These are cute, but another sign that Unicode is straying from their original mandate which was to represent characters already in use in other systems (and to help bootstrap under-digitized languages to become digital).

Stop adding random emoji. Don't add fictional languages, no matter how cool. Don't do.. this.

By continuing to extend Unicode like this, they risk diluting their core purpose and creating unnecessary complexity. Unicode should remain focused on its original goal and not cater to niche or novel additions.

EDIT: I'm certain there's a proposal submitter out there that contorted the argument beyond the reasonable point that these existed in an old Usborne programming book text as inline images and need to be represented. I'm going to try to hunt it down.

EDIT 2: The original proposal? https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2019/19025-terminals-prop.pdf Some of the proposed characters might have come from an older submission as well https://unicode.org/L2/L2021/21234-terminals-smalltalk.pdf

Echoing a similar sentiment, so supporting legacy retro video game sprites are very important to ensure are in and never change, but including flags is not okay? I re-read the justification for it recently and it still doesn't hold water, because it felt like it boiled down to "It's hard."

I was thinking about how Minecraft has a system of components and layers that let you compose various flags on their banners. Obviously that's far, far simpler than country (and autonomous region, and county, and province, and and and) flags that can include text, symbols, and practically entire images. But I did wonder if there was some way that could be represented. Unfortunately, I'm not nearly well-versed enough in code points and their ilk to propose anything useful.

But, I am torn. Archival projects are important, too, and language evolves. These decisions will live for potentially hundreds or thousands (Linear A) of years, and interoperability in computing is important.

Good, I’ve been waiting for the LARGE TYPE PIECE LOWER LEFT CROTCH.

Here's the rest of the updates:

https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode16.0.0/

Does anyone know the history of why these were added?

Some of them clearly look like copyrighted characters from specific games, space invaders and PAC MAN in particular.

An honest question — when will unicode be finished? Or is it now like so many other things in IT, an endless path with no goal?

I wonder if at some point they regret restricting Unicode to 1,114,112 code points.

Related:

The Unicode Standard, Version 16.0

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41504952

That's cool, but why? Does unicode really need to include spritesheets for a 4 way running character?

Bipolar transistors, but no field effect transistors? Left and right facing diodes, but not up and down?

Really looking forward to representing hexadecimals with these new 'sextant' characters....

Why are some of the octant mosaics missing? Most obviously, there is no character with all or none of the octants filled. My best case is that there are existing symbols to fill in the gaps.

Is there a font to use that contains these? I am really glad to see them. In the past when hoping to write a game in a terminal I found only one space invader symbol.

I wonder if you could create a text based sprite rendering system using the generic pixel sprite blocks here?

Would be an interesting project

Faces of dice would be useful to include.