diff --git a/modules/data-streams/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/datastreams/lifecycle/health/DataStreamLifecycleHealthInfoPublisher.java b/modules/data-streams/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/datastreams/lifecycle/health/DataStreamLifecycleHealthInfoPublisher.java
index 552bf75adae23..642fa4923e074 100644
--- a/modules/data-streams/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/datastreams/lifecycle/health/DataStreamLifecycleHealthInfoPublisher.java
+++ b/modules/data-streams/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/datastreams/lifecycle/health/DataStreamLifecycleHealthInfoPublisher.java
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public class DataStreamLifecycleHealthInfoPublisher {
         Setting.Property.Dynamic,
         Setting.Property.NodeScope
     );
-    public static final NodeFeature DSL_HEALTH_INFO_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("health.dsl.info");
+    public static final NodeFeature DSL_HEALTH_INFO_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("health.dsl.info", true);
 
     private final Client client;
     private final ClusterService clusterService;
diff --git a/plugins/mapper-annotated-text/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/annotatedtext/AnnotatedTextFieldMapper.java b/plugins/mapper-annotated-text/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/annotatedtext/AnnotatedTextFieldMapper.java
index c12849d545b33..f58fd138905c3 100644
--- a/plugins/mapper-annotated-text/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/annotatedtext/AnnotatedTextFieldMapper.java
+++ b/plugins/mapper-annotated-text/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/annotatedtext/AnnotatedTextFieldMapper.java
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
  **/
 public class AnnotatedTextFieldMapper extends FieldMapper {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_SUPPORT = new NodeFeature("mapper.annotated_text.synthetic_source");
+    public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_SUPPORT = new NodeFeature("mapper.annotated_text.synthetic_source", true);
 
     public static final String CONTENT_TYPE = "annotated_text";
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/cluster/allocation/AllocationStatsFeatures.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/cluster/allocation/AllocationStatsFeatures.java
index d754d652c8d88..164fc816ad367 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/cluster/allocation/AllocationStatsFeatures.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/cluster/allocation/AllocationStatsFeatures.java
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 import java.util.Set;
 
 public class AllocationStatsFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
-    public static final NodeFeature INCLUDE_DISK_THRESHOLD_SETTINGS = new NodeFeature("stats.include_disk_thresholds");
+    public static final NodeFeature INCLUDE_DISK_THRESHOLD_SETTINGS = new NodeFeature("stats.include_disk_thresholds", true);
 
     @Override
     public Set<NodeFeature> getFeatures() {
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/indices/rollover/LazyRolloverAction.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/indices/rollover/LazyRolloverAction.java
index a677897d79633..ed621e76e7a16 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/indices/rollover/LazyRolloverAction.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/admin/indices/rollover/LazyRolloverAction.java
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public final class LazyRolloverAction extends ActionType<RolloverResponse> {
 
     private static final Logger logger = LogManager.getLogger(LazyRolloverAction.class);
 
-    public static final NodeFeature DATA_STREAM_LAZY_ROLLOVER = new NodeFeature("data_stream.rollover.lazy");
+    public static final NodeFeature DATA_STREAM_LAZY_ROLLOVER = new NodeFeature("data_stream.rollover.lazy", true);
 
     public static final LazyRolloverAction INSTANCE = new LazyRolloverAction();
     public static final String NAME = "indices:admin/data_stream/lazy_rollover";
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/bulk/TransportSimulateBulkAction.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/bulk/TransportSimulateBulkAction.java
index cb43e07faa612..081d3ed031644 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/bulk/TransportSimulateBulkAction.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/bulk/TransportSimulateBulkAction.java
@@ -83,15 +83,17 @@
  * shards are not actually modified).
  */
 public class TransportSimulateBulkAction extends TransportAbstractBulkAction {
-    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_MAPPING_VALIDATION = new NodeFeature("simulate.mapping.validation");
-    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_MAPPING_VALIDATION_TEMPLATES = new NodeFeature("simulate.mapping.validation.templates");
+    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_MAPPING_VALIDATION = new NodeFeature("simulate.mapping.validation", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_MAPPING_VALIDATION_TEMPLATES = new NodeFeature("simulate.mapping.validation.templates", true);
     public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_COMPONENT_TEMPLATE_SUBSTITUTIONS = new NodeFeature(
-        "simulate.component.template.substitutions"
+        "simulate.component.template.substitutions",
+        true
     );
-    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_INDEX_TEMPLATE_SUBSTITUTIONS = new NodeFeature("simulate.index.template.substitutions");
-    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_MAPPING_ADDITION = new NodeFeature("simulate.mapping.addition");
-    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_SUPPORT_NON_TEMPLATE_MAPPING = new NodeFeature("simulate.support.non.template.mapping");
+    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_INDEX_TEMPLATE_SUBSTITUTIONS = new NodeFeature("simulate.index.template.substitutions", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_MAPPING_ADDITION = new NodeFeature("simulate.mapping.addition", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_SUPPORT_NON_TEMPLATE_MAPPING = new NodeFeature("simulate.support.non.template.mapping", true);
     public static final NodeFeature SIMULATE_IGNORED_FIELDS = new NodeFeature("simulate.ignored.fields");
+
     private final IndicesService indicesService;
     private final NamedXContentRegistry xContentRegistry;
     private final Set<IndexSettingProvider> indexSettingProviders;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/datastreams/autosharding/DataStreamAutoShardingService.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/datastreams/autosharding/DataStreamAutoShardingService.java
index 580cf92d15e2c..578b0a61aafde 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/datastreams/autosharding/DataStreamAutoShardingService.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/datastreams/autosharding/DataStreamAutoShardingService.java
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public class DataStreamAutoShardingService {
     private static final Logger logger = LogManager.getLogger(DataStreamAutoShardingService.class);
     public static final String DATA_STREAMS_AUTO_SHARDING_ENABLED = "data_streams.auto_sharding.enabled";
 
-    public static final NodeFeature DATA_STREAM_AUTO_SHARDING_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("data_stream.auto_sharding");
+    public static final NodeFeature DATA_STREAM_AUTO_SHARDING_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("data_stream.auto_sharding", true);
 
     public static final Setting<List<String>> DATA_STREAMS_AUTO_SHARDING_EXCLUDES_SETTING = Setting.listSetting(
         "data_streams.auto_sharding.excludes",
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/DataStreamGlobalRetention.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/DataStreamGlobalRetention.java
index af807e87a848e..673960c713391 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/DataStreamGlobalRetention.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/DataStreamGlobalRetention.java
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
  */
 public record DataStreamGlobalRetention(@Nullable TimeValue defaultRetention, @Nullable TimeValue maxRetention) implements Writeable {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature GLOBAL_RETENTION = new NodeFeature("data_stream.lifecycle.global_retention");
+    public static final NodeFeature GLOBAL_RETENTION = new NodeFeature("data_stream.lifecycle.global_retention", true);
     public static final TimeValue MIN_RETENTION_VALUE = TimeValue.timeValueSeconds(10);
 
