GitHub Copilot Visual Studio Update Adds New Agent, Skills, Code Review
GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio has released an update introducing a new agent in public preview, built-in expertise from .NET and Azure teams, and enhanced code review capabilities. This update aims to improve developer productivity by offering more tailored assistance and streamlined workflows. The new agent and skills are available to all plans, while organization-level custom instructions require a Business or Enterprise subscription.
- →New Copilot Chat agent now in public preview
- →Built-in .NET and Azure skills for customized workflows
- →Review selected code with Copilot
- →Organization-level custom instructions for tailored responses
- →Feature availability and further information
Features (4) ›
- New Copilot Chat agent now in public preview
A new agent built on the GitHub Copilot SDK is available in public preview, offering shorter, more scannable responses and improved accuracy for various tasks. This agent can be selected from the agent picker in the Copilot Chat window.
- Built-in .NET and Azure skills for customized workflows
Visual Studio now includes expert-authored skills from the .NET and Azure teams, available in the "Built-in" category of the tool picker. These skills are opt-in and can be enabled when corresponding workloads are installed to tailor agentic workflows.
- Review selected code with Copilot
Developers can now select a block of code in the editor, right-click, and choose "Copilot Actions > Review Selection" to receive inline comments. Suggestions can be applied or generated by Copilot using its code review capabilities.
- Organization-level custom instructions for tailored responses
GitHub organization owners can implement custom instructions to standardize Copilot's responses across the entire organization. These instructions apply automatically to repositories within the organization and require GitHub Copilot Business or Enterprise.
Notes (1) ›
- Feature availability and further information
The new agent, built-in skills, and selected-code review features are available for all GitHub Copilot plans. Organization-level custom instructions are exclusive to Copilot Business or Enterprise. More details can be found on the Visual Studio blog and release notes.
https://github.blog/changelog/2026-07-30-github-copilot-in-visual-studio-july-update
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