Microsoft is reportedly gifting its employees with a free, white-and-silver version of its new Xbox One gaming console.
The freebie was first noted via posts on Reddit and gaming discussion site NeoGAF. An attached graphic (click left) tips the white Xbox One with a white controller, black Kinect sensor, one year of Xbox Live, and more - free for full-time workers who are still at Redmond on Xbox One launch day. The front of the machine also reads: I Made This.
The white console prompted plenty of requests for Microsoft to market this version of the upcoming machine. "Looks 10x better than black," NeoGAF user Aquavelvaman wrote in a comment.
"Love the white look," Reddit user aussiefurby wrote in response to a posted image of the employee shop gift. "Would look awesome beside by Xbox 360 Pro, like a more stylish younger brother."
"I hope they re-release this white version at some future time. It looks sexy!" Redditor CoconutStorm said.
A Microsoft spokesman declined to comment on the report.
This is not the first time Microsoft has offered its employees free versions of its new products. In 2010, workers got their own Windows Phone 7 smartphone, an offer that extended to Surface RT and Windows Phone 8 last year.
Redmond unveiled its next-generation gaming console in May, which will come in black at launch. We got pricing details at E3 and heard about the launch lineup at Gamescom, but are still waiting on an Xbox One launch date, expected in November.
For more, see the first Xbox One unboxing video, as well as PCMag's list of the 10 hottest Xbox One games in the slideshow above.
Meanwhile, those with the older Xbox 360 are getting an update that finally makes the long-awaited switch from Microsoft's virtual currency to gamers' hard-earned dollars and cents.
Microsoft Points have officially been retired, and transactions on the 360 console will now use local currency, allowing users to make purchases from the Xbox 360 or Windows Phone 8-based apps.
Redmond first announced the phasing out of its virtual currency in October.
Other tech firms have also dropped their online point systems, including Facebook, which ditched its Credits platform in June 2012. Recently, it scaled back its Gifts platform, dropping physical gifts for gift cards and online codes.
Editor's Note: This story was updated at 2:15 p.m. Eastern with comment from Microsoft.