React Native 0.85 is out: a new animation backend and HTTPS in Metro

What's new

• New animation backend. A shared internal engine for Animated and Reanimated: layout props such as width can now be animated with the native driver.
• DevTools. Multiple simultaneous connections, native tabs on macOS, and request payload previews are back on Android.
• HTTPS in Metro. The dev server accepts a TLS config, so development and Fast Refresh work over HTTPS and WSS.

What breaks when upgrading

• The Jest preset moved to @react-native/jest-preset — update your Jest config.
• The minimum Node.js version is 20.19.4; odd versions 21 and 23 are not supported.
• StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject is removed — use StyleSheet.absoluteFill.

How to upgrade

1. Go through the versions one by one and compare native file changes in the Upgrade Helper.
2. Check third-party libraries for compatibility with the new version.
3. Run regression tests on real iOS and Android devices before submitting to the stores.

We upgrade mobile apps built with React Native: we will estimate how many versions you are behind and which libraries need replacing, and ship the update to the App Store and Google Play.

Sources: release announcement, React Native release schedule.