Xbox Testing Disc-To-Digital Feature For Physical Game Collections
The feature could let players carry physical disc assets forward to a next-gen Xbox that reportedly lacks a disc drive, as Sony has already announced the end of disc production for new PS console games after January 2028.
Reporting from 2 sources: Automaton, Game Spark.
The Verge reports that Xbox is testing a system that converts physical disc games into digital licenses tied to the disc. When a compatible disc is inserted and played, the user receives a digital play license, which is lost if the disc is lent or sold. The digital version behaves like a store purchase and supports cloud streaming and Play Anywhere on PC.
The Verge reported on July 2 that Xbox is testing a system to convert physical game discs into digital licenses. When a compatible disc is inserted into an Xbox Series X or Xbox One and the game is played, the user receives a digital play license tied to that disc. The license is lost if the disc is lent or sold, so usage rights move between accounts. The digital version is treated the same as a store purchase and, if the game is on Xbox Cloud Gaming and the user has Game Pass, supports cloud streaming. Play Anywhere titles also become playable on PC or handheld gaming PCs.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.