '5-hour limit' instead of 'session limit'
Clearer terminology helps users understand the rate limiting model, now calling it the '5-hour limit' for consistency across VSCode and cloud interfaces.
Evidence
+Changed usage limit messages to call the 5-hour window the "5-hour limit" instead of the "session limit"
Added Claude Haiku 5.5 model with 1M context window and new pricing tier
Users now have access to Claude Haiku 5.5 as the default Haiku model on the Anthropic API with 1M context and tiered pricing ($0.10/$0.50 per Mtok for standard prompts, $0.50/$2.50 for prompts over 100K tokens). This enables faster and more cost-effective operations for high-volume use cases.
Evidence
+Added Claude Haiku 5.5 (`claude-haiku-5-5`), now the default Haiku model on the Anthropic API — 1M context, $0.10/$0.50 per Mtok ($0.50/$2.50 for prompts over 100K)
Added certificate client authentication for Claude apps gateway identity provider
Claude apps gateway can now authenticate with identity providers using private_key_jwt (certificate credentials) instead of client secrets.
Evidence
+Added certificate client authentication (<code>private_key_jwt</code>) between the Claude apps gateway and its identity provider, for identity providers that issue certificate credentials instead of client secrets
Claude Sonnet 5.5 now the default Sonnet model with 1M context and new pricing
Developers using Claude Code will automatically get access to the newer Sonnet 5.5 model with extended context and updated pricing ($2/$10 per Mtok with $0.20/Mtok cache reads).
Evidence
+Added Claude Sonnet 5.5 (<code>claude-sonnet-5-5</code>), now the default Sonnet model on the Anthropic API — 1M context, $2/$10 per Mtok with $0.20/Mtok cache reads
Added AGENTS.md support as alternative to CLAUDE.md for project instructions
Users can now use AGENTS.md instead of CLAUDE.md for project instructions in Claude Code, configurable via /config panel (not yet available on Bedrock, Vertex, or Foundry)
Evidence
+Added AGENTS.md support: in a project with no CLAUDE.md, Claude Code reads AGENTS.md instead; change it under "Project instructions" in /config (not yet on Bedrock, Vertex or Foundry)
Added maxEffortLevel setting to cap effort level across all providers (Bedrock, Vertex, Foundry)
Users can now enforce a maximum effort level globally or per model, with the ability to select lower levels as needed. Affects organizations managing Claude Code settings.
Evidence
+Added `maxEffortLevel` setting (top-level or per model under `modelSettings`): caps the effort level on every provider, including Bedrock, Vertex and Foundry; users can still pick a lower level
Added CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODEL_FORCE environment variable for subagent model control
Users can now force all subagents to use a specific model via CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODEL_FORCE, overriding per-spawn and agent-definition model overrides.
Evidence
+Added <code>CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODEL_FORCE</code> to apply <code>CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODEL</code> (or the main model) to every subagent, ignoring per-spawn and agent-definition model overrides
Added Claude Fable 5.1 model with 1M context as new default Fable model
Users now have access to Claude Fable 5.1 (claude-fable-5-1) as the default Fable model with 1M context window, priced at $10/$50 per Mtok with $0.25/Mtok cache reads for improved performance.
Evidence
+Added Claude Fable 5.1 (<code>claude-fable-5-1</code>), now the default Fable model — 1M context, $10/$50 per Mtok with $0.25/Mtok cache reads
Added ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_MODEL environment variable for persistent model selection
Users can now set a default model for new sessions via environment variable, with /model picker still allowing overrides that persist across restarts
Evidence
+Added `ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_MODEL` environment variable: sets the model new sessions start on, while a `/model` pick still overrides it and persists across restarts (unlike `ANTHROPIC_MODEL`)
Claude no longer auto-runs /verify and /code-review skills; must be explicitly invoked
Users must now explicitly invoke /verify and /code-review commands instead of Claude running them automatically, giving users more control over when these skills execute.
Evidence
+Claude no longer runs the `/verify` and `/code-review` skills on its own; invoke them with `/verify` or `/code-review` when you want them
Multiple security fixes for permission checks and command validation
Fixed critical security issues including permission check bypasses in PowerShell, file-descriptor redirect handling, and auto-approval vulnerabilities in bash permission checks.
Evidence
+Fixed a permission-check bypass affecting commands run in Windows PowerShell 5.1 sessions; Fixed Bash permission checks to fail closed on file-descriptor redirect forms; Fixed Bash permission checks misjudging very long commands — commands over 10,000 characters now always prompt instead of running automatically