This story has been updated.
On Monday, several people who grew up trying to master the often frustrating yet magical design program that is Microsoft Paint. mourned its potential loss.
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But Microsoft announced Monday evening that the beloved computer painting program would be saved — as a separate, free downloadable app available in the Windows store.
"Today, we've seen an incredible outpouring of support and nostalgia around MS Paint," the company wrote in a blog post. "If there's anything we learned, it's that after 32 years, MS Paint has a lot of fans. It's been amazing to see so much love for our trusty old app. Amidst today's commentary around MS Paint we wanted to take this opportunity to set the record straight, clear up some confusion and share some good news: MS Paint is here to stay, it will just have a new home soon, in the Windows Store where it will be available for free."
In its April Windows 10 Creators Update, the company debuted a 3D-imaging tool called Microsoft Paint 3D, which, Microsoft said Monday, will have many of Paint’s photo-editing tools.
» RELATED: Microsoft Paint to be depreciated in next Windows release, could be removed in future
Before Microsoft chimed in to ease fan frustrations, the company's list of features expected to be "removed or deprecated" in its next Windows 10 Creators Update, naming the beloved MS Paint under the deprecated column for programs "not in active development and that "might be removed in future releases," Twitter users went bonkers.
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Many shared their disbelief with heartfelt tributes and low-quality illustrated digital art created on MS Paint.
Though Paint was listed as “deprecated,” Microsoft hasn’t announced when exactly it will be removed or if we’ll ever see a version of the legendary image-editing app few could master again.
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