Xbox Trials New Feature to Convert Physical Game Collections into Digital Format

Microsoft is reportedly gearing up to follow Sony’s lead by halting the production of physical discs for Xbox games. However, rather than completely abandoning physical media, the company has been developing a disc-to-digital feature that will enable Xbox users to convert their existing physical game libraries into digital formats.

Recently, Xbox employees began testing this feature after “enable Disc2Digital” references were discovered in the Xbox PC app code back in May. This disc-to-digital functionality will be compatible exclusively with Xbox One and Xbox Series X discs, leaving out titles from the Xbox 360 and the original Xbox.

To obtain a digital version of a game, players will simply need to insert a compatible disc, install, and play. This process will require a Microsoft account on an Xbox console, granting a digital entitlement for the physical game. This entitlement is linked to the specific disc and can transfer between accounts if you share the physical game with a friend or log into a different Xbox profile to play.

The digital entitlement for a physical Xbox game mirrors the experience of purchasing the title from the digital store. If the game is available on Xbox Cloud Gaming and you have a Game Pass subscription, streaming will be an option. Additionally, if it’s an Xbox Play Anywhere title, you’ll have access on PCs and handheld devices as well.

The disc-to-digital feature will also support discs that come bundled with consoles and multi-disc titles, ensuring access to all content typically provided by the disc, including downloadable content. However, some Xbox One discs may not be compatible with this feature. Microsoft has cautioned its internal testers that compatibility may depend on the manufacturing details of the disc.

Even after digitization, the physical discs will remain functional, and you will only lose your digital entitlement if you lend the disc to someone or sell it. Currently, Microsoft is in the testing phase for this feature, and more information is expected to emerge in the near future.

As for the next-generation Xbox, codenamed Project Helix, it remains uncertain whether it will include a built-in disc drive. If Helix does go disc-free, this feature could become crucial for current Xbox owners looking to digitize their game collections ahead of the new console’s launch.