     /**
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/DesiredNode.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/DesiredNode.java
index eab17fa93536d..33da9ffcd9d24 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/DesiredNode.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/DesiredNode.java
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ public final class DesiredNode implements Writeable, ToXContentObject, Comparabl
 
     public static final NodeFeature RANGE_FLOAT_PROCESSORS_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("desired_node.range_float_processors");
     public static final NodeFeature DOUBLE_PROCESSORS_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("desired_node.double_processors");
-    public static final NodeFeature DESIRED_NODE_VERSION_DEPRECATED = new NodeFeature("desired_node.version_deprecated");
+    public static final NodeFeature DESIRED_NODE_VERSION_DEPRECATED = new NodeFeature("desired_node.version_deprecated", true);
 
     public static final TransportVersion RANGE_FLOAT_PROCESSORS_SUPPORT_TRANSPORT_VERSION = TransportVersions.V_8_3_0;
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/IndexRouting.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/IndexRouting.java
index b9fca6bbcdb0c..a5c73b6ae2c08 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/IndexRouting.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/IndexRouting.java
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@
  */
 public abstract class IndexRouting {
 
-    static final NodeFeature BOOLEAN_ROUTING_PATH = new NodeFeature("routing.boolean_routing_path");
-    static final NodeFeature MULTI_VALUE_ROUTING_PATH = new NodeFeature("routing.multi_value_routing_path");
+    static final NodeFeature BOOLEAN_ROUTING_PATH = new NodeFeature("routing.boolean_routing_path", true);
+    static final NodeFeature MULTI_VALUE_ROUTING_PATH = new NodeFeature("routing.multi_value_routing_path", true);
     static final NodeFeature LOGSB_ROUTE_ON_SORT_FIELDS = new NodeFeature("routing.logsb_route_on_sort_fields");
 
     /**
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/features/FeatureSpecification.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/features/FeatureSpecification.java
index 03f0dd89f172e..60cf1a2d0f553 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/features/FeatureSpecification.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/features/FeatureSpecification.java
@@ -23,8 +23,14 @@
  * unless they also support that feature (this is known as the 'feature ratchet').
  * So once a feature is supported by a cluster, it will always be supported by that cluster in the future.
  * <p>
+ * The only situation where features can be removed is on a compatibility boundary (normally a new major version).
+ * Because a new major version can only form a cluster with the highest minor of the previous major,
+ * any features introduced before that point can be assumed to always be present on that cluster.
+ * The feature itself can be removed by marking it as assumed by {@link NodeFeature#assumedAfterNextCompatibilityBoundary()},
+ * in the last minor, and then removing it and associated conditions in the new major version.
+ * <p>
  * The feature information in cluster state should not normally be directly accessed.
- * All feature checks should be done through {@code FeatureService} to ensure that Elasticsearch's
+ * All feature checks should be done through {@link FeatureService} to ensure that Elasticsearch's
  * guarantees on the introduction of new functionality are followed;
  * that is, new functionality is not enabled until all nodes in the cluster support it.
  * <p>
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/health/HealthFeatures.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/health/HealthFeatures.java
index 6d106199610d6..7c3d72f7b67d5 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/health/HealthFeatures.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/health/HealthFeatures.java
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ public class HealthFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
     public static final NodeFeature SUPPORTS_HEALTH = new NodeFeature("health.supports_health");
     public static final NodeFeature SUPPORTS_HEALTH_REPORT_API = new NodeFeature("health.supports_health_report_api");
     public static final NodeFeature SUPPORTS_SHARDS_CAPACITY_INDICATOR = new NodeFeature("health.shards_capacity_indicator");
-    public static final NodeFeature SUPPORTS_EXTENDED_REPOSITORY_INDICATOR = new NodeFeature("health.extended_repository_indicator");
+    public static final NodeFeature SUPPORTS_EXTENDED_REPOSITORY_INDICATOR = new NodeFeature("health.extended_repository_indicator", true);
 
     @Override
     public Set<NodeFeature> getFeatures() {
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/IndexSettings.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/IndexSettings.java
index cbceb13e9384c..de5950dcb1fc5 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/IndexSettings.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/IndexSettings.java
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ private static String getIgnoreAboveDefaultValue(final Settings settings) {
         }
     }
 
-    public static final NodeFeature IGNORE_ABOVE_INDEX_LEVEL_SETTING = new NodeFeature("mapper.ignore_above_index_level_setting");
+    public static final NodeFeature IGNORE_ABOVE_INDEX_LEVEL_SETTING = new NodeFeature("mapper.ignore_above_index_level_setting", true);
 
     private final Index index;
     private final IndexVersion version;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/BooleanFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/BooleanFieldMapper.java
index f74d58093a7f5..1a28bf2a10acb 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/BooleanFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/BooleanFieldMapper.java
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public class BooleanFieldMapper extends FieldMapper {
 
     public static final String CONTENT_TYPE = "boolean";
 
-    static final NodeFeature BOOLEAN_DIMENSION = new NodeFeature("mapper.boolean_dimension");
+    static final NodeFeature BOOLEAN_DIMENSION = new NodeFeature("mapper.boolean_dimension", true);
 
     public static class Values {
         public static final BytesRef TRUE = new BytesRef("T");
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/DocumentMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/DocumentMapper.java
index 03e6c343c7ab9..068a9828809dd 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/DocumentMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/DocumentMapper.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 import java.util.List;
 
 public class DocumentMapper {
-    static final NodeFeature INDEX_SORTING_ON_NESTED = new NodeFeature("mapper.index_sorting_on_nested");
+    static final NodeFeature INDEX_SORTING_ON_NESTED = new NodeFeature("mapper.index_sorting_on_nested", true);
 
     private final String type;
     private final CompressedXContent mappingSource;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/IgnoredSourceFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/IgnoredSourceFieldMapper.java
index 70d73fc2ffb9a..9e08298fecdfd 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/IgnoredSourceFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/IgnoredSourceFieldMapper.java
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public class IgnoredSourceFieldMapper extends MetadataFieldMapper {
 
     public static final TypeParser PARSER = new FixedTypeParser(context -> new IgnoredSourceFieldMapper(context.getIndexSettings()));
 
