In a classic “we heard you” move, Snap is offering a nostalgic fix for the 3D avatar backlash… if you’re willing to pay for it.

If you were on Snapchat back in 2023, you probably remember the great Bitmoji Unrest.

Cast your mind back: one day, you opened the app, and your charming, simple, 2D cartoon avatar was gone. In its place was a new, detailed, slightly unnerving 3D version that stared back at you with a bit too much depth.

To say the change wasn’t exactly a hit would be an understatement. The user backlash was swift and loud. A Change.org petition demanding the return of the original 2D style racked up nearly 100,000 signatures from users who labeled the new 3D avatars “ugly,” “creepy,” and “weird.” Users missed the classic comic-book charm that had defined their digital selves for years.

Now, Snapchat is finally walking that change back—sort of.

The fix is in (your subscription)

This week, Snap announced it’s bringing back the beloved 2D aesthetic, but with a significant catch: it’s an exclusive perk for Snapchat Plus subscribers.

Over the coming days, paying users will see a new “Comic Bitmoji” option in their settings. For those subscribing (which starts at $2.25 per month if you opt for the annual plan), this feature acts as a toggle, reverting their avatar to that classic, flat, cartoon style that everyone was petitioning for.

This move is a savvy one from Snap. It takes a widespread user complaint and skillfully transforms it into a premium feature, adding another compelling reason for users to sign up for its subscription service.

Here’s the important distinction: this isn’t just dusting off the old 2022-era code. The original 2D Bitmojis were simpler in every way. The new “Comic Bitmoji” is actually a clever filter applied to the current 3D avatar model.

In its announcement, Snapchat explained it this way: “Think of it like a filter for your avatar: the same customization and expressions you love, reimagined to be reminiscent of that iconic comic-inspired look.”

This means users get the best of both worlds (at least, in Snap’s view). You keep all the expanded personalization options that came with the 3D switch—the wider range of poses, the detailed clothing textures, and more nuanced expressions—but it’s all rendered in a 2D, cel-shaded style. The result is an avatar that feels like the classic 2D version but looks more detailed and polished than the original ever did.

For the nearly 100,000 people who signed that petition, the solution is finally here. It just happens to be behind a paywall.