Xbox unveils disc-to-digital feature designed to digitize existing physical games

[Shawn Knight]

In a nutshell: Microsoft has formally announced a disc-to-digital feature aimed at giving players more flexibility in how they access their games. The feature, which first hit the rumor mill in early July, is scheduled to launch for Xbox Insiders later this month.

To claim a digital copy of a game, simply insert a supported disc into your Xbox One or Xbox Series X and launch the title. Once claimed, you'll be able to leverage the benefits of digital, including support for Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming when applicable.

Jason Roland, VP of Next Generation, said the feature is part of Microsoft's broader commitment to game preservation. Most Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games will be compatible with the feature, the executive added, with thousands of titles supported out of the gate.

Physical games that have been redeemed for digital copies will continue to work as they always have. Notably, disc licenses are tied to a user's Microsoft account, so you can't just swap games with friends to build a limitless digital library. When a physical game changes ownership, its digital license will go with it.

Sony ticked off consumers earlier this summer when it announced plans to stop making physical PlayStation games starting in 2028. The company said demand for digital media has significantly outpaced that of physical games, and that its new policy would better align with how the community prefers to access and play games. Given the enormous amount of pushback, one has to wonder if Sony is now reconsidering.

Microsoft hasn't officially chimed in on the matter. Initiatives like disc-to-digital certainly appear to put consumers first, and we wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft remains silent on the subject for as long as possible. Ultimately, however, Xbox will probably follow in Sony's footsteps and transition to digital-only releases – it's just a matter of when, not if.

Insiders can try out the new feature starting August 31. No word yet on when disc-to-digital will be available for everyone else.

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Xbox unveils disc-to-digital feature designed to digitize existing physical games

 

[Steveb8189]

This is a pretty nice feature. Shame you can't do it with Xbox 360 games too though.

 

[LordVile95]

This is a pretty nice feature. Shame you can't do it with Xbox 360 games too though.

Wouldn’t be surprised if backwards compatible 360 disks work if it’s doable

 

[NumberNine]

If someone could get in the middle of this they could spoof whatever data is keyed into the disk and get whatever they want.

 

[yRaz]

If someone could get in the middle of this they could spoof whatever data is keyed into the disk and get whatever they want.

No, there is a unique key on the disk. What they aren't telling you is that you have to disable the key on your account before you can transfer it to someone else's hands. So, say you're MS account gets banned or hacked, your physical disks won't work on other Xboxs that are connected to the Internet. This is walking a very fine line of selling you a physical box with a digital key in it. It's also most exactly like Nintendo is doing with their games on the switch 2. Instead of you entering the key manually the disk enters it for you

 

[PXAbstraction]

This is a pretty nice feature. Shame you can't do it with Xbox 360 games too though.

I thought I read somewhere that Microsoft said it could be possible later. Could be wrong though. 360 disc games would have to have the same unique identifiers as One/Series games and I'm not sure if they do or not.

 

[PXAbstraction]

Xbox continues to make a number of bafflingly reckless decisions to accommodate Satya Nadella's desperate need to keep feeding the AI bubble while also keeping Microsoft's earnings growing. This though, is a pretty great program and made at a very smart moment.

 

[AndreV]

This is a pretty nice feature. Shame you can't do it with Xbox 360 games too though.

In Xbox 360 console you can, its called RGH, Bad Avatar and/or Bad Update. The last two are quite easy. On Xbox One/Series console it will come at a later date.

 

[AndreV]

No, there is a unique key on the disk. What they aren't telling you is that you have to disable the key on your account before you can transfer it to someone else's hands. So, say you're MS account gets banned or hacked, your physical disks won't work on other Xboxs that are connected to the Internet. This is walking a very fine line of selling you a physical box with a digital key in it. It's also most exactly like Nintendo is doing with their games on the switch 2. Instead of you entering the key manually the disk enters it for you

Since the whole thing is always-online dependent, It could also be automatic - you digitized the game disc on your console/account and then give the disc your buddy, when he insert the disc in his console, the game digitized to his account and gets canceled in yours.

 

[yRaz]

Since the whole thing is always-online dependent, It could also be automatic - you digitized the game disc on your console/account and then give the disc your buddy, when he insert the disc in his console, the game digitized to his account and gets canceled in yours.

Nintendo has already started account locking some physical media under piracy concerns. They don't have the market share that Xbox currently has but remember, it will always be one update away that you never consented to

 

[NumberNine]

No, there is a unique key on the disk. What they aren't telling you is that you have to disable the key on your account before you can transfer it to someone else's hands. So, say you're MS account gets banned or hacked, your physical disks won't work on other Xboxs that are connected to the Internet. This is walking a very fine line of selling you a physical box with a digital key in it. It's also most exactly like Nintendo is doing with their games on the switch 2. Instead of you entering the key manually the disk enters it for you

Where there's a CDN, there's a way.