The Linux Foundation is teaming up with Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Opera, to form a little club called the "Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers."

The big idea is to support open-source Chromium browsers by the necessary financial and technical resources to sustain and grow the Chromium ecosystem while fostering collaboration among industry leaders, academia, developers, and the broader open-source community. 

The Linux Foundation clarified in its announcement that the group will operate as a neutral platform for innovation, focusing on reducing barriers, expanding adoption, and ensuring adequate support for Chromium projects.

Importantly, the governance of Chromium itself will remain unchanged, while the new consortium will be managed under the Linux Foundation's long-standing principles of transparency and inclusivity. 

Google, responsible for 94 per cent of Chromium contributions in 2024, emphasized the substantial costs involved in maintaining the project.

 "In 2024, Google made over 100,000 commits to Chromium," the company stated. While it pledged to maintain its investment, Google welcomed contributions from other stakeholders.

Microsoft, a prominent Chromium contributor since adopting the engine for its Edge browser six years ago, reaffirmed its commitment to the project, stating, "Our open-source principles remain unchanged, and we continue to directly contribute to Chromium, bringing our expertise to the project." 

Opera also highlighted its enthusiasm for a deeper role in shaping Chromium’s future, stating, "For us, being part of the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers from the get-go represents an opportunity to take an even more active role in Chromium’s development and future direction."

The consortium’s formation raises concerns for competitors like Mozilla Firefox, which continues to rely on its Gecko engine. With a declining desktop market share of approximately six per cent, Firefox faces increasing challenges against the overwhelming influence of the Chromium ecosystem.