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Microsoft announced an Xbox disc-to-digital feature for supported physical games across Xbox One and Series X consoles. The feature arrives on August 31 for Xbox Insiders, allowing players to claim digital entitlement by inserting and launching eligible discs.
Microsoft introduced the program to preserve game access as physical media and console hardware continue changing.
The new system lets supported physical games gain digital benefits without replacing the original disc or requiring another purchase. Thousands of Xbox One and Series X titles will support the feature initially, with more games planned later. Players can access Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming were supported after claiming the digital entitlement.
Microsoft Vice President Jason Ronald highlighted game preservation as a key reason behind the move. “Our goal is to make it easier for those libraries to move forward with players,” Ronald said in Xbox Wire.
The process starts by inserting an eligible disc into an Xbox One or Series X console. Launching the game then allows the system to verify the disc and claim its digital entitlement. The physical copy remains usable after the digital entitlement becomes available.
The feature could offer greater flexibility as gaming shifts toward downloads and cloud services. Physical collections can gain selected digital advantages while retaining their original discs. This approach also gives collectors another way to preserve access as future hardware changes.
Microsoft confirmed that not every disc will qualify at launch. Support currently focuses on most Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games, while older Xbox and Xbox 360 discs remain unconfirmed.
Xbox Insiders will start testing the feature on August 31, with a broader rollout planned during the following months. Microsoft says thousands of titles will support the program initially, marking a major step toward connecting physical libraries with Xbox's digital ecosystem.
Also Read: Project Helix: Xbox Hints at a Disc-Free Next-Gen Console
