Shopify has officially rolled out its Summer 2025 Edition, and it brings a wave of powerful new features and themes designed to elevate the eCommerce experience. One of the standout highlights from this update is the brand-new Horizon Theme, which is absolutely free and packed with customization and performance improvements.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into what’s new in the Summer ’25 release, how the Horizon theme stands out, and why it might just be the upgrade your store needs.
What’s New in Shopify Summer ’25?
With this release, Shopify introduced 10 brand-new themes, all available for free. These themes aren’t just visually updated — they come with smart layouts, modern UI, and innovative new features that were previously missing from popular themes like Dawn.
Some of the highlighted themes include:
- Horizon
- Vessel
- Savoir …and many more!
In this walkthrough, we explore the Horizon theme to see what Shopify has done differently this time.
Horizon Theme: Features & Updates
1. Built-in Product Image Slider
Unlike older themes like Dawn where only hover-based image previews were available, Horizon introduces an interactive product image slider. Now users can click through multiple product images directly from the collection page.
2. Modern “Add to Cart” Animations
The Horizon theme includes animated add-to-cart interactions, giving users a more dynamic and engaging experience. This small UI enhancement helps communicate clearly to shoppers that their action has been successful.
3. Discount Code Field on Cart Page
One of the most requested features — the ability to apply discount codes directly on the cart page — is now built-in. Previously, users had to wait until the checkout page to apply promo codes. Now, with Horizon, shoppers can:
- Enter their discount code directly in the cart
- Instantly see the updated total
- Avoid the extra step of going to checkout
👨💻 4. No More Global JavaScript (theme.js)
Earlier Shopify themes used a single global JavaScript file (often named theme.js or global.js) for all scripting across the store. In Horizon, this is replaced with modular JS files, each tied to specific components.
What this means for developers:
- Cleaner code management
- Faster load times for shoppers
- Easier debugging and updates
You can explore this by going to:
Online Store > Themes > Edit Code > Assets, and you’ll notice that there’s no global .js file anymore — each functionality has its own dedicated script.
Summary: Why Horizon Is a Big Deal
| Feature | Old Theme (e.g., Dawn) | Horizon Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Product Image Slider | ❌ | ✅ |
| Discount Code in Cart | ❌ | ✅ |
| Modular JS Files | ❌ | ✅ |
| Modern UI & Animation | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Free to Use | ✅ | ✅ |
The Horizon theme represents a new direction in theme architecture for Shopify — one focused on speed, modularity, and enhanced shopping UX. Whether you’re a store owner or a developer, this update is worth exploring.
Have questions or facing issues with the Horizon theme? Drop a comment or reach out — we’re here to help!
