Google Maps has had a major overhaul – but users say the new colors are “a feast for the eyes”

It is the preferred navigation app for millions of people around the world. However, if you use Google Maps, you may have noticed some unusual changes today.

Google has started rolling out a new app color scheme – and many users are angry about the new possibilities.

Roads are now gray instead of white or yellow, while the active route is a much darker shade of blue and alternate routes are light blue instead of gray.

On social media, several users criticized the changes as difficult to read and unattractive. Some users called the new colors “cold and ugly.”

Meanwhile, eye experts have raised concerns that the more subdued color palette will make the cards more difficult to read for people with color blindness.

Google has started rolling out a new app color scheme – and many users are angry about the new possibilities

On social media, several users criticized the changes as difficult to read and unattractive. Some users called the new colors “cold and ugly.”

On X (formerly Twitter), users expressed their frustration and confusion over the decision to change the app’s iconic color scheme.

“Has anyone changed the color scheme of Google Maps?” asked a confused X user, adding, “I don’t like it.”

“Google Maps’ new colors are so cold and ugly,” said another commenter, adding, “Google Maps was always so warm and cozy.”

Another commented: “What’s with the weird color scheme in Google Maps’ default mode? Please bring back the original color scheme.”

Meanwhile, another bluntly added: “This new Google Maps color scheme is hideous.”

Many social media users say they don’t like the new color scheme, calling it “ugly,” “weird,” and even “disgusting.”

Other social media users pointed out that the change brought some unusual and unwanted color changes to natural features such as beaches and water.

One X user shared a picture of Blackpool Beach and wrote: “The new Google Maps color for ‘Beach!’

Another shared an image of the map of New York and complained that the changes had reduced the contrast between water and land.

“Why did they do that with Google Maps,” they wrote, “why did they change the color of the water.”

One X user shared a picture of Blackpool Beach and wrote: “The new Google Maps color for ‘Beach!’

The color change of the water was of particular concern to some X users, as they complained that there was not enough contrast with the land

However, according to Robin Spinks, head of design at the Royal National Institute for Blind People, these changes are not only unattractive but could also make it significantly more difficult for people with color blindness to use the app.

“We know there are reports that people are having issues with the update,” Mr Spinks told MailOnline.

“We are aware of the problem and have already spoken to the relevant teams [at Google].’

Mr. Spinks also points out that it is not uncommon for new updates to cause unintended accessibility issues for people with vision problems that later need to be addressed.

People with color impairments in particular are affected by a design trend that favors “opaque or milky color schemes with low contrast.”

“It is a constant challenge to promote inclusive design at every stage of the development process,” he added.

“One of our most important missions is to help designers better understand the intersection between inclusive design and great design.”

The new update has reduced the contrast between certain map features, which experts warn could make the app less accessible to colorblind users

Likewise, Kathryn Albany-Ward, founder of Color Blind Awareness, told MailOnline: “Frankly, Google Maps used to be inaccessible to color blind people, and whatever they’ve done has still made Maps inaccessible.”

“Considering there are 300 million colorblind people worldwide, that’s a lot of people to be discriminated against because they don’t understand the essential features of the product.”

“The colors of the traffic features were useless and still are.”

“Google did not comply (or even attempted to do so). [comply with]) the internationally recognized standard for web-based information.

“These guidelines indicate that minimum color contrast ratios between different colors should be applied. If this is not possible, they indicate that information should be provided by other means.”

The update was first spotted in August, although it was initially limited to a limited test.

Since then, users noticed the changes starting in September, but the change is now rolling out to more devices on both Android and iOS.

Google has been contacted for comment.