Apple’s iOS 16.2 update brought with it an updated architecture for HomeKit and the Home app. Unfortunately, it was pulled back due to bugs and installation issues. Apple said at the time that the removal was a temporary one and it would return.
It appears that Apple is nearly ready to bring back the updated Home architecture, as backend code indicates that Apple is preparing a “version 2” and testing it internally.
We should see an iOS 16.4 beta soon, as iOS 16.3 was released earlier this week. It’s likely that we’ll see the return of the update alongside that beta.
The first release of the updated Home architecture cause some users to see their HomeKit devices go missing from HomeKit setups or be hung up with a “configuring/updating” status. Some users also saw their invitations to share the Home with others fail, while others saw it break their HomeKit Secure video recording.