Gamer Tag Auditing & Recycling

* First and foremost, I apologize if this topic is in the wrong Sub-Section of the forums *



Hello everyone,

I have recently been discussing a sensitive topic with an Xbox employee through a help chat, and was told to post this idea on the forums. So here it is...

The subject of the matter is the idea of a Gamer Tag auditing system for Xbox accounts. The issue I presented to my helpful employee was this; I have been using the same online handle for games and communities my entire life, and I would have been very
pleased if I were able to use the same handle as my Xbox Gamer Tag. Of course, I attempted to change my Gamer Tag to the specific one desired and to no surprise was met with the error: "This username is not available" or something of that nature.
Now I understand names become taken on Xbox accounts, but the actual kicker is here. The username in which I was interested in obtaining belonged to an account that had been banned for years. Being the hopeful person I am, I would check up on this account
time and time again, but only to find the same results; a
banned Xbox Account.

To my knowledge, and the employee who assisted me on my reach for help, there is an infinitely growing pit of unusable Gamer Tags out there in the Microsoft database.
My suggestion to the Xbox community is a system where Gamer Tags become "recycled" after a length of time or after being banned until the end of time. Now I know that there are some issues with this idea such as inappropriate Gamer Tags, or extreme
reasons for banning, but I am sure I speak for more than myself when I present this topic.

If there was ANY way possible for Gamer Tags to be recycled to the community so that they may be used then I would finally be able to use my online handle which I have been using for years. Additionally, I am sure that many other people would find this system
very helpful when deciding to change their Gamer Tag.

- Hopefully I was able to present this idea well enough for you to imagine what I am saying. This is by no means a very detailed post, but the main idea is what needed to be critically portrayed.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and I personally would like the thank you for reading this far.

- Jake

:)

 

Recycling Gamer Tags

Hi. I just got done talking to [Mod Removed] in Xbox live chat. I wanted to request the gamer tag xX Paradox Xx to be recycled. The request number is
[Mod Removed].



In case you cannot recycle this one here are others to be recycled

[Mod Removed]

 

Recycling Gamer Tags

Hey there THE CHOESEN ONE

I am sorry to tell you that you have been misinformed. Gamertags that are either in use or inactive are no longer recycled. There was a time were Xbox recycled gamertags but due to users abusing this by retrieving gamertags to sell them on, it was soon halted.
The best and most accurate advice you will get is that gamertags have no expiration date on them and there is no timescale or request process to free up gamertags.

I hope this helps.

Many thanks,

Cloud

 

You would actually want to post this on the feedback site -
http://xbox.uservoice.com/

Also, keep in mind that the gamertag system is also used on other Microsoft services. So even if a tag isn't being used on a console, it could still be in use elsewhere.

 

Also I'm not sure if they explained to you that the last time they recycled gamertags people would reserve all the original ones and sell them on Ebay so I don't think they want to repeat that anytime soon.

I got the original version of my current gamertag when they did that recycle, but maybe if there was a way to make it a fair process without others reserving the best ones with the intention of never actually using it, they would be open to the suggestion
at the link Smwutches posted.

 

Thank you both for your feedback.

@DigitialAssassin I do understand that there may be some issues with the whole system. If there was a fair way to go about the whole idea, that's just the sort of thing I think would be perfect. It's just frustrating to be held back when a name ends up being
permanently banned...

 

I'd add in unused gamer tags for an extended period of time to that proposal. Release them to the public for the taking. I'd love the gamer tag 'Kanaye' but it's already tied to an account that last saw use in 2010, if the last acquired achievement is an
indicative.

 

Just because a gamertag isn't in use doesn't mean the Microsoft account attached to it isn't.

Why should people lose part of their account just because someone else may want it.

 

haha it amazes me how many people so desperately want "inactive" gt's. Is it that hard to come up with something original? It must be. I had no idea it was that difficult. I got my choice first try, no problem. I'd never gt-stalk. Seems odd.

 

I know how ya feel Bizarro. If you can't have a certain gamertag, create the next best one you can think of, that's how I'd do it.

 

It's funny when I think about it, most people want a specific gamertag and you get called every other variation of it when playing on Xbox Live. I actually hate it when someone says my full gamertag on Live now because it's so long, DA or Digi is fine and
much faster.