Recycled Xbox Gamertags to be released

May 17, 2016

Xbox Live’s Major Nelson has revealed Microsoft will be releasing nearly one million recycled Xbox Gamertags.

The Gamertags were registered for use on the original Xbox console’s Live service, but have since never been migrated to Xbox 360 or Xbox One. As such, they have been inactive for quite some time as Live support for the original Xbox was decommissioned in April 2010.

The Gamertags will be released over a 24 hour period on May 18, and will only be available to current Xbox Live Gold members who have a cumulative tenure of 1 year or more. Microsoft hasn’t released a comprehensive list, but some of the Gamertags up for grabs include animal names, food and beverages, pop culture references and some of the greatest inventions of all time.

You will be able gain access to the recycled list and change your existing Gamertag via Xbox.com, an Xbox One console or the Xbox One App for Windows 10. Changing your Gamertag will not affect your Gamerscore, Friends List or Achievements.