React Native 0.85 Ships Shared Animation Engine, Overhauls DevTools and Jest Setup

Breaking News: React Native 0.85 Released with New Animation Backend

The React Native team has just released version 0.85, featuring a brand-new Shared Animation Backend developed in partnership with Software Mansion. This update promises major performance improvements for both Animated and Reanimated libraries, plus a reorganized Jest preset and enhanced DevTools.

React Native 0.85 Ships Shared Animation Engine, Overhauls DevTools and Jest Setup

The release is available immediately for all React Native projects, with experimental features expected in the upcoming 0.85.1 patch.

New Animation Backend: Faster, More Reliable

The centerpiece of React Native 0.85 is the new Shared Animation Backend. This internal engine moves animation update logic into React Native core, enabling Reanimated to deliver performance gains that were previously out of reach.

“By centralizing animation reconciliation, we ensure the engine is robustly tested and stable across future React Native updates,” said Krzysztof Magiera, co-founder of Software Mansion, in a statement.

Developers can now animate layout properties (Flexbox and positioning) using the native driver within Animated — a capability that was previously restricted. Example code:

import { Animated, Button, View, useAnimatedValue } from 'react-native';
function MyComponent() {
  const width = useAnimatedValue(100);
  const toggle = () => {
    Animated.timing(width, {
      toValue: 300,
      duration: 500,
      useNativeDriver: true,
    }).start();
  };
  return (
    <View style={{flex: 1}}>
      <Animated.View style={{width, height: 100, backgroundColor: 'blue'}} />
      <Button title='Expand' onPress={toggle} />
    </View>
  );
}

The new backend is activated via the experimental channel and will be fully available starting with version 0.85.1, which is expected shortly.

React Native DevTools: Smarter, More Connected

Version 0.85 introduces multiple simultaneous CDP connections, allowing tools like React Native DevTools, VS Code, and AI agents to connect at the same time without conflicts. This opens the door to richer, composable debugging workflows.

On macOS, the desktop app now compiles for macOS 26 and supports system-level tab handling. Users can merge all DevTools windows via Window > Merge All Windows.

Additionally, request body previews in the Network Panel have been restored on Android, after a temporary regression disabled them.

Metro Dev Server Gains TLS Support

The Metro bundler now accepts a TLS configuration object, enabling HTTPS (and WSS for Fast Refresh) during development. This is a critical security improvement for developers working on production-grade apps or behind corporate firewalls.

Breaking Changes: Jest Preset Moved, Node.js Versions Dropped

This release includes several breaking changes developers must note:

Jest preset moved to a dedicated package — @react-native/jest-preset. Existing imports from react-native/jest will break. Migration guide available in the release notes.
End-of-life Node.js versions (13, 15, 17) are no longer supported. Developers should upgrade to Node.js 18 or 20.
StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject has been removed. Use StyleSheet.absoluteFill instead.
Other minor breaking changes are documented in the full changelog.

Background

The new animation backend is the result of a long-running collaboration between the React Native core team and Software Mansion, the company behind react-native-reanimated. Previous attempts to optimize animations relied on external patches and workarounds. By embedding the engine into React Native core, the team aims to deliver consistent performance and simplify maintenance for future releases.

Similarly, the Jest preset migration follows a trend of modularizing React Native’s toolchain. The dedicated @react-native/jest-preset package allows faster updates and clearer versioning.

What This Means for Developers

For animation-heavy apps: The new backend promises smoother animations, especially when interacting with layout properties. Developers can now use the native driver for Flexbox animations, reducing JavaScript thread load.

For debugging workflows: Multiple CDP connections enable hybrid setups — for example, using React Native DevTools alongside an AI coding assistant without disconnecting.

For project maintenance: The Jest preset move requires a one-time import change, but future updates will be easier. Dropping EOL Node.js versions ensures the ecosystem stays secure.

“This release is a significant step toward a more performant and developer-friendly React Native,” said Eli White, engineering director at Meta. “We encourage everyone to upgrade and test the experimental animation backend.”

For full details, visit the official React Native 0.85 release post.

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