WP Engine acquired Array Themes, a premium WordPress theme shop known for its design-forward templates and the Gutenberg-focused Atomic Blocks plugin. This strategic move strengthens WP Engine’s commitment to modern WordPress experiences and aligns with the platform’s push toward block-based design innovation.
Enhancing WordPress Design with Atomic Blocks
Mike McAlister founded Array Themes and built a strong reputation for minimalist, user-friendly WordPress themes, emphasizing content-first design. The brand’s evolution into plugin development, specifically the release of Atomic Blocks, aligned with Gutenberg’s introduction in WordPress 5.0.
With this acquisition, WP Engine gains:
- A respected library of premium WordPress themes.
- Ownership of Atomic Blocks, a popular Gutenberg blocks plugin.
- Design expertise from McAlister and the Array team.
- Tools to help developers build rich, block-based content layouts more efficiently.
Atomic Blocks has quickly become a go-to tool for site creators using the new WordPress editor. It offers pre-built content blocks such as testimonials, calls to action, and customizable layouts that streamline web development without needing complex code.
Supporting Modern WordPress Development
WP Engine’s acquisition of Array Themes reflects a growing trend in the WordPress industry: embracing the full capabilities of the Gutenberg editor and empowering users with modular, design-friendly solutions. With over 4 million sites running on WP Engine’s managed hosting infrastructure, integrating Atomic Blocks into its ecosystem gives users more creative flexibility right out of the box.
Key outcomes include:
- Expanded block editor capabilities for WP Engine users.
- Easier access to theme and plugin resources tailored to content creators.
- Stronger developer tools for creating dynamic websites without heavy custom coding.
In addition to Atomic Blocks, WP Engine users can benefit from StudioPress themes, which the company acquired earlier in 2018, further establishing its commitment to premium WordPress design tools.
For developers exploring Gutenberg block development, resources like Smashing Magazine’s Gutenberg guide provide deeper insights into the potential of block-based themes and plugins.
A Vision for Scalable, Beautiful WordPress Sites
By bringing Array Themes into its growing portfolio, WP Engine signals a clear commitment to the future of design and content creation on WordPress. The acquisition is not only about assets—it’s about empowering creators to build functional and visually engaging websites using tools that align with modern editorial workflows.
As Gutenberg continues to evolve into a full-site editing experience, adding Array Themes and Atomic Blocks positions WP Engine to lead that transformation by offering intuitive, block-first design solutions. This move will inspire WordPress agencies and solo creators to rethink how they build and manage digital content in a fast-changing ecosystem.