In the most recent release of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code by Google, the vendor binary specifically for Pixel devices has been discontinued. Instead, only Generic System Images (GSI) are now being offered. This change significantly restricts the support available for Pixel devices from third-party ROM developers. Beginning with Android 16, developers will be required to navigate this shift through reverse engineering, which heightens the complexity of the development process. Concurrently, this decision also impacts AOSP-based ROM projects like GrapheneOS, complicating their efforts to port to Pixel devices.

Google's motive behind this move appears to be a strategic shift to diminish the open-source aspects of AOSP, presumably to cut costs and boost revenue. However, in the short term, this shift is anticipated to have a limited impact on mainstream smartphone manufacturers. The long-term ramifications of this decision remain to be seen.