Xbox players will soon be able to combine the convenience of digital gaming with the permanence of physical game discs through Microsoft’s new Disc to Digital program. The service is expected to support thousands of Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games.
Microsoft announced the Xbox Disc to Digital program ahead of a test for Xbox Insiders beginning August 31. Eligible players will be able to claim a digital license for most supported Xbox One and Xbox Series X games by inserting the physical disc into their console and launching the title.
Once the digital license is activated, players can launch the game without inserting the disc again, provided they—or a member of their household account—remain signed in. Supported digital licenses may also provide access to Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing players to use the game on PC, as well as Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Microsoft says physical discs will continue to work normally after a digital license is claimed. However, the program includes an important restriction: there is “only one revocable license per game disc.” If the disc is sold or loaned to another person, the digital entitlement may transfer to a different account when the disc is used on another Xbox console.
A leaked Microsoft memo reported by The Verge earlier this month may explain why the program supports “most,” but not all, Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc games. Windows Central reports, citing anonymous sources, that some discs may be incompatible because of how they were manufactured. The announcement also does not mention original Xbox or Xbox 360 discs, suggesting that backward compatibility for those formats may not be included in the initial Xbox Disc to Digital rollout.
Source: arstechnica.com