{
  "id": 16061523,
  "title": "Xbox reportedly mandate four days a week in office for staff close to Microsoft's Washington HQ, up from three day requirement brought in last year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/xbox-reportedly-mandate-four-days-a-week-in-office-for-staff-close-to",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-22T14:53:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Rock Paper Shotgun",
    "slug": "rock-paper-shotgun",
    "url": "https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/xbox-reportedly-mandate-four-days-a-week-in-office-for-staff-close-to-microsofts-washington-hq-up-from-three-day-requirement-brought-in-last-year"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Xbox staff near Microsoft's Washington headquarters will be required to spend four days per week in the office starting February 1st, 2027, according to an internal memo seen by The Verge. This is an increase from the previous three-day requirement implemented last year. The company is seeking to cut a total of 3,200 employees through multiple rounds of layoffs. Xbox's chief people officer, Jacinda Chislum Pearson, wrote in the memo that working together in person is more efficient for reviewing work, resolving issues, and making decisions, eliminating the need for additional meetings. The move will only apply to employees who live within 50 miles of Microsoft's Redmond campus, and established in-office practices at Xbox-owned studios will remain unchanged. However, employees who have previously received or agreed to exemptions from Microsoft's previous return-to-office mandates will need to reapply. Microsoft announced similar plans in September, with the new rules set to begin in February. It is speculated that more staff may soon be informed about a potential return to a five-day workweek. The trend of companies imposing stricter work-from-office policies may lead to increased employee turnover as people seek more convenient work arrangements or leave altogether. Microsoft remains under a boycott boycott due to its reported ties to the Israeli military.",
  "summary": "Xbox have reportedly informed staff that, from the start of February 2027, those within commuting distance of Microsoft's Washington base will have to come into the office four days a week. This follows the mandating of three days in office last year, and comes as the company are looking at cutting more staff as part of ongoing efforts to eventually get rid of 3200 people in multi-round mass…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "XDA Developers",
        "title": "Save on Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, Lovable, and more with these G2A.COM deals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/save-on-microsoft-office-adobe-creative-cloud-lovable-and-more-with",
        "published": "2026-10-22T17:06:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}