Google Pixel Hints at Fresh Theme Packs After 'Wicked' Exit

"Those packs are now gone. The Wicked theme packs were removed from Pixel devices on Jan. 31 and no longer appear in the theme pack selection menu. Google has also stopped promoting the collaboration inside the Pixel wallpaper and customization settings. Users who previously downloaded the Wicked items can still use them, but anyone who missed the window no longer has access."

"In place of the retired themes, Pixel users now see a short teaser inside the Wallpaper & style menu. As spotted by 9to5Google, the message reads: "new theme packs are coming soon." For now, that's all Google is saying. A "More" button appears on the screen, but it currently leads nowhere, leaving the details, including timing and design, unclear. Still, the teaser confirms that the Wicked partnership was not a one-off experiment."

"Pixel theme packs are designed to make phone customization easier. With a single tap, users can apply a bundled look that includes wallpapers, system colors, lock screen styles, clocks, sounds, and icon treatments. The feature builds on Google's Material You design system, which adapts system colors based on a user's wallpaper. Instead of tweaking settings one by one, theme packs offer a complete preset in just a few seconds."

Pixel theme packs launched late last year with a high-profile movie tie-in, the "Wicked: For Good" collaboration offering three themed presets inspired by the film's main characters. Those packs were removed from Pixel devices on Jan. 31 and no longer appear in the theme pack selection menu. Users who previously downloaded the Wicked items can still use them, but new users no longer have access. Pixel devices now show a teaser reading "new theme packs are coming soon" inside the Wallpaper & style menu; a More button currently leads nowhere. Theme packs bundle wallpapers, system colors, lock screen styles, clocks, sounds, and icons, building on Material You. Removal suggests future packs may favor long-term Pixel styles over limited movie tie-ins.

Read at TechRepublic