According to engadget, Snap is bringing back 2D Bitmoji exclusively for Snapchat+ subscribers through a new Comic Bitmoji setting launching in the coming days. The feature revives classic avatar charm while maintaining 3D infrastructure benefits, converting all Bitmoji avatars to 2D rendering and enabling 2D-style stickers. This follows Snap’s 2023 switch from 2D to 3D avatars that allowed more customization options but sparked user backlash. Nearly 100,000 people signed a Change.org petition demanding 2D Bitmoji’s return, which CEO Evan Spiegel himself endorsed. With over 320 million daily Bitmoji users, getting the 2D conversion right was crucial for the company.
The subscription squeeze
Here’s the thing that rubs me the wrong way: locking basic nostalgia behind a paywall. Snapchat+ costs $3.99 per month, and while that’s not exactly breaking the bank, it feels like they’re monetizing user sentiment. The company basically took away something people loved, faced massive backlash, and is now selling it back to them. Clever? Sure. Customer-friendly? Not really.
Why 2D was harder than it looks
Snap claims Comic Bitmoji applies a filter to existing 3D avatars, but the technical work was apparently more involved than it sounds. According to Fast Company, the team had to adjust proportions, shading, and outlines to make animations and expressions work properly in 2D. When you consider they’re dealing with 320 million daily users, even small rendering issues could affect millions of people. So maybe there was some actual development cost here beyond just flipping a switch.
When petitions actually work
It’s pretty remarkable that a Change.org petition with 100,000 signatures actually moved the needle at a major tech company. Even more surprising? The CEO signed it too. That’s either brilliant PR or genuine listening – probably a bit of both. But it does make you wonder: how many other features have companies removed that users desperately want back? And why does it take mass organized complaining to get them to listen?
The real game here
Snapchat+ reportedly has about 9 million subscribers generating serious revenue. Features like Comic Bitmoji are perfect subscription drivers – they’re highly visible, emotionally resonant, and don’t cost much to maintain once built. It’s smart business, even if it feels a bit manipulative. The question is whether enough people care about 2D avatars to actually pay for them. Given the passion behind that petition, I’m betting some will.
