Earlier this year, Microsoft had promised new 3D emoji in Windows 11 and other products. Instead, Microsoft has opted for a 2D flat design, with the new emoji making their debut in Windows 11 Dev Channel versions this week.
While Microsoft promised 3D emoji in July, and even in recent tweets from the official Windows Twitter accounts, the new emojis don’t look anything like them. As of this writing, Microsoft looks to have re-evaluated going 3D with Windows 11. The 2D versions are used in Windows 11, according to Brandon LeBlanc, a senior programme manager on the Windows Insider team. LeBlanc further claims that in recent tweets from Microsoft, the company “used the wrong images”.
The reason Microsoft hasn’t implemented its 3D designs in Windows 11 despite pledges to do so is unclear, although it’s possible that a flatter 2D style works better in various programmes. It’s possible that Microsoft has chosen a 2D style for their emoji because 3D designs look different in different displays and resolutions.
Microsoft Teams already has animated emoji, so it’s safe to assume that the 3D version will emerge there as well. Microsoft has removed the Clippy character from the normal paperclip emoji in Windows 11, yet the new emoji in Windows 11 contains the reintroduction of Clippy. Though it’s currently being used in Windows 11 Dev Channel releases, this emoji should be available to all users in the near future, depending on Microsoft’s release schedule.
