Gatsby has launched the first beta of its version 2, featuring significant improvements over version 1, which was released in July 2017. The update includes the introduction of StaticQuery to replace confusing layout components, renaming several APIs for consistency, and enhancing hot reloading by decoupling data updates from webpack builds, which accelerates content update speeds. Version 2 also benefits from upgraded dependencies, including Babel to v7, React to v16, and webpack to v4, allowing users to leverage performance enhancements and new features. Gatsby encourages users to upgrade and provides resources like a migration guide to facilitate the transition, while also inviting feedback and contributions to refine the final release. The development of v2 involved contributions from 36 developers, and Gatsby is continuing to work on additional improvements as outlined in their v2 roadmap.