Talk about a relapse! Microsoft is launching a $75 “ugly Christmas sweater” that features its iconic cartoon paper clip, CLIPPY
- Microsoft has revived its cartoon paperclip, Clippy, in a Christmas jumper
- Clippy was a “virtual office assistant” in Microsoft Office from 1997 to 2007
- The nostalgic knitwear is currently available for $75 (£65) in the Xbox Gear Shop
Struggling to find a gift for your more geeky relatives this year? Microsoft has you covered.
The tech giant has released an “ugly Christmas sweater” featuring its iconic cartoon paper clip, Clippy.
Introduced as a “virtual office assistant” in Microsoft Office programs back in 1997, Clippy regularly offers advice and tutorials.
However, he received a bad rap from users, being described as distracting and irritating when the character appeared unprompted.
It was dropped from the software in 2007, but reappeared briefly as a sticker in Teams in 2019, and then as an emoji in Microsoft Office in 2021.
Now he’s resurrected in the form of a cozy $75 (US$65) sweatshirt that “may or may not have knitted Clippy,” according to the Xbox Gear Shop.
Microsoft has released an “ugly Christmas sweater” featuring its iconic cartoon paper clip, Clippy
Though it carries a hefty price tag, Microsoft says all proceeds from sales this year will be donated to the College Success Foundation
Clippy (pictured) was introduced as a “virtual office assistant” in Microsoft Office programs back in 1997 and regularly offers advice and tutorials
WHO IS ‘CLIPPY’?
Clippy, a friendly anthropomorphic paperclip, was introduced to Microsoft Office back in 1997 as a “virtual office assistant”.
The digital mascot is designed to help Microsoft Office users complete a range of tasks by offering advice and tutorials.
But it was loathed by many as a distraction and nuisance because it frequently appeared on screens unsolicited, and the company killed him in 2007.
Though it carries a fairly hefty price tag, Microsoft says all proceeds from sales this year will be donated to the College Success Foundation.
The nonprofit organization helps low-income students pursue higher education through support services and scholarships.
In addition to Jumper sales, Microsoft will also make a $100,000 donation to the College Success Foundation.
This is the fifth in a series of nostalgic knitwear that Microsoft releases annually, after introducing a Windows 95-inspired Christmas jumper in 2018.
A similar one was launched in 2019 with the retro Windows XP logo, and in 2020 a version covered in Microsoft Paint icons came out.
Last year’s offering was themed around the famous Windows game Minesweeper and includes a Christmas tree-shaped version of the game.
This sweater cost $68.95 (£57.95) and $100,000 (£75,000) of the proceeds were donated to the charity AbleGamers.
Clippy was the default Office Assistant for purchases of the software package, but users may remember some of the other characters available.
This is the fifth in a series of Christmas jumpers Microsoft releases annually, after releasing a Windows 95-inspired one in 2018 (left). A follow-up was released in 2019 that featured the retro Windows XP logo (right).
In 2020, a version covered in Microsoft Paint icons came out (pictured).
Last year’s offering revolved around the famous Windows game Minesweeper (pictured (, and includes a Christmas tree-shaped version of the game
These include the robot “Hoverbot”, an Einstein cartoon called “The Genius” and the yellow dog called “Power Pup”.
However, Clippy’s designer Kevan Atteberry later admitted to Motherboard that “people fucking hate him,” and TIME magazine dubbed him one of the worst inventions of all time.
Now available for purchase in the Xbox Gear Shop, the Clippy sweater claims that with the best-looking paper clip on your sweater, it will make you “the best dressed at your Christmas sweater party”.
It’s currently only available in sizes 2XL and 3XL and may not arrive to UK buyers until next month.
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF MICROSOFT
April 4, 1975 Microsoft is founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen
June 25, 1981 Microsoft is founded
Microsoft announced Windows on November 1983
November 1985 Microsoft Windows Version 1.0 released
February 26, 1986 Microsoft moves to the company’s campus in Redmond, Washington, where it is located today
March 13, 1986 Microsoft shares go public
August 1, 1989 Microsoft introduces the earliest version of the Office suite of productivity applications
August 24, 1995 Microsoft releases Windows 95
1995 – Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, becomes the richest man in the world at the age of 39 with a fortune of $12.9 billion at the time
October 25, 2001 Microsoft introduces Windows XP
November 15, 2001 Microsoft launches Xbox
October 21, 2003 Microsoft introduces the Microsoft Office System
November 22, 2005 Microsoft launches Xbox 360
January 30, 2007 Microsoft releases Windows Vista and the Microsoft Office System 2007 to consumers worldwide
June 28, 2011 Microsoft introduces Office 365
April 24, 2019 Microsoft becomes the third company in the world to reach a market capitalization value of more than $1 trillion