Xbox has reportedly informed employees working within commuting distance of Microsoft's Washington headquarters that they will be required to work from the office four days a week, effective February 1, 2027. This marks an increase from the previous mandate of three days per week, implemented last year. The change comes as the company reportedly plans further staff reductions.
According to an internal memo reviewed by The Verge, Xbox's chief people officer Jacinda Chislum Pearson stated, "Starting February 1st, 2027, Xbox employees in Puget Sound who live within 50 commuting miles of Studio D are required to work from the office a minimum of four days a week." Pearson cited the belief that "working together in person makes it easier to review work, resolve issues, and make decisions without the burden of scheduling another meeting" as a primary driver for the policy. Thousands of Xbox employees are reportedly within commuting distance of the Redmond campus.
The new four-day policy will specifically apply to staff within a 50-mile radius of Microsoft's Redmond campus. While existing exemptions to previous return-to-office mandates will need to be resubmitted, established in-office practices at Xbox-owned studios are expected to remain unchanged. Microsoft had previously announced plans in September of last year for a three-day-a-week in-office requirement for staff within 50 miles of the Washington campus, which took effect earlier this year.
This move occurs amidst reports of ongoing layoffs at Xbox, with plans to potentially cut an additional 3200 employees. The increased in-office requirement could potentially impact employee morale and may lead some to seek opportunities elsewhere, especially given the current workforce reductions. Microsoft is also currently facing a boycott from the BDS movement due to alleged connections to the Israeli military.