Microsoft has announced a new one-off version of Microsoft Office, which will debut later in 2021 for Windows and macOS.
The company said it plans to launch both a variant of Microsoft Office’s long-term service channel and a version designed for consumers and small businesses. Like the previous version of Office 2019, both versions are designed for those who do not want to pay monthly for the Microsoft 365 cloud-based service.
Microsoft said the LTSC version will include new updates such as Dark Mode and accessibility, as well as features such as Dynamic Arrays and XLOOKUP in Excel. It is likely to include these features in Office 2021 for consumers, but Microsoft continues to add any details until the release date. The company said it does not intend to change the single acquisition cost.
In addition, there is a new change to the Office 2021 LSTC support window. The window is locked for up to five years, instead of the seven years it usually offered. The cost is also increasing by 10%.
Office 2021 LTSC will become available as a preview version in April, but the consumer version will not. Microsoft is looking to launch LTSC in the second half, although it’s unclear if it plans the same for Office 2021.