Die GNOME 2-werkskerm het 'n lang lewe geniet, en die onderhoud van dele daarvan het moeiliker geword oor dié tydperk. Gevolglik was volgehoue vrystelling van die volledige GNOME 2-werkskerm nooit 'n praktiese keuse vir die GNOME-projek nie, en dele van die ou GNOME 2-werkskerm sal nie nuut vrygestel word na GNOME 3 se vrystelling nie. Die tradisionele GNOME 2-werkskerm gaan egter nie plotseling verdwyn nie: vrystellings van GNOME 2 sal steeds ondersteun word deur verspreidings in die jare wat voorlê.
GNOME 2 had a long life, and parts of it became difficult to maintain over that period. As a result, continued releases of the entire GNOME 2 desktop was never a practical option for the GNOME Project, and several parts of the old GNOME 2 desktop will not receive new releases after GNOME 3 is released. The traditional GNOME 2 desktop will not disappear overnight, however: releases of GNOME 2 will continue to be supported by distributions for years to come.