# Next.js v16.3.1 — Release & Upgrade Intelligence
- **Product:** Next.js (https://nextjs.org)
- **Version:** v16.3.1
- **Released:** Aug 13, 2026
- **Impact Score:** 5/10
- **Breaking Changes:** Not verified
- **Canonical Analysis:** https://changelogs.us/nextjs/updates/v16.3.1/

## Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Next.js v16.3.1. Source highlight: [16.x] Turbopack: don't strip async-module runtime from shared runtime chunks

## New Features
- [16.x] [turbopack] Add `turbopack_ecmascript` and `turbopack_wasm`'s embeded FS to `internal_assets_conditions`

## Bug Fixes
- [16.x] fix(next/image): preserve image response after optimization
- [backport] Fix missing styled-jsx styles in Pages Router SSR on adapter builds
- [backport] [turbopack] Fix HMR for dynamic imports evaluated from layouts
- [backport] Fix Nav Inspector request loop on repeat captures
- [backport] Fix: Optimistic routing bugs leading to repeated prefetch loops

## Upgrade Command
```bash
npm install --save-exact next@16.3.1
```