This October release is the third LTS release and second Innovation release since MySQL announced our move to a new LTS/Innovation release model. For more details see MySQL Releases: Innovation and LTS.
During the innovation cycle, MySQL 9.x quarterly releases will include new features, deprecations and removals, and bug fixes. The 9.x releases also include Shell, Router, Connectors and Clients. There is also a new release of VS Code for MySQL.