Microsoft quietly changed their service agreement document with the following amended clause that requires everyone with a Microsoft account to sign in at least once every 5 years, or lose the gamertag tied to that account. Microsoft has recently started making available gamertags that might not be used by gamers, or when those accounts become dormant. Microsoft, with this clause, is making clear to users what they need to do to remain the owners of said gamertag.
In the Microsoft Account or Skype Account section, we’ve added a requirement that you must sign into the Xbox Services at least once in a 5-year period to keep the Xbox gamer tag associated with your Microsoft account. We’ve also added that if your account is compromised, we may be required to disable access to certain content.
Currently, the clause seems to be limited to the Microsoft Account and Skype agreements. But they should show up on the Xbox Live services agreement soon since it’s relevance on the service.
Source: WCCFTech
Dreyer was a regular ICXM contributor between 2016–2017, publishing 139 articles across opinion pieces, game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One X launch year and Microsoft’s wider Play Anywhere / UWP gaming initiative. They post on X as @dreyer_smit.