Xbox has revealed a new system designed to simplify playing physical games on its consoles. Xbox boss Asha Sharma announced that the physical disc-to-digital scheme will be available to Xbox Insiders starting next week.
The initiative allows users to "unlock a digital entitlement for supported physical games," with thousands of titles initially included and more to be added. Microsoft's Jason Ronald stated that the goal is to make game libraries, whether physical or digital, more accessible to players across different hardware generations.
While specific details on how the scheme will function are yet to be confirmed, it is anticipated that inserting a physical disc into an Xbox console will grant a digital copy playable across the Xbox ecosystem. This development follows Xbox's revival of its Backwards Compatibility Program earlier this year.
The announcement has been met with positive reactions from gaming fans, particularly in light of PlayStation's decision to cease physical disc production from early 2028. Sony's chief financial officer Lin Tao confirmed plans to proceed with the move to digital-only, despite acknowledging strong public opinions on the matter.