Xbox is bringing the perks of digital ownership to your physical game collection, announcing a new disc-to-digital feature that lets players claim a digital entitlement for supported disc-based games. Xbox Insiders can start testing it next week on August 31.
According to Xbox, the idea is all about flexibility and preservation. The company says players have spent decades building their libraries across multiple hardware generations, mixing disc and digital purchases along the way, and this feature is meant to help those libraries move forward. Xbox frames it as part of its broader commitment to game preservation, noting that preserving access to the games people own matters more than ever as technology and distribution continue to evolve (oh, hi, PlayStation).
How does the disc-to-digital feature work?
The process is, in theory, simple. Players can claim a digital entitlement by inserting a supported disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console and launching the game. Once that entitlement is claimed, you unlock the benefits of digital while your physical disc keeps working exactly as it always has.
Here is what Xbox says you get once you have claimed the entitlement:
Xbox Play Anywhere, where supported
Xbox Cloud Gaming, where supported
Your physical disc continues to function as normal
Which games are supported?
Xbox says most Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games support the new feature. The rollout is starting with thousands of titles, and the company plans to keep adding more over time.
What happens if you give your disk to someone else?
Good question!
... Oh, you're expecting an answer. Unfortunately, Xbox makes no mention of that scenario in their article. Best-case scenario (that's also realistic), if you sell your disk, the digital license gets revoked and transferred to the new owner. Worst-case scenario, your disk becomes a paperweight unless used on your console. Seeing as Microsoft mentioned the old disk is still usable, the former is more likely.
HOW Can Xbox INSIDERS TAKE PART?
Testing kicks off for Xbox Insiders on August 31. Xbox is encouraging participants to share feedback and is pointing Insiders toward its community channels for support. If you are not part of the Xbox Insider Program yet, you can join by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One or on Windows PC.
Quote From Xbox Wire Players have spent decades building their XBOX libraries. Some games were purchased on disc. Some were purchased digitally. Many span multiple generations of hardware.
Our goal is to make it easier for those libraries to move forward with players.
Today we are introducing a feature that brings the benefits of digital to physical discs, giving players more flexibility in how they access and play supported games across the XBOX ecosystem. XBOX Insiders can begin testing next week on August 31.
This is part of our broader commitment to game preservation. As technology, devices, and distribution continue to evolve, preserving access to the games people own matters more than ever.
Most XBOX One and XBOX Series X disc-based games support this new feature. Players can claim a digital entitlement by inserting a supported disc into an XBOX One or XBOX Series X console and launching the game. Once the entitlement is claimed, you can experience the benefits of digital, including XBOX Play Anywhere and XBOX Cloud Gaming where supported, while your physical disc continues to work exactly as it always has.
We’re starting with thousands of titles, and we’ll continue to add more over time. While not every title will be available at launch, this is an important step toward a future where players can have greater confidence that the games they buy remain with them for years to come.
Will you be converting your disc collection once the feature goes wide? Or are you keeping your disk games on disks? Let us know in the comments!
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