Last year we evolved the look of Google Maps with enhanced depictions of natural features across the map. At the same time, this style became the default map for users of Cloud-based maps styling on Google Maps Platform. To make sure your map experiences reflect the Google Maps of today, we’re rolling out the same map style across our API and SDK versions starting in November. This will become the default map across all supported surfaces by May 2022.
Before and after: enhanced map style
The only changes are to the visual appearance of the natural features of the default basemap. Using a new satellite color mapping technique, we’re able to deliver the more detailed and colorful experience that you see on the Google Maps app, website, and Google Maps Platform Cloud-styled maps.
Timeline
If you are already a customer using Cloud-based map styling for Maps JavaScript or Static Maps API, and you created your style after September 2020, you already have the new default map.
For customers of Maps JavaScript and Static Maps APIs not using Cloud-based maps styling, the new default basemap will transition through our regular versioning channels for Maps JavaScript API, starting with version 3.47 on the weekly channel in November 2021.
If you are using the Maps Embed API, you will get the new default basemap in November of 2021.
For our mobile SDK customers, if you have custom JSON styles and you want to test out how those styles would look with this new default map, you can visually test this out with the JSON style import tool for map style editor on the Cloud Console.
In May of 2022, all surfaces and SDK versions will receive the new basemap as default. This includes Maps JavaScript, Static Maps, and Google Maps Platform Android & iOS SDKs will have the new basemap as default.
Share your feedback
To share any issues or bugs, please submit through our public issues tracker in Issue 203429433. And for a summary of how to try out the style across our Google Maps Platform APIs and SDKs and when the style becomes default for each, check out the table below.
API
Try out with:
New map style becomes default
Maps Embed API
--
Nov. 2021
Maps JavaScript API
v3.47 on Maps JS weekly channel (Nov. 2021), cloud based maps styling
May 2022
Static Maps API
May 2022
Maps SDK for Android
May 2022 on all SDK versions
Maps SDK for iOS
May 2022 on all SDK versions
For more information on Google Maps Platform, visit our website.
