Claude Code 2.1.316 adds subagent effort and shared gateway budgets

Claude Code 2.1.316 gives administrators and developers more control over how sessions and their subagents run.

Separate the subagent default

CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_EFFORT sets the effort used when no other setting specifies one, rather than inheriting the session setting. A separate environment switch disables the ultrathink keyword. These are controls over model invocation, not new model capabilities or measured quality improvements.

Share a gateway budget

The Claude apps gateway adds a monthly group budget shared by members, alongside individual limits. Its layered policy mode applies all policies matching a developer instead of only the first match. The release also fixes checks on every model named in a gateway request. Administrators should review their matching policies and spend limits before adopting the new behavior.

Cloud sessions gain visible forms for MCP requests that require user input. Other fixes cover restricted-session file uploads, shell processes left running on exit, and inherited subagent models changing after a wake.

Plan for the fast-mode change

The notes deprecate Opus 4.8 fast mode from October 30 and schedule removal for November 30, 2026. After removal, requests will error rather than fall back to standard Opus 4.8; the stated migration is Opus 5.5. This is the vendor’s announced timeline, not a change we tested. Gateway access, subscriptions and usage charges remain separate from installing the CLI update.

See the claude-code hub.