This means that your current setup using Pega Image with Podman (without Kubernetes) will not be supported in Pega 25. This aligns with the communication you referenced from CAD-C1570 stating that “Only Pega Docker images orchestrated with Kubernetes will be supported.”
Regarding timing and transition:
If you’re currently on Pega Platform 24.2 or earlier, you will have 36 months of extended support from the release of 24.2
However, any upgrade to Pega 25 will require transitioning to a Kubernetes-based deployment
For planning purposes, please note that:
Kubernetes is now the market standard for enterprise software vendors
The change reflects industry-wide adoption of containerization and microservice delivery standards
This transition enables better cloud-native scalability and reliability features
I recommend starting to plan your transition to a Kubernetes-based deployment if you intend to upgrade to Pega 25 in the future.