Microsoft Employees to Continue Enjoying Complimentary Access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Following Feedback

In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has decided to reverse its decision to remove the free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefit for its employees. Initially planned for January, the removal of the benefit was met with complaints from the company’s 238,000 employees. Phil Spencer, Xbox chief, personally intervened after employee objections were raised.

Phil Spencer has now confirmed the reversal of the decision, ensuring that Microsoft employees will continue to enjoy the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefit. In a message shared on the company’s internal Viva platform, Spencer expressed his gratitude for the support shown by the employees and apologized for any confusion caused.

After further investigation, I can confirm that there will be no change to Game Pass availability in 2024. Those with access to the Game Pass offer currently will retain that access. I appreciate the opportunity to address this issue and apologize for any uncertainty caused. Thank you for your ongoing support of Xbox.

This reversal means that Microsoft employees will continue to enjoy free access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a benefit they have had since its launch in 2019. In fact, Microsoft employees have long received complimentary access to Xbox subscriptions, with Xbox Live Gold previously being offered as a benefit for years.

As for the initial decision to remove the benefit, the exact reasoning remains unclear. However, it seems to have stemmed from a benefits/HR perspective, as even Phil Spencer was unaware of the plan and quickly moved to revert the change.