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What changed for MCP servers and the agents that use them.

Short, dated notes in our own words. Each one says why it matters and links to its sources.

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  1. A dated count finds five MCP protocol revisions in use at once

    An independent count published on 2 October 2026 sent an initialize request to 186 remote MCP endpoints taken from the official registry, on 1 and 2 October. Of the 72 endpoints that returned a protocol version, 7 (9.7%) negotiated the newest revision, 2026-07-28, and the rest answered with one of four older revisions; 86 were behind a sign-in. The author notes that the endpoints are a slice of the registry by hostname, not a random sample.

    Why it matters

    Clients and servers will meet on different revisions for some time, so a server that still negotiates the older revisions cleanly can be reached by more agents. Owners can check which revision their server answers with before they rely on the new one.

    protocolresearch

  2. MCP proposals: server cards lean on AI Catalog, trust labels move to extensions

    Two open MCP proposals moved in the past weeks. In the discussion of SEP-2127 (MCP Server Cards, metadata a client can read before it connects), a comment on 24 September said the server card is not at a generic well-known address and needs an AI Catalog to point to it. SEP-1913 (trust and sensitivity annotations) is being split into small extensions in an experimental repository, and its refined design reserves an optional evidenceRef field that carries a digest, a canonicalization and a schema so a reader can check the record it points to. Both proposals are still open.

    Why it matters

    Discovery before connection looks set to run through a catalog that points to an MCP-specific card, so owners who publish server metadata should follow where the card ends up. evidenceRef moves claims about a server toward records a client can verify by digest instead of taking on trust.

    specificationdiscoverytrust

  3. Microsoft Copilot imports plugins in the Agent Plugins format

    Microsoft's 365 Developer Blog introduced Work IQ Developer Tools (WIQD) on 30 September 2026. A plugin that already uses the Agent Plugins format, which packages skills and MCP server configurations, can be imported, validated and packaged for Microsoft Copilot. It can then be shared with named users or a whole tenant, or submitted through Partner Center for certification. The plugin commands are in public preview and may change.

    Why it matters

    One package of skills and MCP server settings can now reach Microsoft Copilot without a rebuild, next to other clients that read the same format. The MCP server inside the package still has to answer when the client connects.

    pluginsmicrosoft

  4. ChatGPT suggests plugins in conversation and features them by use and satisfaction

    At DevDay on 29 September 2026, OpenAI said ChatGPT can suggest a relevant plugin during a conversation and let people connect it on the spot. OpenAI's plugin guidelines state that plugins with strong real-world utility and high user satisfaction may be eligible for enhanced distribution, such as directory placement or proactive suggestions. Developers cannot apply for it, and few plugins receive it when they first go live.

    Why it matters

    Placement follows how a plugin serves real users rather than an application. A plugin whose MCP server is slow or fails calls gives people a poorer experience, and satisfaction is one of the stated signals.

    distributionopenai

  5. Anthropic opens a submission portal for the Claude plugin directory

    Anthropic announced on 25 September 2026 that the directory submission portal is open to developers on paid Claude plans. A submission can be a single MCP connector or a plugin bundle of MCP servers and skills hosted on GitHub, with automatic validation, review tracking and, after launch, installs by product surface and version. Anthropic said one discovery experience will roll out across Claude and Claude Code over the coming weeks.

    Why it matters

    Plugins become the main way to ship an extension for Claude, so an MCP server inside a listed plugin is reached from more places. The portal reports installs; whether the server inside answers well stays with its owner.

    pluginsanthropic

Every fact is checked against the source linked under it; the summaries and the notes on why it matters are ours. A correction: lior@7it.co.il. 7Maps by 7IT.