Microsoft has officially announced a long-rumored new Xbox feature. Players will have the opportunity to turn their discs into digital copies of their projects.
As Microsoft explained in the announcement, the feature is intended for players who purchased the game via physical media but want to enjoy the benefits of a digital version. To obtain a license, simply insert a supported disc into your Xbox One or Xbox Series X console and launch the corresponding project. Players will then be able to take advantage of the features available on the digital version, including Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming. In this case, the disk itself will continue to work as before.
According to Microsoft, the new system is compatible with most game discs for Xbox One and Xbox Series X. The feature will support thousands of projects at launch, but no specific criteria or list has been provided yet. However, Microsoft emphasized that it will expand the number of supported games over time.
Xbox noted in the announcement that they are paying special attention to preserving users’ game libraries. Xbox vice president Jason Ronald said the feature is part of a broader game preservation plan. Over the years, many Xbox owners have amassed a collection of both disc and digital versions of their games, with some games spanning multiple generations of consoles. This innovation should make it easier to transfer such libraries between devices and maintain access to purchased content as game distribution methods change.
The feature will be tested for Insiders starting on August 31st. After that, they plan to expand it to all players.
