Google Rolls Out New Pixel Augmented Reality Stickers

Google is levelling up the world of make-believe with new augmented reality stickers for its line of Pixel phones.

AR Stickers on Pixel launched today, allowing users to add virtual characters, 3D text and interactive emojis to the photos and videos they capture on their phones.

In the phone’s native camera app, users switch to AR Stickers mode to see the sticker packs they can choose from, including characters from Strangers Things and Star Wars.

To superimpose the AR stickers, simply drag and drop a character or object into the frame. It can then be moved, resized and rotated to create the desired scene—whether that’s fighting off a Demogorgon with Eleven or just riding the subway with a couple of Stormtroopers.

“Aside from taking great photos and videos, the Pixel 2 camera is factory calibrated and optimized for AR,” wrote Clay Bavor, Google’s VP of Virtual and Augmented Reality in an October blog post. “It enables robust tracking, even in low-light conditions, and 60 frames per second rendering of AR objects. That means you’ll be able to have really engaging AR experiences.”

Apart from movie and TV characters, Google is introducing Foodmoji and 3D Text Stickers too, letting users add interactive AR objects to their photos and videos.

Google said it will be rolling out the AR Stickers to all Pixel phones running Android 8.1 Oreo, with more packs released in the future. To access the AR Stickers, Pixel users will need to update two applications through Google Play: ARCore and AR Stickers.