Get Ready to grab that GamerTag you’ve always wanted

Microsoft is getting ready to release a slew of old, unused, stale GamerTags for Xbox Live this week.  As of the 18th of May anyone with  1 year or more of Xbox Live Gold since 2002 will have a chance to lay claim to the freed up GamerTags for use on their Xbox Live Profile, according to Xbox guru Major Nelson.

Microsoft will be staggering the availability in order to give everyone a fair go, the first wave will be available from 11 AM PT/2 PM ET on the 18th of May and will be staggered over 24 from that point.

Everyone on Xbox Live gets one free change of their GamerTag, if you’ve already done this though, there will be a small fee to change. Microsoft has not published a list of what GamerTags will be made available, so you may need to do some sleuthing; but they have noted that there is some great ones ready for the taking!

If you’re hoping to catch a GamerTag you’ve always had your eye on you can head over to Xbox.com to try and grab it