VMware has decided that there isn’t any specific reason that VMware Tools builds should be tied to vSphere releases/ESXi builds. In this new way, new key features/updates can be distribuite quickly as possible.

The idea is good, but first to all they have to define a complete HCL on which system are supported with this new build of VMware Tools: the release notes just say that Tools 10.0.0 is compatible with supported versions of VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0 and later, VMware Workstation 12.0 and VMware Fusion 8.0. HCL should be update to handle also this versions.

A possible issue and drawback is that this choice increases the amount of possible combinations of ESXi (and also Workstation / Fusion) and VMware Tools versions that must be tested and verify, meaning that each specific combination will get much less attention than it used to.

And already there are some minor bugs, where the solution is simple:

Use the VMware Tools version included with a previous version of Workstation Pro or Fusion.

Yes, because not only VMware Tools will be available in this new way, there will be a “embeeded” VMware Tools in the virtualization product.

But probably the new way will become mainstream soon, with the advantage of having a what’s new in each release, along with compatibility, installation/upgrade information, and more.