Xbox tests disc drive removal as new feature digitizes physical games
▼ Summary
– Microsoft’s next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, may ship without a disc drive, following Sony’s plan to discontinue physical discs for new PS games from January 2028.
– Xbox is reportedly testing a feature that would let players digitize their physical game collections to play on disc-less devices, though discs would still work after digitization.
– Access to a digitized game may be revoked if the physical disc is loaned or sold, but the exact permissions and feature details remain unclear.
– The digitization feature is expected to apply only to select Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S games, not original Xbox or Xbox 360 titles.
– Both PlayStation and Xbox have released digital-only console versions to cut costs, and Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch as a download-only title.
A new wave of reporting suggests that Microsoft is preparing to follow Sony’s lead by eliminating the disc drive from its next-generation console. Earlier today, Sony confirmed it will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028, a move that strongly hints its future console will be digital-only.
Now, Windows Central reports that Microsoft’s upcoming system, known internally as Project Helix, may also ship without a disc drive. This aligns with rumors earlier this year, which The Verge has now corroborated, that Xbox has been testing a feature to digitize physical game collections. The idea is to let players convert their disc-based titles into digital versions, ensuring those games remain playable on hardware that lacks a physical drive.
According to the reports, the original discs will still function after digitization. However, if a player loans or sells the disc, access to the digital copy could be revoked. The exact permissions and mechanics of this system remain unclear. Crucially, the feature is expected to work only with select Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S titles, leaving many original Xbox and Xbox 360 games incompatible.
Both PlayStation and Xbox have already released digital-only console variants to cut costs. Last year, Nintendo introduced Game-Key Cards, which are physical packages that contain only a download code. Rockstar has also confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch as a download-only title this November.
(Source: GamesIndustry.biz)