-    static final NodeFeature TRACK_IGNORED_SOURCE = new NodeFeature("mapper.track_ignored_source");
+    static final NodeFeature TRACK_IGNORED_SOURCE = new NodeFeature("mapper.track_ignored_source", true);
     static final NodeFeature DONT_EXPAND_DOTS_IN_IGNORED_SOURCE = new NodeFeature("mapper.ignored_source.dont_expand_dots");
     static final NodeFeature ALWAYS_STORE_OBJECT_ARRAYS_IN_NESTED_OBJECTS = new NodeFeature(
         "mapper.ignored_source.always_store_object_arrays_in_nested"
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/IndexModeFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/IndexModeFieldMapper.java
index 6dbd89ba43d63..e539c07caef61 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/IndexModeFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/IndexModeFieldMapper.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 public class IndexModeFieldMapper extends MetadataFieldMapper {
 
-    static final NodeFeature QUERYING_INDEX_MODE = new NodeFeature("mapper.query_index_mode");
+    static final NodeFeature QUERYING_INDEX_MODE = new NodeFeature("mapper.query_index_mode", true);
 
     public static final String NAME = "_index_mode";
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/KeywordFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/KeywordFieldMapper.java
index c04ad1b5d09e7..ea461855738fa 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/KeywordFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/KeywordFieldMapper.java
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ public final class KeywordFieldMapper extends FieldMapper {
 
     public static final String CONTENT_TYPE = "keyword";
 
-    static final NodeFeature KEYWORD_DIMENSION_IGNORE_ABOVE = new NodeFeature("mapper.keyword_dimension_ignore_above");
-    static final NodeFeature KEYWORD_NORMALIZER_SYNTHETIC_SOURCE = new NodeFeature("mapper.keyword_normalizer_synthetic_source");
+    static final NodeFeature KEYWORD_DIMENSION_IGNORE_ABOVE = new NodeFeature("mapper.keyword_dimension_ignore_above", true);
+    static final NodeFeature KEYWORD_NORMALIZER_SYNTHETIC_SOURCE = new NodeFeature("mapper.keyword_normalizer_synthetic_source", true);
 
     public static class Defaults {
         public static final FieldType FIELD_TYPE;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/Mapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/Mapper.java
index 64ecfa7a2f116..d8e2f64dc1642 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/Mapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/Mapper.java
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 
 public abstract class Mapper implements ToXContentFragment, Iterable<Mapper> {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_KEEP_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("mapper.synthetic_source_keep");
+    public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_KEEP_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("mapper.synthetic_source_keep", true);
 
     public static final String SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_KEEP_PARAM = "synthetic_source_keep";
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/NodeMappingStats.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/NodeMappingStats.java
index 10b0856540399..e7ca7367832b6 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/NodeMappingStats.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/NodeMappingStats.java
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
  */
 public class NodeMappingStats implements Writeable, ToXContentFragment {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature SEGMENT_LEVEL_FIELDS_STATS = new NodeFeature("mapper.segment_level_fields_stats");
+    public static final NodeFeature SEGMENT_LEVEL_FIELDS_STATS = new NodeFeature("mapper.segment_level_fields_stats", true);
 
     private static final class Fields {
         static final String MAPPINGS = "mappings";
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/ObjectMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/ObjectMapper.java
index f4084b3ede24f..e734a8e5b4377 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/ObjectMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/ObjectMapper.java
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ public class ObjectMapper extends Mapper {
 
     public static final String CONTENT_TYPE = "object";
     static final String STORE_ARRAY_SOURCE_PARAM = "store_array_source";
-    static final NodeFeature SUBOBJECTS_AUTO = new NodeFeature("mapper.subobjects_auto");
+    static final NodeFeature SUBOBJECTS_AUTO = new NodeFeature("mapper.subobjects_auto", true);
     // No-op. All uses of this feature were reverted but node features can't be removed.
-    static final NodeFeature SUBOBJECTS_AUTO_FIXES = new NodeFeature("mapper.subobjects_auto_fixes");
+    static final NodeFeature SUBOBJECTS_AUTO_FIXES = new NodeFeature("mapper.subobjects_auto_fixes", true);
 
     /**
      * Enhances the previously boolean option for subobjects support with an intermediate mode `auto` that uses
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/PassThroughObjectMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/PassThroughObjectMapper.java
index decc6d40a2f8e..d16acab11a508 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/PassThroughObjectMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/PassThroughObjectMapper.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public class PassThroughObjectMapper extends ObjectMapper {
     public static final String CONTENT_TYPE = "passthrough";
     public static final String PRIORITY_PARAM_NAME = "priority";
 
-    static final NodeFeature PASS_THROUGH_PRIORITY = new NodeFeature("mapper.pass_through_priority");
+    static final NodeFeature PASS_THROUGH_PRIORITY = new NodeFeature("mapper.pass_through_priority", true);
 
     public static class Builder extends ObjectMapper.Builder {
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/RangeFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/RangeFieldMapper.java
index 6ca30304201b2..36f61311ddfc7 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/RangeFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/RangeFieldMapper.java
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 
 /** A {@link FieldMapper} for indexing numeric and date ranges, and creating queries */
 public class RangeFieldMapper extends FieldMapper {
-    public static final NodeFeature NULL_VALUES_OFF_BY_ONE_FIX = new NodeFeature("mapper.range.null_values_off_by_one_fix");
+    public static final NodeFeature NULL_VALUES_OFF_BY_ONE_FIX = new NodeFeature("mapper.range.null_values_off_by_one_fix", true);
     public static final NodeFeature DATE_RANGE_INDEXING_FIX = new NodeFeature("mapper.range.date_range_indexing_fix");
 
     public static final boolean DEFAULT_INCLUDE_UPPER = true;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/SourceFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/SourceFieldMapper.java
index 9d1bb24e899a2..182fb5e28f09f 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/SourceFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/SourceFieldMapper.java
@@ -40,16 +40,19 @@
 import java.util.Locale;
 
 public class SourceFieldMapper extends MetadataFieldMapper {
-    public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_FALLBACK = new NodeFeature("mapper.source.synthetic_source_fallback");
+    public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_FALLBACK = new NodeFeature("mapper.source.synthetic_source_fallback", true);
     public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_STORED_FIELDS_ADVANCE_FIX = new NodeFeature(
-        "mapper.source.synthetic_source_stored_fields_advance_fix"
+        "mapper.source.synthetic_source_stored_fields_advance_fix",
+        true
     );
     public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_WITH_COPY_TO_AND_DOC_VALUES_FALSE_SUPPORT = new NodeFeature(
-        "mapper.source.synthetic_source_with_copy_to_and_doc_values_false"
+        "mapper.source.synthetic_source_with_copy_to_and_doc_values_false",
+        true
     );
-    public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_COPY_TO_FIX = new NodeFeature("mapper.source.synthetic_source_copy_to_fix");
+    public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_COPY_TO_FIX = new NodeFeature("mapper.source.synthetic_source_copy_to_fix", true);
     public static final NodeFeature SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_COPY_TO_INSIDE_OBJECTS_FIX = new NodeFeature(
-        "mapper.source.synthetic_source_copy_to_inside_objects_fix"
+        "mapper.source.synthetic_source_copy_to_inside_objects_fix",
+        true
     );
     public static final NodeFeature REMOVE_SYNTHETIC_SOURCE_ONLY_VALIDATION = new NodeFeature(
         "mapper.source.remove_synthetic_source_only_validation"
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/TimeSeriesRoutingHashFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/TimeSeriesRoutingHashFieldMapper.java
index 24c0a9760893b..4f815206d46c1 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/TimeSeriesRoutingHashFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/TimeSeriesRoutingHashFieldMapper.java
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ public class TimeSeriesRoutingHashFieldMapper extends MetadataFieldMapper {
     public static final TimeSeriesRoutingHashFieldMapper INSTANCE = new TimeSeriesRoutingHashFieldMapper();
 
