Microsoft Xbox developing 'Disc-to-Digital' feature for physical games

Microsoft is developing a new feature called "Disc-to-Digital" that will allow Xbox players to convert their physical game discs into digital versions. The feature is currently being tested by Xbox employees and was recently discovered in the code of the Xbox PC App.

This new functionality will support Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S game discs, but not older titles from the Xbox 360 or original Xbox. To use the feature, players will insert a supported game disc into their Xbox console, install and launch the game, and then log into their Microsoft account. The system will then create a digital license for the game.

However, this digital license will be linked to the physical disc itself, not permanently tied to an account. This means if the disc is lent to a friend or used with another Xbox account, the digital license will transfer with it. Once the digital license is acquired, the gaming experience will be similar to purchasing the game digitally from the Microsoft Store. The feature also supports bundled games and multi-disc titles, ensuring players receive all original content, including DLC.

Not all Xbox One discs will be compatible, as some older discs may lack the necessary features for digitization. Microsoft is still internally testing the feature and plans to release more details in the coming months. This development is particularly significant as Microsoft reportedly considers a disc-drive-less design for its next-generation Xbox, codenamed Project Helix.