Xbox introduces new disc-to-digital feature for converting physical games to digital format.

Microsoft has unveiled an exciting new feature for Xbox users that enables them to convert their physical game collections into digital formats. This disc-to-digital capability, which was previously hinted at, is part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts in game preservation and gearing up for the next generation of Xbox consoles.

“Most Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games support this new feature,” says Jason Ronald, VP of next generation at Xbox. “Players can claim a digital entitlement by inserting a supported disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console and launching the game.” This digital entitlement is linked to the specific disc, allowing it to transfer between accounts if you share the physical game with a friend or log into a different Xbox profile to play.

Testing for this disc-to-digital feature will kick off with Xbox Insider testers on August 31st, with a wider rollout planned for Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles in the following months. Once you have a digital version of an Xbox disc game, you may also be able to access it on PC via Xbox Play Anywhere or stream it across multiple devices using Xbox Cloud Gaming.

A recent leak indicated that publishers will have a say in which games are eligible for the Xbox disc-to-digital feature, meaning not every title will be available right away. “We’re starting with thousands of titles, and we’ll continue to add more over time,” Ronald explains. “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.”

This announcement comes shortly after news that Sony plans to phase out physical PlayStation game discs, with new releases after January 2028 being digital-only. However, Microsoft has yet to announce any similar plans regarding the discontinuation of Xbox discs. Notably, Sony has not introduced a feature for converting existing physical libraries into digital formats.

Additionally, Microsoft is working on bringing Xbox and Xbox 360 games to PC, potentially paving the way for the next Xbox console to support every game ever released on the platform.