     public static final TypeParser PARSER = new FixedTypeParser(c -> c.getIndexSettings().getMode().timeSeriesRoutingHashFieldMapper());
-    static final NodeFeature TS_ROUTING_HASH_FIELD_PARSES_BYTES_REF = new NodeFeature("tsdb.ts_routing_hash_doc_value_parse_byte_ref");
+    static final NodeFeature TS_ROUTING_HASH_FIELD_PARSES_BYTES_REF = new NodeFeature(
+        "tsdb.ts_routing_hash_doc_value_parse_byte_ref",
+        true
+    );
 
     public static DocValueFormat TS_ROUTING_HASH_DOC_VALUE_FORMAT = TimeSeriesRoutingHashFieldType.DOC_VALUE_FORMAT;
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/flattened/FlattenedFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/flattened/FlattenedFieldMapper.java
index 0c5acb7742f00..0aca39f7573f7 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/flattened/FlattenedFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/flattened/FlattenedFieldMapper.java
@@ -112,8 +112,11 @@
  */
 public final class FlattenedFieldMapper extends FieldMapper {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature IGNORE_ABOVE_SUPPORT = new NodeFeature("flattened.ignore_above_support");
-    public static final NodeFeature IGNORE_ABOVE_WITH_ARRAYS_SUPPORT = new NodeFeature("mapper.flattened.ignore_above_with_arrays_support");
+    public static final NodeFeature IGNORE_ABOVE_SUPPORT = new NodeFeature("flattened.ignore_above_support", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature IGNORE_ABOVE_WITH_ARRAYS_SUPPORT = new NodeFeature(
+        "mapper.flattened.ignore_above_with_arrays_support",
+        true
+    );
 
     public static final String CONTENT_TYPE = "flattened";
     public static final String KEYED_FIELD_SUFFIX = "._keyed";
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/vectors/DenseVectorFieldMapper.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/vectors/DenseVectorFieldMapper.java
index 7374489d64476..2b7847322a3fd 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/vectors/DenseVectorFieldMapper.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/vectors/DenseVectorFieldMapper.java
@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ public static boolean isNotUnitVector(float magnitude) {
         return Math.abs(magnitude - 1.0f) > EPS;
     }
 
-    public static final NodeFeature INT4_QUANTIZATION = new NodeFeature("mapper.vectors.int4_quantization");
-    public static final NodeFeature BIT_VECTORS = new NodeFeature("mapper.vectors.bit_vectors");
-    public static final NodeFeature BBQ_FORMAT = new NodeFeature("mapper.vectors.bbq");
+    public static final NodeFeature INT4_QUANTIZATION = new NodeFeature("mapper.vectors.int4_quantization", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature BIT_VECTORS = new NodeFeature("mapper.vectors.bit_vectors", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature BBQ_FORMAT = new NodeFeature("mapper.vectors.bbq", true);
 
     public static final IndexVersion MAGNITUDE_STORED_INDEX_VERSION = IndexVersions.V_7_5_0;
     public static final IndexVersion INDEXED_BY_DEFAULT_INDEX_VERSION = IndexVersions.FIRST_DETACHED_INDEX_VERSION;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ingest/EnterpriseGeoIpTask.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ingest/EnterpriseGeoIpTask.java
index ff6a687da9b4d..5bf5182af336e 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ingest/EnterpriseGeoIpTask.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ingest/EnterpriseGeoIpTask.java
@@ -36,7 +36,10 @@ private EnterpriseGeoIpTask() {
     }
 
     public static final String ENTERPRISE_GEOIP_DOWNLOADER = "enterprise-geoip-downloader";
-    public static final NodeFeature GEOIP_DOWNLOADER_DATABASE_CONFIGURATION = new NodeFeature("geoip.downloader.database.configuration");
+    public static final NodeFeature GEOIP_DOWNLOADER_DATABASE_CONFIGURATION = new NodeFeature(
+        "geoip.downloader.database.configuration",
+        true
+    );
 
     public static class EnterpriseGeoIpTaskParams implements PersistentTaskParams {
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ingest/IngestGeoIpFeatures.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ingest/IngestGeoIpFeatures.java
index 77b11357d79b1..7c12b180b4607 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ingest/IngestGeoIpFeatures.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ingest/IngestGeoIpFeatures.java
@@ -19,10 +19,14 @@
 public class IngestGeoIpFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
 
     public static final NodeFeature GET_DATABASE_CONFIGURATION_ACTION_MULTI_NODE = new NodeFeature(
-        "get_database_configuration_action.multi_node"
+        "get_database_configuration_action.multi_node",
+        true
     );
 
-    public static final NodeFeature PUT_DATABASE_CONFIGURATION_ACTION_IPINFO = new NodeFeature("put_database_configuration_action.ipinfo");
+    public static final NodeFeature PUT_DATABASE_CONFIGURATION_ACTION_IPINFO = new NodeFeature(
+        "put_database_configuration_action.ipinfo",
+        true
+    );
 
     public Set<NodeFeature> getFeatures() {
         return Set.of(
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/repositories/RepositoriesFeatures.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/repositories/RepositoriesFeatures.java
index 37d8b6a293dec..b6dea6a2003fc 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/repositories/RepositoriesFeatures.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/repositories/RepositoriesFeatures.java
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 import java.util.Set;
 
 public class RepositoriesFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
-    public static final NodeFeature SUPPORTS_REPOSITORIES_USAGE_STATS = new NodeFeature("repositories.supports_usage_stats");
+    public static final NodeFeature SUPPORTS_REPOSITORIES_USAGE_STATS = new NodeFeature("repositories.supports_usage_stats", true);
 
     @Override
     public Set<NodeFeature> getFeatures() {
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/reservedstate/service/FileSettingsFeatures.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/reservedstate/service/FileSettingsFeatures.java
index e5f1e7c1c2210..a60f525be988a 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/reservedstate/service/FileSettingsFeatures.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/reservedstate/service/FileSettingsFeatures.java
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ public class FileSettingsFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
 
