Editing Xbox network (section)

===Gamertag===<!-- This section is linked from [[Gamertags]] -->
A '''gamertag''' is the universal name for a [[user (computing)|player's username]] on the Xbox network. A gamertag is a unique identifier, and can include numbers, letters, and spaces. Gamertags can be changed using an Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Xbox 360 console (first time is free, all other changes afterwards are charged), while the Xbox 360 supports eight Xbox network-enabled profiles per memory unit and thirty-two profiles on the hard drive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/nxe/kb.aspx?ID=905882&lcid=1033&category=xboxlive|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722013304/http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/nxe/kb.aspx?ID=905882&lcid=1033&category=xboxlive|archive-date = July 22, 2011|title = Xbox Support}}</ref>

A player's Gamertag account status can be checked using a variety of online tools, which is useful especially when looking for a new gamertag, or confirming that a gamertag exists. Using a valid gamertag, any player can be found and messaged from within the network. There are also several websites which allow users of gamertags to upload photos and information about themselves.

{{Anchor|Gamer picture|gamer picture}}
Gamertags also contain avatar images (or "gamer pictures"), with the stock images sometimes associated with certain games or game characters. On Xbox 360, individual gamerpics are available, but they are usually bundled into packs. It is also possible to take "Public" pictures (which are shown to all that view a profile, unless the user has a different "personal" picture set) which can be taken of avatars while using the avatar editor. On Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, players are able to upload custom images of their choice through the Xbox app, subject to Xbox approval.

Users were formerly forbidden to use strings such as gay or refer to homosexuality in any way in their gamertag or profile due to it being considered "content of a sexual nature", even if the string occurs in a legitimate surname. Incidents where a woman was suspended from the service for identifying herself as a [[lesbian]], and an incident where a male user was suspended for using his surname "Gaywood" in his username attracted controversy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/lesbian-banned-from-microsofts-xbox-live |title=Lesbian Banned From Microsoft's XBOX Live |date=February 26, 2009 |access-date=October 27, 2009 |publisher=[[FoxNews.com|FOX News]] |archive-date=May 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517034001/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,500824,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=GAYER>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/390593/thegayergamer-gets-xbox-live-ban-microsoft-explains |title=theGAYERgamer gets XBOX live ban Microsoft explains. |publisher=Kotaku |date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=October 27, 2009 |first1=Leigh |last1=Alexander |archive-date=March 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301130559/http://kotaku.com/390593/thegayergamer-gets-xbox-live-ban-microsoft-explains |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=gaywood>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5010324/microsoft-explains-gaywood-ban|title=Microsoft explains gaywood ban|publisher=Kotaku|date=May 21, 2008|access-date=October 27, 2009|first1=Leigh|last1=Alexander|archive-date=February 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228083923/http://kotaku.com/5010324/microsoft-explains-gaywood-ban|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://consumerist.com/5160187/identifying-yourself-as-a-lesbian-gets-you-banned-on-xbox-live |title=Identifying yourself as a lesbian gets you banned on XBOX Live|date=February 25, 2009|access-date=October 27, 2009|first1=Meg|last1=Marco|publisher=[[The Consumerist]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008213210/http://consumerist.com/5160187/identifying-yourself-as-a-lesbian-gets-you-banned-on-xbox-live |archive-date=October 8, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Nathan | last=Meuiner | title=Homophobia and Harassment in the Online Gaming Age | date=January 13, 2010 | publisher=IGN | url=http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/106/1060720p1.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116142533/http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/106/1060720p1.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 16, 2010 | work=IGN Xbox Live | access-date=January 15, 2010 }}</ref> In February 2009, Xbox Live Lead Program Manager for Enforcement [[Stephen Toulouse]] clarified the service's policy on sexual identification, stating that "Expression of any [[sexual orientation]] [...] is not allowed in Gamertags" but that the company is "examining how we can provide it in a way that won't get misused".<ref name=seXBOX>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5160677/microsoft-looking-to-change-xbox-live-sexual-discrimination|title=Microsoft looking to change XBOX Live sexual discrimination|date=February 26, 2009|access-date=October 27, 2009|publisher=Kotaku|first1=Luke|last1=Plunkett|archive-date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516062012/http://kotaku.com/5160677/microsoft-looking-to-change-xbox-live-sexual-discrimination|url-status=live}}</ref> Changes announced in March 2010 permit Xbox Live members to express sexual orientation in their gamertags and profiles.<ref name="queerty">{{cite web |url=http://www.queerty.com/wow-xbox-live-will-let-players-mention-their-sexuality-without-getting-banned-20100305/ |title=WOW: Xbox Live Will Let Players Mention Their Sexuality Without Getting Banned |date=March 5, 2010 |publisher=Queerty.com |access-date=August 29, 2011 |archive-date=March 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314200220/http://www.queerty.com/wow-xbox-live-will-let-players-mention-their-sexuality-without-getting-banned-20100305/ |url-status=live }}</ref>