Google turns pistol emoji into water gun in new update

Google is changing its pistol emoji to look like a water gun rather than a real revolver. The update, which is rolling out to Android users now, follows soon after Twitter and Samsung made similar changes.

The news arrives via the Emojipedia blog, which suggests Google is trying to “to minimize cross-platform confusion” through the update. Apple and WhatsApp also use a squirt gun emoji, while Microsoft and Facebook still feature revolvers for the time being.

Google’s gun emoji has gone through several iterations over the years, though this is the first time it has shown the likeness of a toy instead of a weapon.

In the last few years, Google has also made emoji worker characters less gender specific and included a range of skin tone options. Some believe those changes, like the water pistol, were politically motivated.

In late 2017, Google also moved the cheese from below the patty to above the patty on the hamburger emoji. Give us your thoughts on the company’s recent emoji moves in the comments.