Microsoft pushes Skype emoticons, Halo stickers onto SwiftKey

Microsoft-owned SwiftKey announced some new features today which further establish SwiftKey as a Microsoft property. In case this is the first you’re hearing about it, yes, popular Android and iOS keyboard app SwiftKey was purchased by Microsoft in 2016.

The two new features are a sticker pack based on Microsoft-owned video game Halo (only available on Microsoft’s Xbox console), and a set of 24 animated emoticons lifted from Microsoft-owned video chat software Skype. Are you sensing a theme here?

SwiftKey released the new 7.0 version of its keyboard app back in March, which added a toolbar to the top of the keyboard akin to the Google search bar that sits at the top of Gboard. Using the toolbar, SwiftKey users can easily add Emojis, stickers, GIFs, and more to whatever application the keyboard is open in at the time.

The new Halo-inspired stickers feature the distinctive helmet of the Spartans, aliens from the intergalactic military group the Covenant, and other Halo characters and objects. Some of the stickers are animated, some are not, but all eight of the stickers represent the first time aspects of the Halo universe are available in sticker form.

The animated emoticons from Skype are essentially the same as you see in that video chat program. The 24 emoticons that made the cut feature the thumbs-up emoticon and the party hat emoticon, among others.

Microsoft doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to purchasing existing properties like SwiftKey. For example, after buying calendar app Sunrise in 2015, Microsoft dismantled the app and integrated its features directly into Outlook. While incorporating a bunch of Microsoft-owned IP into SwiftKey is a little annoying, SwiftKey users are probably happy enough right now with the fact that SwiftKey still exists at all.

You can download SwiftKey for your Android device by clicking the button below. Have fun sharing all those Halo stickers!

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