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Xbox re-releasing one million gamertags back into the wild

Xbox’s Larry ‘Major Nelson’ Hryb today advised that Microsoft will soon re-release just under one million unused gamertags back into the available pool. That means a select group of gamers can change from their existing ones if they get in quick.

The previously used, but now abandoned, gamertags will be re-released hourly from 4.00 am AEST on 19 May. The catch is that the only gamers that can access and change their gamertags are ones with active Xbox Live Gold subscriptions and at least 1 year of cumulative Gold tenure.

The re-released gamertags are ones signed up for during the original Xbox era that weren’t migrated over to Xbox 360. Microsoft isn’t detailing what the actual gamertags are, but they fall into the following categories:

  • Proper Names
  • Pop culture references (Entertainment, sports, gaming)
  • Types of Food
  • Geography and Travel
  • Science and Technology
  • Math and Numbers
  • Animals
  • Some of the greatest inventions of all time

Gamertags can be changed here. It’s free for the first change, and $10 USD for subsequent ones.

For more information, head to Major Nelson’s post.

Good luck if you’re trying to snag a good one.


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Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.