Microsoft’s Ugly Holiday Sweater Is an Ode to Minesweeper

I’m glad I didn’t purchase something on Black Friday this 12 months—not as a result of it means I can lastly afford Apple’s legendary microfiber material, however as a result of Microsoft simply dropped a brand new ugly vacation sweater and I’m on the point of spending $75 on it.

I imply, isn’t it excellent? The ode to Minesweeper incorporates a grid within the form of a Christmas tree with mines appearing as ornaments, the XYZZY cheat code Easter egg graces the again, and Windows management buttons are within the prime nook for whenever you inevitably rage stop each millennial’s first brutally difficult recreation. It’s wonderful. So wonderful, you may even overlook that these are the identical people who designed the Kin and Windows 11 (partly kidding).

Now, about this pullover. Yes, the sweater is offensively over-designed (elbow pads in 2021?!), Microsoft made some adjustments to the colours (the “2″ is meant to be inexperienced, not yellow, however we’ll chalk this as much as creative license), and that is $5 pricier than final 12 months’s model (I blame the chip scarcity). But none of this bothers me.

This sweater is the proper quantity of atrocious, and extra importantly, it pays homage to a recreation most individuals had no concept tips on how to play, if the 1.5 million individuals who have considered the YouTube video tutorial on tips on how to play Minesweeper is any indication (you’re welcome for that hyperlink). Only about 9 individuals may truly beat the sport, and I’m not considered one of them.

Minesweeper deserves the spotlight. The strategy game dates back to the ‘60s and, after featuring in the Windows Entertainment Pack in 1990, found its way to Microsoft’s OS in 1993 when it replaced Reversi in Windows 3.1. Now one of the most iconic computer games of all time, Minesweeper was a way for ‘90s kids to pass the time in class by randomly clicking squares and hoping they didn’t land on a mine. That’s not how you play, it turns out, but no matter.

Playing Minesweeper, a grueling game where stepping in the wrong spot means blowing up, may feel like the perfect allegory to sum up living through a global pandemic throughout 2021, but I’d rather just take this at face value. It’s an ugly sweater, and it’s a damn near perfect one.

On the sweater’s product web page, Microsoft introduced that it’s donating $100,000 to AbleGamers, a charity working to enhance the standard of life for these with disabilities via video video games, and the corporate is encouraging others to do the identical. You don’t have to purchase the Minesweeper sweater to donate, however actually, why the hell wouldn’t you?