Kong Gateway 2.2 introduces several new features and enhancements, expanding its protocol support to include UDP, which is significant for applications like streaming and gaming. The update also extends Go plugin functionality by allowing access to upstream responses, and it introduces configurable request and response buffering on a per-route basis to optimize latency for large payloads. Additional features include automatic loading of OS certificates, rate-limiting by URL path, and improvements to load balancing without maintaining target history in the database, enhancing consistent hashing for DB-less setups. The release also updates the Admin API to respect header settings and improves Hybrid Mode communication between nodes, while logging plugins receive tweaks for better TCP and UDP support. These updates are part of Kong's ongoing effort to support diverse data flows and improve operational efficiency, with feedback-driven enhancements and community engagement through Kong Nation and Online Meetups.