Update Latest Release for SaaS 6.0

Author: fdevans

docs/history/updates/index.md

@@ -1,22 +1,39 @@
 ---
 title: Recent Updates
 description: Latest merged changes from the Rundeck development team
-date: 2026-04-02T17:27:23.831Z
+date: 2026-06-05T00:00:00.000Z
 feed: true
 index: true
 ---
 
 # Recent Updates
 
-Stay up to date with the latest changes and improvements from the Runbook Automation development team.  
+Stay up to date with the latest changes and improvements from the Runbook Automation development team.
 
-This page shows recently merged pull requests from both the Runbook Automation product repository and the open source Rundeck repository merged since the last self-hosted release of [5.20.0](/history/5_x/version-5.20.0.md) on April 1, 2026.
+This page highlights changes that are live on Runbook Automation SaaS and will be included in the upcoming Self-Hosted release.
 
-## Recent Changes
+## Runbook Automation 6.0 is rolling out to SaaS
 
+Runbook Automation 6.0 is being deployed to the SaaS platform. This is a major release built on a modernized platform (Grails 7 / Spring Boot 3 on Java 17) with security hardening, performance improvements, and modernized monitoring.
 
-*No new updates to report since the last release.*
+::: tip We handle the upgrade
+There is nothing you need to do for the platform upgrade itself - the SaaS environment is upgraded for you, and your **Runners continue to operate**. The notes below cover a few new defaults and behavior changes you may notice, and the one item that can require action on Runner hosts you manage.
+:::
 
+### What you may notice
+
+- **Modernized platform and security**: 6.0 moves to Grails 7 / Spring Boot 3 on Java 17, with upgraded dependencies and modernized storage encryption (AES-256-GCM). Existing data continues to work and migrates automatically.
+- **Monitoring endpoints modernized**: Metrics are now served under `/monitoring/*` (including a Prometheus endpoint at `/monitoring/prometheus`). The legacy `/metrics/*` endpoints are disabled by default. If you scrape Rundeck metrics, point your collectors at the `/monitoring/*` endpoints.
+- **Runner enhancements on by default**: Distributed automation and Runner replicas are enabled by default. Your existing Runners keep working; you may see the newer Runner management capabilities in the UI.
+- **UI modernization**: Continued rollout of the updated (NextUI) interface, including the User and System Configuration menus.
+
+### Action you may need to take
+
+- **REST API is now JSON only**: XML request and response support has been removed from the API. If you have integrations that still send or expect `application/xml`, update them to use JSON. See the [API documentation](/api/index.md).
+- **WinRM via self-managed Runners requires Python 3.8+**: The [py-winrm plugin](/learning/howto/configuring-windows-nodes.md) dropped Python 2 support (upstream `pywinrm` now requires Python 3.8 or newer). If you run your own Runners that connect to Windows nodes over WinRM, ensure those hosts have Python 3.8+ before the update reaches them.
+- **Activity RSS feed deprecated**: The built-in Activity RSS feed is deprecated and disabled by default. Use the [API](/api/index.md) or notifications for execution-driven integrations. This does not affect the [RSS Feed Plugin](/manual/jobs/job-plugins/workflow-steps/rss-feed-plugin.md) workflow step.
+
+Full, version-specific release notes for Self-Hosted customers will be published with the 6.0 Self-Hosted release in the [Release Notes](/history/) section.
 
 ## Subscribe to Updates
 
@@ -29,13 +46,10 @@ These feeds are updated regularly to highlight changes that are available in Run
 
 ## About These Updates
 
+These updates highlight changes deployed to the Runbook Automation SaaS platform ahead of the next Self-Hosted release, drawing from both our commercial product repository and the open source Rundeck repository.
 
-The development updates are automatically generated from both our private repository for the commercial product and the public open source repository. These changes have been merged since the last GA release and provide insight into what's coming in the next Self Hosted release.
-
-**Note**: These updates reflect changes merged since the last GA release. Self-hosted customers should refer to the [Release Notes](/history/) section for version-specific updates applicable to their installation.
+**Note**: Self-hosted customers should refer to the [Release Notes](/history/) section for version-specific updates applicable to their installation, and to the upgrade guide that accompanies the 6.0 Self-Hosted release.
 
 ---
 
-**List Last updated:** 2026-04-02
-
-
+**List Last updated:** 2026-06-05