Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says the company must carefully consider the affordability of its next-generation consoles as rising computing costs create a “crisis” for the gaming industry.
Speaking to the BBC, Sharma explained that Xbox hardware prices are increasing, partly because of growing investment in artificial intelligence. She said gaming companies must explore new ways to keep games and consoles affordable for players.
Sharma also confirmed that Xbox players will soon be able to access digital versions of many physical games they already own. This could allow older disc-based titles to run on future Xbox consoles without requiring the disc to remain in the drive.
“We know players love physical media, and we know digital media has a lot of advantages, and we want to give people a choice,” Sharma said.
At present, players can purchase and download digital games through Xbox consoles or PCs, allowing them to play without a physical disc.
However, physical games remain popular because discs can be resold, traded and purchased through the second-hand market.
The future of physical game discs has become increasingly controversial. Sony has announced that new PlayStation games will reportedly stop receiving disc releases from January 2028, while the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI is also expected to launch without a physical disc.
“There are tons of games on everyone’s shelves,” Sharma said.
“We are announcing the ability for players to digitally license 1,000 titles with physical discs.”
If a supported disc is sold second-hand, its digital license will transfer to the new owner, according to Sharma.
Players will reportedly activate the feature by inserting a supported physical game into an Xbox console. Sharma also suggested that the digital licensing system could help gamers play older Xbox titles on future hardware.
“We’ve pioneered backwards compatibility for a long time, so we’ll continue to do that as we move forward with generations,” she said.
However, Sharma did not confirm whether Xbox’s next-generation console, currently codenamed Project Helix, will include a physical disc drive.
“In this next generation, we need to consider performance as well as efficiency and affordability,” she added.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk