# Rider 2026.2 Release Candidate Is Available

IDE update brings AI integration and performance enhancements for developers

- **Source:** [The JetBrains Blog](https://brifing.si/source/782eebd1-7be8-49cc-b27c-e552516691b2)
- **Published:** 2026-07-15
- **Topic:** [Software & Engineering](https://brifing.si/c/engineering)
- **Original article:** <https://blog.jetbrains.com/dotnet/2026/07/15/rider-2026-2-release-candidate-is-out/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/bfad902a-751f-41ee-96f7-cce2a42c8bef

## Enhanced Developer Experience

Rider 2026.2 RC integrates AI coding assistants with the IDE's own intelligence. GitHub Copilot now works out of the box, with significant performance improvements for .NET and game development. Debugger launch and branch switching operations are noticeably faster.

## Revolutionary AI Integration

New agent skills connect to Rider's code analysis, profiler, and coverage data for more accurate results and higher code quality. Direct IDE support for Microsoft .NET, Aspire, and Azure Agent Skills is now available, making AI-assisted development smoother than ever.

## Performance Boost

Debugger launch time on Windows reduced by ~2.8s, branch switching in Roslyn solutions is 2-3x faster. Backend memory usage decreased by 7-8%. Unreal Engine projects see 2x faster C++ indexing. WPF Hot Reload enables XAML editing while the app is running.

## Game Development Support

New Game Development category in the New Project dialog comes with ready-made Godot and CMake templates featuring preconfigured build settings. UE navigation improved with UInterface implementation tracking and Gameplay Tag usages visible in Blueprints.

## Professional Godot Tools

Configurable GDScript formatter, drag scene nodes into code, and Autoload/UID resolution added. Official Rider integration addon available on Godot Asset Store. Natvis support for Linux/macOS (including godot-cpp.natvis) and ISPC language support implemented.

## Meeting Modern Development Needs

TypeScript 7 support speeds up large codebase workflows. Built-in Azure Functions and Azure DevOps pull request features added. Redesigned NuGet tool window, file-based C# app templates, and intention previews elevate the developer experience to new heights.

## Sources covering this story

- https://blog.jetbrains.com/dotnet/2026/07/15/rider-2026-2-release-candidate-is-out/ — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._