Xbox to require four office days near Redmond, reports say

Xbox employees in Puget Sound who live within 50 commuting miles of Studio D would have to work in the office at least four days a week from February 1, 2027, according to an internal memo seen by The Verge and reported by Rock Paper Shotgun.

The change would add one office day to the three-day requirement that Xbox’s parent company, Microsoft, introduced for employees within 50 miles of its Washington campus. That rule took effect in February 2026, Rock Paper Shotgun reported.

Who the change affects

The reported four-day requirement applies to employees close enough to Microsoft’s Redmond campus, rather than all Xbox staff. According to Rock Paper Shotgun’s account of The Verge’s reporting, the memo suggests established office practices at Xbox-owned studios will remain unchanged.

Jacinda Chislum Pearson, Xbox’s chief people officer, wrote in the memo that thousands of Xbox employees live within commuting distance of Redmond. Pearson said working together in person makes it easier to review work, resolve issues and make decisions without scheduling another meeting.

Employees with previously granted or agreed exemptions from Microsoft’s office-attendance requirements will need to resubmit their exemption requests, the report says.