Xbox has officially revealed a new disc-to-digital program that will allow players to add physical copies of their games to a digital library. The program, which was first reported to be in the works this July, is launching in a matter of days on Aug. 31.

Jason Ronald, Xbox VP Next Generation, made the announcement today in an Xbox Wire post. "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," said Ronald. "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." Players enrolled in the Xbox Insider program will be able to test the feature starting next week.

According to the Xbox Wire post, most Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games will be supported by the new feature. Players can claim their digital copy of a game by inserting the physical disc into their console and launching the game. Once the digital copy is claimed, players will be able to access digital-exclusive features like Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming (if supported by the game). The physical disc will continue to work as usual even after claiming the digital version. The program will launch with support for "thousands of titles" with more to be added over time. With Sony announcing the end of production for physical discs in 2028, effectively assuring an all-digital PlayStation 6, this move from Xbox seems to solidify the industry's push towards a digital future.

Source link