Critical regression: built-in image_gen tool is missing from Codex Desktop sessions despite the imagegen skill being available

Codex App version

Please see the version shown in my current “About Codex” dialog. I have already updated to the latest version available through the app.

Subscription

ChatGPT Plus

Platform

Windows 11 x64

Problem

The built-in image generation capability previously worked correctly in Codex Desktop, including within this same project and workflow.

After a Codex Desktop update, the capability suddenly stopped working. The imagegen skill is still installed, discoverable, and correctly invoked when I explicitly include $imagegen in my prompt. However, the actual built-in image_gen tool is not exposed to the session.

This creates a broken and misleading state:

• Codex recognizes and loads the official imagegen skill.
• The skill explicitly instructs Codex to use the built-in image_gen tool.
• The session’s available tool list contains no image_gen, image_generation, or equivalent image-generation tool.
• Therefore, Codex cannot execute the requested image generation.
• It only offers the CLI/API fallback, which requires a separate OPENAI_API_KEY and incurs separate API charges.

This is especially serious for Plus subscribers because the official Codex documentation states that built-in image generation is available through the $imagegen skill and counts toward general Codex usage limits. Requiring affected users to pay additional API charges is not an acceptable substitute for restoring a feature that previously worked as part of the subscribed product.

Steps to reproduce

1. Open Codex Desktop on Windows.
2. Start a new local project session.
3. Confirm that the official imagegen skill is available.
4. Submit a prompt such as:

Generate a 16:9 game background using $imagegen.

1. Codex loads the imagegen skill successfully.
2. Codex checks the tools exposed to the session.
3. No built-in image_gen tool is present.
4. Image generation fails, and Codex suggests using the separately billed API/CLI fallback.

Expected behavior

When the official imagegen skill is available and invoked, the corresponding built-in image_gen tool should also be attached to the session and should generate the requested image using the subscriber’s included Codex usage limits.

If image generation is unavailable for a particular account, plan, platform, region, workspace, or rollout group, the application should clearly explain that limitation. It should not expose a skill whose required execution tool is missing.

Actual behavior

The imagegen skill is available, but its required image_gen tool is absent. No useful error message, eligibility explanation, or recovery procedure is provided.

Troubleshooting already attempted

I have already tried all of the following:

• Fully restarting Codex Desktop
• Updating Codex Desktop
• Restarting after the update
• Creating a new session
• Explicitly invoking $imagegen
• Changing the project permission mode to Full Access
• Reinstalling/restarting the application workflow
• Checking the tools available in the active session

None of these actions restored the built-in tool.

Full Access does not resolve the problem because this appears to be a server-side session provisioning, entitlement, feature-flag, or application regression issue—not a local filesystem permission issue.

Regression information

The same machine, account, project, and workflow were previously able to generate images successfully. The failure began only after the application update.

This appears to match or closely relate to:

• #28102

That issue reports the same key symptom: the imagegen skill remains available while the built-in image_gen tool is no longer exposed after updating Codex Desktop.

Impact

This is not a minor inconvenience. My project depends on an established image-generation workflow for game assets and concept art. The regression interrupted active production work in the middle of the project.

It also creates several serious product problems:

• A previously functioning paid feature becomes unavailable without warning.
• Existing project workflows are broken.
• The official skill remains visible even though it cannot function.
• Users are directed toward a separately billed API workaround.
• Reinstalling, updating, restarting, and changing permissions do not help.
• There is no status notice, explanation, reliable workaround, or estimated restoration date.

Request for an official response

Please provide a clear official response addressing the following questions:

1. Why is the built-in image_gen tool no longer being provisioned to affected Codex Desktop sessions?
2. Is this an unintended regression, a temporary rollback, a staged rollout issue, an account entitlement problem, or an intentional product change?
3. Why has this serious regression remained unresolved—or without a public explanation—for so long after it was reported?
4. Why does Codex still expose the official imagegen skill when the required execution tool is unavailable?
5. Is this limited to Windows, Plus subscriptions, specific app versions, or particular rollout groups?
6. Is there a supported workaround that does not require separate API billing?
7. What is the expected timeline for restoring the built-in image generation capability?

Please do not close this as a duplicate without linking it to an actively tracked issue and providing the current investigation status. Affected paying users need a concrete explanation and a restoration timeline.