Microsoft Windows 11 New Emoji isn't 3D as Promised

Microsoft originally promised new 3D emoji for Windows 11 and several other products earlier this year. Now the company has gone for a flat 2D look, with the new emoji debuting on the Dev Channel builds of Windows 11 this week.

The style is very different from the 3D emoji that Microsoft promised in July, and even in recent tweets from the official Windows Twitter accounts. Microsoft seems to have changed its mind about moving to 3D within Windows 11. "For Windows 11 we are using the 2D versions," says Brandon LeBlanc, senior program manager on the Windows Insider team. LeBlanc also says that Microsoft "used the wrong graphics" in recent tweets.

It's unclear why Microsoft hasn't embraced its 3D designs in Windows 11, despite promises to do so, but it's likely because a flatter 2D design works better in multiple applications. 3D designs also look different on a variety of screens and resolutions, so Microsoft has likely settled on a 2D layout for a more consistent representation of your emoji for all Windows 11 users.

However, we still expect the 3D style to appear elsewhere in Microsoft products, particularly in Microsoft Teams, where animated emojis exist. The new emoji in Windows 11 also includes the return of Clippy, as Microsoft has removed the standard clip emoji with its Clippy character. Microsoft is testing this emoji in recent versions of the Windows 11 Dev Channel, but it is expected to roll out for all users soon.