Systemd 260 has been released, bringing one of the most disruptive updates in recent cycles. It removes long-deprecated legacy components, raises baseline requirements, and introduces new frameworks for modern Linux systems.

The most notable change is the complete removal of System V init script support. Components like systemd-sysv-generator, systemd-sysv-install, and rc-local.service are gone, ending compatibility with legacy init scripts. Systems and software that still rely on SysV must now provide native systemd unit files to continue working.

Systemd 260 also raises minimum requirements across the stack. The baseline Linux kernel moves to version 5.10, with newer kernels recommended for full functionality. Several core dependencies have been updated, including glibc 2.34, OpenSSL 3.0, and Python 3.9, reflecting a shift toward newer platform standards.