     // Although file settings were supported starting in 8.4.0, this is really about whether file settings
     // are used in readiness.
-    public static final NodeFeature FILE_SETTINGS_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("file_settings");
+    public static final NodeFeature FILE_SETTINGS_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("file_settings", true);
 
     @Override
     public Set<NodeFeature> getFeatures() {
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/cluster/RestNodesCapabilitiesAction.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/cluster/RestNodesCapabilitiesAction.java
index bc7f8c7e12449..dc43669de1eca 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/cluster/RestNodesCapabilitiesAction.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/admin/cluster/RestNodesCapabilitiesAction.java
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
 @ServerlessScope(Scope.INTERNAL)
 public class RestNodesCapabilitiesAction extends BaseRestHandler {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature CAPABILITIES_ACTION = new NodeFeature("rest.capabilities_action");
-    public static final NodeFeature LOCAL_ONLY_CAPABILITIES = new NodeFeature("rest.local_only_capabilities");
+    public static final NodeFeature CAPABILITIES_ACTION = new NodeFeature("rest.capabilities_action", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature LOCAL_ONLY_CAPABILITIES = new NodeFeature("rest.local_only_capabilities", true);
     private static final Set<String> SUPPORTED_QUERY_PARAMETERS = Set.of(
         "timeout",
         "method",
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/ScriptTermStats.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/ScriptTermStats.java
index b27019765e33b..82f6e972e1266 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/ScriptTermStats.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/ScriptTermStats.java
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
  */
 public class ScriptTermStats {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature TERM_STAT_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("script.term_stats");
+    public static final NodeFeature TERM_STAT_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("script.term_stats", true);
 
     private final IntSupplier docIdSupplier;
     private final Term[] terms;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/VectorScoreScriptUtils.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/VectorScoreScriptUtils.java
index e773bceb5ec05..9b4d105eea100 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/VectorScoreScriptUtils.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/script/VectorScoreScriptUtils.java
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 public class VectorScoreScriptUtils {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature HAMMING_DISTANCE_FUNCTION = new NodeFeature("script.hamming");
+    public static final NodeFeature HAMMING_DISTANCE_FUNCTION = new NodeFeature("script.hamming", true);
 
     public static class DenseVectorFunction {
         protected final ScoreScript scoreScript;
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/fetch/subphase/highlight/DefaultHighlighter.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/fetch/subphase/highlight/DefaultHighlighter.java
index 3b13cf475b258..72788856e3c6c 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/fetch/subphase/highlight/DefaultHighlighter.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/fetch/subphase/highlight/DefaultHighlighter.java
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 
 public class DefaultHighlighter implements Highlighter {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature UNIFIED_HIGHLIGHTER_MATCHED_FIELDS = new NodeFeature("unified_highlighter_matched_fields");
+    public static final NodeFeature UNIFIED_HIGHLIGHTER_MATCHED_FIELDS = new NodeFeature("unified_highlighter_matched_fields", true);
 
     @Override
     public boolean canHighlight(MappedFieldType fieldType) {
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/KnnRetrieverBuilder.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/KnnRetrieverBuilder.java
index b29546ded75cd..ecc03d05b28a6 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/KnnRetrieverBuilder.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/KnnRetrieverBuilder.java
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 public final class KnnRetrieverBuilder extends RetrieverBuilder {
 
     public static final String NAME = "knn";
-    public static final NodeFeature KNN_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("knn_retriever_supported");
+    public static final NodeFeature KNN_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("knn_retriever_supported", true);
 
     public static final ParseField FIELD_FIELD = new ParseField("field");
     public static final ParseField K_FIELD = new ParseField("k");
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/RetrieverBuilder.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/RetrieverBuilder.java
index b9bfdfdf3402f..357555cc59942 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/RetrieverBuilder.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/RetrieverBuilder.java
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
  */
 public abstract class RetrieverBuilder implements Rewriteable<RetrieverBuilder>, ToXContent {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature RETRIEVERS_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("retrievers_supported");
+    public static final NodeFeature RETRIEVERS_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("retrievers_supported", true);
 
     public static final ParseField PRE_FILTER_FIELD = new ParseField("filter");
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/StandardRetrieverBuilder.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/StandardRetrieverBuilder.java
index 4e875a97fdfc4..2ffb9e3a98028 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/StandardRetrieverBuilder.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/retriever/StandardRetrieverBuilder.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 public final class StandardRetrieverBuilder extends RetrieverBuilder implements ToXContent {
 
     public static final String NAME = "standard";
-    public static final NodeFeature STANDARD_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("standard_retriever_supported");
+    public static final NodeFeature STANDARD_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("standard_retriever_supported", true);
 
     public static final ParseField QUERY_FIELD = new ParseField("query");
     public static final ParseField SEARCH_AFTER_FIELD = new ParseField("search_after");
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/vectors/KnnVectorQueryBuilder.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/vectors/KnnVectorQueryBuilder.java
index 2a476dd4d4fa5..e6127b0471fa8 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/vectors/KnnVectorQueryBuilder.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/search/vectors/KnnVectorQueryBuilder.java
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
  * {@link org.apache.lucene.search.KnnByteVectorQuery}.
  */
 public class KnnVectorQueryBuilder extends AbstractQueryBuilder<KnnVectorQueryBuilder> {
-    public static final NodeFeature K_PARAM_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("search.vectors.k_param_supported");
+    public static final NodeFeature K_PARAM_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("search.vectors.k_param_supported", true);
 
     public static final String NAME = "knn";
     private static final int NUM_CANDS_LIMIT = 10_000;
diff --git a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/action/datastreams/autosharding/DataStreamAutoShardingServiceTests.java b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/action/datastreams/autosharding/DataStreamAutoShardingServiceTests.java
index ba0f04d174f43..3a43a1df9bf88 100644
--- a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/action/datastreams/autosharding/DataStreamAutoShardingServiceTests.java
+++ b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/action/datastreams/autosharding/DataStreamAutoShardingServiceTests.java
@@ -144,7 +144,11 @@ public Set<NodeFeature> getFeatures() {
 
         {
             // cluster doesn't have feature
-            ClusterState stateNoFeature = ClusterState.builder(ClusterName.DEFAULT).metadata(Metadata.builder()).build();
+            ClusterState stateNoFeature = ClusterState.builder(ClusterName.DEFAULT)
+                .nodes(DiscoveryNodes.builder().add(DiscoveryNodeUtils.create("n1")).add(DiscoveryNodeUtils.create("n2")))
+                .nodeFeatures(Map.of("n1", Set.of(), "n2", Set.of()))
+                .metadata(Metadata.builder())
+                .build();
 
