Ninjacat is the latest victim of Windows 11’s emojigate

When will it end?!

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Ninjacatbecame something of a mascot for the Windows 10 Insider Program a few years ago, showing up in blog posts and memes across the web. Microsoft even had a statue dedicated to the intrepid feline at its Redmond campus at one point, which may even still be there. There’s one place where it definitelyisn’tanymore, though, and that’sWindows 11.

Microsoft unveiled its reworked emojis for Windows 11 in a preview build recently, and reactions were mixed. Why? Becausethe much-advertised 3D versions have been squished flat, depriving them of an entire dimension. Upsetting, I know. Many other users were upset too, withover 45% of our readers decrying the flat versions, with a further 35% shrugging dejectedly, stating that they simply don’t care. If there were any other reasons to be mad, it could be this one.

Reddit user mattbdevnoticedthat the new flat Windows 11 emojis have an unfortunate omission. The unique Microsoft emoji combinations that gave us special Ninjacat characters have, alas, been removed. It seems that Ninjacat will not be joining Clippy in this new pack of emojis, an unexpected twist in the saga of emojigate.

Not only has emojigate deprived us of the promised, fabled 3D emojis, but now, it has added insult to injury by robbing us of our beloved Ninjacat. My keyboard sodden with tears, I ask, dear readers, is there no justice in this world?Why are we still here? Just to suffer?

And yes, it may well be that many, or even most of you were unaware that Windows 10 even had Ninjacat emojis in the first place. And it may even be that Microsoft plans to reintroduce them at a later date. I would email PR to ask, but for some reason, I don’t think they will be forthcoming with an answer. It could be that we’re simply not ready for the truth. Perhaps they have better things to do on a Saturday, leaving it to me alone to pick up the pieces of this shattering betrayal. And perhaps, more likely, they simply don’t care.

We care though, Microsoft. We care.

RIP Ninjacat, 2014 — 2021. 😢

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Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow onTwitter (X)andThreads, and listen to hisXB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!