Microsoft’s ugly sweaters return with Clippy, Xbox, and Zune brown options | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Microsoft’s ugly sweaters return with Clippy, Xbox, and Zune brown optionsComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMicrosoft’s ugly sweaters return with Clippy, Xbox, and Zune brown optionsAll three holiday sweaters can be purchased at Microsoft’s company store.All three holiday sweaters can be purchased at Microsoft’s company store.by Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenDec 1, 2025, 7:03 PM UTCLinkShareImage: MicrosoftTom WarrenCloseTom WarrenPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom Warren is a senior editor and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.Microsoft is bringing back its ugly sweaters for the holiday season. After taking a break for 2024, the company has an “Artifact” holiday sweater with lots of retro iconography, an even uglier Zune brown option, and even a green Xbox version.Clippy was the star of Microsoft’s ugly sweater in 2022, and the Artifact option this year puts the paperclip at the center, surrounded by MSN, Minesweeper, Internet Explorer, MS-DOS, and plenty of Windows logos. The Zune brown holiday sweater has a play button that I really hope lights something up. Both the Artifact and Zune sweaters are available for $79.95, and the Xbox sweater can be pre-ordered for $59.95.RelatedWhy the Zune never killed the iPodChoose one’s fighter. Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft first started sending out ugly sweaters to Windows fans in 2018, and then sold them to customers from 2020 onwards. For some reason the software maker didn’t ship an ugly sweater in 2024, but this year’s sweaters can be purchased through Microsoft’s online company store or its brick and mortar version in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft will also have its holiday sweaters available at its Microsoft store (experience center) in New York City.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechXboxCloseXboxPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All XboxMost PopularMost PopularNetflix kills casting from phonesThe Nintendo Switch 2 got its first-ever discount during Cyber MondayThese great Cyber Monday tech deals will likely be gone tomorrowData centers in Oregon might be helping to drive an increase in cancer and miscarriagesThe absolute best Cyber Monday deals you can already shopThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Microsoft is revisiting its tradition of releasing deliberately “ugly” holiday sweaters, a practice initially introduced in 2018, and continuing through 2024, with a renewed collection for the 2025 holiday season. The company’s strategy centers around a nostalgic appeal, leveraging iconic imagery from its product history, primarily targeting consumers with strong associations and memories linked to older Microsoft technologies. This year’s offering features three distinct sweater designs, each representing a significant, albeit often fondly remembered, part of Microsoft’s past. The first iteration, dubbed the “Artifact” sweater, prominently displays the company’s emblematic paperclip, alongside recognizable logos and references to key software and operating systems—MSN, Minesweeper, Internet Explorer, MS-DOS, and Windows. This design intentionally evokes a sense of retro computing, appealing to a demographic recalling the early days of personal computing. Secondly, the collection includes a “Zune brown” sweater, featuring a play button that, according to the product description, is intended to light up, referencing Microsoft’s discontinued Zune media player, which occupied a significant position in the digital music and video market before its eventual decline. Finally, a green Xbox sweater is available for purchase, pre-ordered at a reduced price of $59.95, representing the console’s enduring legacy within the gaming industry. The sweaters are available for purchase through Microsoft’s online company store, as well as its brick-and-mortar location in Redmond, Washington, and its Microsoft store (experience center) in New York City. The primary intent behind this product launch is likely multifaceted: to generate nostalgic excitement among long-time Microsoft customers, to drive sales through a unique and memorable product offering, and to reinforce the company’s brand identity by tapping into its rich and complex history. The pricing reflects this strategy, with the Artifact and Zune sweaters retailing at $79.95, and the Xbox sweater offered at a discounted pre-order price.