             Settings settings = Settings.builder().put(DataStreamAutoShardingService.DATA_STREAMS_AUTO_SHARDING_ENABLED, true).build();
             DataStreamAutoShardingService noFeatureService = new DataStreamAutoShardingService(
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/license/License.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/license/License.java
index 0d1a007db0d39..42ddfdb338247 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/license/License.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/license/License.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
  */
 public class License implements ToXContentObject {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature INDEPENDENT_TRIAL_VERSION_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("license-trial-independent-version");
+    public static final NodeFeature INDEPENDENT_TRIAL_VERSION_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("license-trial-independent-version", true);
 
     public enum LicenseType {
         BASIC,
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/XPackFeatures.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/XPackFeatures.java
index b885a90c30e57..342ccc7ad1033 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/XPackFeatures.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/XPackFeatures.java
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
  * Provides the XPack features that this version of the code supports
  */
 public class XPackFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
-    public static final NodeFeature LOGSDB_TELEMETRY = new NodeFeature("logsdb_telemetry");
-    public static final NodeFeature LOGSDB_TELMETRY_STATS = new NodeFeature("logsdb_telemetry_stats");
+    public static final NodeFeature LOGSDB_TELEMETRY = new NodeFeature("logsdb_telemetry", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature LOGSDB_TELMETRY_STATS = new NodeFeature("logsdb_telemetry_stats", true);
 
     @Override
     public Set<NodeFeature> getFeatures() {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/datatiers/NodesDataTiersUsageTransportAction.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/datatiers/NodesDataTiersUsageTransportAction.java
index 6a544f6377728..b112c236d1cf0 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/datatiers/NodesDataTiersUsageTransportAction.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/core/datatiers/NodesDataTiersUsageTransportAction.java
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public class NodesDataTiersUsageTransportAction extends TransportNodesAction<
     Void> {
 
     public static final ActionType<NodesResponse> TYPE = new ActionType<>("cluster:monitor/nodes/data_tier_usage");
-    public static final NodeFeature LOCALLY_PRECALCULATED_STATS_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("usage.data_tiers.precalculate_stats");
+    public static final NodeFeature LOCALLY_PRECALCULATED_STATS_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("usage.data_tiers.precalculate_stats", true);
 
     private static final CommonStatsFlags STATS_FLAGS = new CommonStatsFlags().clear()
         .set(CommonStatsFlags.Flag.Docs, true)
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/action/ListQueryRulesetsAction.java b/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/action/ListQueryRulesetsAction.java
index 62f9f3fd46cc4..c85416c5f08c5 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/action/ListQueryRulesetsAction.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/action/ListQueryRulesetsAction.java
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public class ListQueryRulesetsAction {
     public static final String NAME = "cluster:admin/xpack/query_rules/list";
     public static final ActionType<ListQueryRulesetsAction.Response> INSTANCE = new ActionType<>(NAME);
 
-    public static final NodeFeature QUERY_RULE_LIST_TYPES = new NodeFeature("query_rule_list_types");
+    public static final NodeFeature QUERY_RULE_LIST_TYPES = new NodeFeature("query_rule_list_types", true);
 
     private ListQueryRulesetsAction() {/* no instances */}
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/action/TestQueryRulesetAction.java b/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/action/TestQueryRulesetAction.java
index 28f4a3b38dd59..b8293ca64cf05 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/action/TestQueryRulesetAction.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/action/TestQueryRulesetAction.java
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 
 public class TestQueryRulesetAction {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature QUERY_RULES_TEST_API = new NodeFeature("query_rules.test");
+    public static final NodeFeature QUERY_RULES_TEST_API = new NodeFeature("query_rules.test", true);
 
     // TODO - We'd like to transition this to require less stringent permissions
     public static final ActionType<TestQueryRulesetAction.Response> TYPE = new ActionType<>("cluster:admin/xpack/query_rules/test");
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/retriever/QueryRuleRetrieverBuilder.java b/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/retriever/QueryRuleRetrieverBuilder.java
index a4434ac8f7330..27e60064673ec 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/retriever/QueryRuleRetrieverBuilder.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/ent-search/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/application/rules/retriever/QueryRuleRetrieverBuilder.java
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 public final class QueryRuleRetrieverBuilder extends CompoundRetrieverBuilder<QueryRuleRetrieverBuilder> {
 
     public static final String NAME = "rule";
-    public static final NodeFeature QUERY_RULE_RETRIEVERS_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("query_rule_retriever_supported");
+    public static final NodeFeature QUERY_RULE_RETRIEVERS_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("query_rule_retriever_supported", true);
 
     public static final ParseField RULESET_IDS_FIELD = new ParseField("ruleset_ids");
     public static final ParseField MATCH_CRITERIA_FIELD = new ParseField("match_criteria");
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/plugin/EsqlFeatures.java b/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/plugin/EsqlFeatures.java
index 266f07d22eaf5..357724ca7af55 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/plugin/EsqlFeatures.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/plugin/EsqlFeatures.java
@@ -35,18 +35,18 @@ public class EsqlFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
      * Introduction of {@code MV_SORT}, {@code MV_SLICE}, and {@code MV_ZIP}.
      * Added in #106095.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature MV_SORT = new NodeFeature("esql.mv_sort");
+    private static final NodeFeature MV_SORT = new NodeFeature("esql.mv_sort", true);
 
     /**
      * When we disabled some broken optimizations around {@code nullable}.
      * Fixed in #105691.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature DISABLE_NULLABLE_OPTS = new NodeFeature("esql.disable_nullable_opts");
+    private static final NodeFeature DISABLE_NULLABLE_OPTS = new NodeFeature("esql.disable_nullable_opts", true);
 
     /**
      * Introduction of {@code ST_X} and {@code ST_Y}. Added in #105768.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature ST_X_Y = new NodeFeature("esql.st_x_y");
+    private static final NodeFeature ST_X_Y = new NodeFeature("esql.st_x_y", true);
 
     /**
      * When we added the warnings for multivalued fields emitting {@code null}
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public class EsqlFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
     /**
      * Changed precision of {@code geo_point} and {@code cartesian_point} fields, by loading from source into WKB. Done in #103691.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature SPATIAL_POINTS_FROM_SOURCE = new NodeFeature("esql.spatial_points_from_source");
+    private static final NodeFeature SPATIAL_POINTS_FROM_SOURCE = new NodeFeature("esql.spatial_points_from_source", true);
 
     /**
      * When we added the warnings when conversion functions fail. Like {@code TO_INT('foo')}.
@@ -79,78 +79,81 @@ public class EsqlFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
     /**
      * Support for loading {@code geo_shape} and {@code cartesian_shape} fields. Done in #104269.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature SPATIAL_SHAPES = new NodeFeature("esql.spatial_shapes");
+    private static final NodeFeature SPATIAL_SHAPES = new NodeFeature("esql.spatial_shapes", true);
 
