Overview

• Despite an initial decision to terminate free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefits for Microsoft employees, the company has walked back on this move due to mass grievances.
• Before the reversal, 238,000 Microsoft staff members were set to lose free access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate starting January 2024. The move was heavily criticized internally.
• Microsoft employees have been entitled to free Xbox subscriptions since the launch of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in 2019. Previous benefits included free Xbox Live Gold, showing a long-standing tradition of such benefits.
• The initial decision to revoke this benefit wasn't immediately clear, as it seemed it wasn't communicated in advance, even with Xbox chief Phil Spencer, who had to intervene after learning about it from employee complaints.
• After personally investigating, Spencer confirmed that the prior decision would be reversed, thereby enabling all eligible Microsoft employees to continue enjoying free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate access.