Pixy is a camera drone that’s specifically designed for Snapchat users, and it now looks set to disappear just as quickly as a recent Snap.
Pixy, Snap’s ‘friendly flying camera’ drone is already being killed off, according to a new report. Considering Snapchat is a hugely popular app that focuses on the use of cameras, the addition of a ‘Snapchat drone’ seemed like a natural and evolutionary extension of the company’s flagship service. In this sense, not dissimilar to the company’s Spectacles project. However, it now appears as though drones are no longer part of the company’s plans.
Snap only announced its Pixy drone in April of this year. Priced at just $229, it is an affordable and simple way to get into drones. While the technology, and the product itself, might not be as high quality or as advanced as other drone solutions, it came with some interesting and unique features. For example, automatically sending all recorded videos directly to the owner’s Snapchat app. Basically, Pixy was a drone designed for Snapchat.
In spite of this clear focus on Snapchat users, it looks like Snap has already decided that Pixy is no longer the future. According to The Wall Street Journal, who cites “people familiar with the matter” for the information, Snap is now halting development of the project. In other words, there are no plans for a new model. While the company does plan to continue to sell the current version, it remains to be seen for how long or whether it is just while current stock remains available.
A Sudden Change In Snap Strategy
With the Pixy drone only having launched four months ago, it may seem like a very sudden decision to halt the project altogether. However, the WSJ points out that this is a decision that’s been made out of necessity rather than preference. Snapchat, like many companies in recent months and years, has had to reevaluate its priorities, and especially in light of the current economy. According to the report, the company’s decision to move on from its drone is an example of that cost-cutting approach.
While it remains to be seen how long the new model will remain available for, those who do want one for practical or collection reasons may want to consider picking one up sooner rather than later. If Snap is no longer interested in making drones, then it stands to reason that it might not want to keep producing (and ultimately, supporting) the existing model over the long-term. Snap’s Pixy drone may have been short-lived, but it was an interesting life.
Source: WSJ