     /**
      * Support for spatial aggregation {@code ST_CENTROID}. Done in #104269.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature ST_CENTROID_AGG = new NodeFeature("esql.st_centroid_agg");
+    private static final NodeFeature ST_CENTROID_AGG = new NodeFeature("esql.st_centroid_agg", true);
 
     /**
      * Support for spatial aggregation {@code ST_INTERSECTS}. Done in #104907.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature ST_INTERSECTS = new NodeFeature("esql.st_intersects");
+    private static final NodeFeature ST_INTERSECTS = new NodeFeature("esql.st_intersects", true);
 
     /**
      * Support for spatial aggregation {@code ST_CONTAINS} and {@code ST_WITHIN}. Done in #106503.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature ST_CONTAINS_WITHIN = new NodeFeature("esql.st_contains_within");
+    private static final NodeFeature ST_CONTAINS_WITHIN = new NodeFeature("esql.st_contains_within", true);
 
     /**
      * Support for spatial aggregation {@code ST_DISJOINT}. Done in #107007.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature ST_DISJOINT = new NodeFeature("esql.st_disjoint");
+    private static final NodeFeature ST_DISJOINT = new NodeFeature("esql.st_disjoint", true);
 
     /**
      * The introduction of the {@code VALUES} agg.
      */
-    private static final NodeFeature AGG_VALUES = new NodeFeature("esql.agg_values");
+    private static final NodeFeature AGG_VALUES = new NodeFeature("esql.agg_values", true);
 
     /**
      * Does ESQL support async queries.
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature ASYNC_QUERY = new NodeFeature("esql.async_query");
+    public static final NodeFeature ASYNC_QUERY = new NodeFeature("esql.async_query", true);
 
     /**
      * Does ESQL support FROM OPTIONS?
      */
     @Deprecated
-    public static final NodeFeature FROM_OPTIONS = new NodeFeature("esql.from_options");
+    public static final NodeFeature FROM_OPTIONS = new NodeFeature("esql.from_options", true);
 
     /**
      * Cast string literals to a desired data type.
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature STRING_LITERAL_AUTO_CASTING = new NodeFeature("esql.string_literal_auto_casting");
+    public static final NodeFeature STRING_LITERAL_AUTO_CASTING = new NodeFeature("esql.string_literal_auto_casting", true);
 
     /**
      * Base64 encoding and decoding functions.
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature BASE64_DECODE_ENCODE = new NodeFeature("esql.base64_decode_encode");
+    public static final NodeFeature BASE64_DECODE_ENCODE = new NodeFeature("esql.base64_decode_encode", true);
 
     /**
      * Support for the :: casting operator
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature CASTING_OPERATOR = new NodeFeature("esql.casting_operator");
+    public static final NodeFeature CASTING_OPERATOR = new NodeFeature("esql.casting_operator", true);
 
     /**
      * Blocks can be labelled with {@link org.elasticsearch.compute.data.Block.MvOrdering#SORTED_ASCENDING} for optimizations.
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature MV_ORDERING_SORTED_ASCENDING = new NodeFeature("esql.mv_ordering_sorted_ascending");
+    public static final NodeFeature MV_ORDERING_SORTED_ASCENDING = new NodeFeature("esql.mv_ordering_sorted_ascending", true);
 
     /**
      * Support for metrics counter fields
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature METRICS_COUNTER_FIELDS = new NodeFeature("esql.metrics_counter_fields");
+    public static final NodeFeature METRICS_COUNTER_FIELDS = new NodeFeature("esql.metrics_counter_fields", true);
 
     /**
      * Cast string literals to a desired data type for IN predicate and more types for BinaryComparison.
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature STRING_LITERAL_AUTO_CASTING_EXTENDED = new NodeFeature("esql.string_literal_auto_casting_extended");
+    public static final NodeFeature STRING_LITERAL_AUTO_CASTING_EXTENDED = new NodeFeature(
+        "esql.string_literal_auto_casting_extended",
+        true
+    );
 
     /**
      * Support for metadata fields.
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature METADATA_FIELDS = new NodeFeature("esql.metadata_fields");
+    public static final NodeFeature METADATA_FIELDS = new NodeFeature("esql.metadata_fields", true);
 
     /**
      * Support for loading values over enrich. This is supported by all versions of ESQL but not
@@ -161,12 +164,12 @@ public class EsqlFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
     /**
      * Support for timespan units abbreviations
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature TIMESPAN_ABBREVIATIONS = new NodeFeature("esql.timespan_abbreviations");
+    public static final NodeFeature TIMESPAN_ABBREVIATIONS = new NodeFeature("esql.timespan_abbreviations", true);
 
     /**
      * Support metrics counter types
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature COUNTER_TYPES = new NodeFeature("esql.counter_types");
+    public static final NodeFeature COUNTER_TYPES = new NodeFeature("esql.counter_types", true);
 
     /**
      * Support metrics syntax
@@ -176,7 +179,7 @@ public class EsqlFeatures implements FeatureSpecification {
     /**
      * Internal resolve_fields API for ES|QL
      */
-    public static final NodeFeature RESOLVE_FIELDS_API = new NodeFeature("esql.resolve_fields_api");
+    public static final NodeFeature RESOLVE_FIELDS_API = new NodeFeature("esql.resolve_fields_api", true);
 
     private Set<NodeFeature> snapshotBuildFeatures() {
         assert Build.current().isSnapshot() : Build.current();
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/mapper/SemanticTextFieldMapper.java b/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/mapper/SemanticTextFieldMapper.java
index 9126fd78cada3..39a1b75dd25b7 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/mapper/SemanticTextFieldMapper.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/mapper/SemanticTextFieldMapper.java
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@
  * A {@link FieldMapper} for semantic text fields.
  */
 public class SemanticTextFieldMapper extends FieldMapper implements InferenceFieldMapper {
-    public static final NodeFeature SEMANTIC_TEXT_SEARCH_INFERENCE_ID = new NodeFeature("semantic_text.search_inference_id");
-    public static final NodeFeature SEMANTIC_TEXT_DEFAULT_ELSER_2 = new NodeFeature("semantic_text.default_elser_2");
+    public static final NodeFeature SEMANTIC_TEXT_SEARCH_INFERENCE_ID = new NodeFeature("semantic_text.search_inference_id", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature SEMANTIC_TEXT_DEFAULT_ELSER_2 = new NodeFeature("semantic_text.default_elser_2", true);
     public static final NodeFeature SEMANTIC_TEXT_IN_OBJECT_FIELD_FIX = new NodeFeature("semantic_text.in_object_field_fix");
     public static final NodeFeature SEMANTIC_TEXT_SINGLE_FIELD_UPDATE_FIX = new NodeFeature("semantic_text.single_field_update_fix");
     public static final NodeFeature SEMANTIC_TEXT_DELETE_FIX = new NodeFeature("semantic_text.delete_fix");
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/rank/random/RandomRankRetrieverBuilder.java b/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/rank/random/RandomRankRetrieverBuilder.java
index 134f8af0e083d..7236b0141a86d 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/rank/random/RandomRankRetrieverBuilder.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/rank/random/RandomRankRetrieverBuilder.java
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
  */
 public class RandomRankRetrieverBuilder extends RetrieverBuilder {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature RANDOM_RERANKER_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("random_reranker_retriever_supported");
+    public static final NodeFeature RANDOM_RERANKER_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("random_reranker_retriever_supported", true);
 
