§ is disabled in lang.json files

While updating to 18w02a from 18w01a, the lang files were replaced in the .json format. While updating/testing my resource pack. I figured out that that "§" is always shown. I normally use this code to show on death screens. This is the same code I used for 1.12.2, 18w01a, and 18w02a: §4§k8§r§4§lYou're Done!§k8

Is this intentional?