Microsoft is increasing the mandatory office attendance for most Xbox staff in the Puget Sound area. Starting February 1, 2027, employees residing within 50 commuting miles of Studio D must work from the office at least four days per week. Previously, the company required a three-day in-office presence.
Jacinda Chislum Pearson, Xbox chief people officer, stated that the policy aims to improve collaboration, decision-making, and issue resolution. The company expects leaders to be physically present to facilitate team activities, such as reviewing work and playing games, rather than conducting remote calls from the office.
The new mandate applies specifically to staff near the Redmond corporate campus. Existing exemptions for certain roles will remain, though employees must resubmit their requests for approval. Established in-office practices for specific Xbox studios are expected to continue without further changes.
These updates follow reports of planned staff reductions at Microsoft. In July, the company announced intentions to cut approximately 20 percent of Xbox positions by the end of the financial year in June 2027. Further layoffs were reportedly planned for November, January, and the current month.