     public static final ParseField RETRIEVER_FIELD = new ParseField("retriever");
     public static final ParseField FIELD_FIELD = new ParseField("field");
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/rank/textsimilarity/TextSimilarityRankRetrieverBuilder.java b/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/rank/textsimilarity/TextSimilarityRankRetrieverBuilder.java
index f0751dc5d09e0..5976318d9d9ff 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/rank/textsimilarity/TextSimilarityRankRetrieverBuilder.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/rank/textsimilarity/TextSimilarityRankRetrieverBuilder.java
@@ -37,10 +37,12 @@
 public class TextSimilarityRankRetrieverBuilder extends CompoundRetrieverBuilder<TextSimilarityRankRetrieverBuilder> {
 
     public static final NodeFeature TEXT_SIMILARITY_RERANKER_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature(
-        "text_similarity_reranker_retriever_supported"
+        "text_similarity_reranker_retriever_supported",
+        true
     );
     public static final NodeFeature TEXT_SIMILARITY_RERANKER_COMPOSITION_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature(
-        "text_similarity_reranker_retriever_composition_supported"
+        "text_similarity_reranker_retriever_composition_supported",
+        true
     );
 
     public static final ParseField RETRIEVER_FIELD = new ParseField("retriever");
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/rank-rrf/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/rank/rrf/RRFRetrieverBuilder.java b/x-pack/plugin/rank-rrf/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/rank/rrf/RRFRetrieverBuilder.java
index c1447623dd5b1..186febfda18f3 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/rank-rrf/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/rank/rrf/RRFRetrieverBuilder.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/rank-rrf/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/rank/rrf/RRFRetrieverBuilder.java
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@
 public final class RRFRetrieverBuilder extends CompoundRetrieverBuilder<RRFRetrieverBuilder> {
 
     public static final String NAME = "rrf";
-    public static final NodeFeature RRF_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("rrf_retriever_supported");
-    public static final NodeFeature RRF_RETRIEVER_COMPOSITION_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("rrf_retriever_composition_supported");
+    public static final NodeFeature RRF_RETRIEVER_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("rrf_retriever_supported", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature RRF_RETRIEVER_COMPOSITION_SUPPORTED = new NodeFeature("rrf_retriever_composition_supported", true);
 
     public static final ParseField RETRIEVERS_FIELD = new ParseField("retrievers");
     public static final ParseField RANK_CONSTANT_FIELD = new ParseField("rank_constant");
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/security/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/security/support/SecuritySystemIndices.java b/x-pack/plugin/security/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/security/support/SecuritySystemIndices.java
index 77c7d19e94a9b..5d1f1389b6ac9 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/security/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/security/support/SecuritySystemIndices.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/security/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/security/support/SecuritySystemIndices.java
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ public class SecuritySystemIndices {
     public static final String SECURITY_PROFILE_ALIAS = ".security-profile";
     public static final Version VERSION_SECURITY_PROFILE_ORIGIN = Version.V_8_3_0;
     public static final NodeFeature SECURITY_PROFILE_ORIGIN_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("security.security_profile_origin");
-    public static final NodeFeature SECURITY_MIGRATION_FRAMEWORK = new NodeFeature("security.migration_framework");
-    public static final NodeFeature SECURITY_ROLES_METADATA_FLATTENED = new NodeFeature("security.roles_metadata_flattened");
-    public static final NodeFeature SECURITY_ROLE_MAPPING_CLEANUP = new NodeFeature("security.role_mapping_cleanup");
+    public static final NodeFeature SECURITY_MIGRATION_FRAMEWORK = new NodeFeature("security.migration_framework", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature SECURITY_ROLES_METADATA_FLATTENED = new NodeFeature("security.roles_metadata_flattened", true);
+    public static final NodeFeature SECURITY_ROLE_MAPPING_CLEANUP = new NodeFeature("security.role_mapping_cleanup", true);
 
     /**
      * Security managed index mappings used to be updated based on the product version. They are now updated based on per-index mappings
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/slm/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/slm/SnapshotLifecycleService.java b/x-pack/plugin/slm/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/slm/SnapshotLifecycleService.java
index b93f90de73f05..e53c167c57908 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/slm/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/slm/SnapshotLifecycleService.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/slm/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/slm/SnapshotLifecycleService.java
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
  * task according to the policy's schedule.
  */
 public class SnapshotLifecycleService implements Closeable, ClusterStateListener {
-    public static final NodeFeature INTERVAL_SCHEDULE = new NodeFeature("slm.interval_schedule");
+    public static final NodeFeature INTERVAL_SCHEDULE = new NodeFeature("slm.interval_schedule", true);
     private static final Logger logger = LogManager.getLogger(SnapshotLifecycleService.class);
     private static final String JOB_PATTERN_SUFFIX = "-\\d+$";
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/snapshot-repo-test-kit/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/repositories/blobstore/testkit/integrity/RestRepositoryVerifyIntegrityAction.java b/x-pack/plugin/snapshot-repo-test-kit/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/repositories/blobstore/testkit/integrity/RestRepositoryVerifyIntegrityAction.java
index 16cdb9140411c..b07358ab861a1 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/snapshot-repo-test-kit/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/repositories/blobstore/testkit/integrity/RestRepositoryVerifyIntegrityAction.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/snapshot-repo-test-kit/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/repositories/blobstore/testkit/integrity/RestRepositoryVerifyIntegrityAction.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 @ServerlessScope(Scope.INTERNAL)
 public class RestRepositoryVerifyIntegrityAction extends BaseRestHandler {
 
-    public static final NodeFeature REPOSITORY_VERIFY_INTEGRITY_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("snapshot.repository_verify_integrity");
+    public static final NodeFeature REPOSITORY_VERIFY_INTEGRITY_FEATURE = new NodeFeature("snapshot.repository_verify_integrity", true);
 
     @Override
     public List<Route> routes() {