Google has officially killed Pixel Studio, its on-device AI image generator app for Pixel devices. With version 2.3, the app now completely disables image creation functionality, redirecting users to the Gemini app for image generation using Google's newer Nano Banana models. The app debuted with the Pixel 9 series in 2024 as a tool for creating greeting cards, stickers, and AI-generated images directly on Pixel phones.

Despite Google's efforts, the app never gained a significant audience. The shutdown comes less than two years after its introduction, with Google having gradually stripped away features over recent updates before completely disabling the image creation capability. This move reflects Google's strategy to consolidate its AI image generation capabilities under the Gemini brand.

Existing creations remain accessible within Pixel Studio, allowing users to continue viewing and sharing previously generated images. The app now prominently displays an "Open Gemini" button that redirects to the Play Store, effectively migrating users to Google's newer image generation ecosystem. With Gemini's improved performance, few users will likely miss the underutilized Pixel Studio feature that most either never discovered or never used regularly.