Xbox unveils feature to convert physical game discs into digital copies

Microsoft has officially confirmed a new Xbox feature that lets console owners convert their physical game discs into digital copies. The disc-to-digital feature, first reported by The Verge a month ago, is part of Microsoft's broader effort around game preservation and preparation for the next generation of Xbox hardware.

Jason Ronald, Xbox's VP of next generation, said most disc-based Xbox One and Xbox Series X games will support the feature. To claim a digital entitlement, players simply insert a supported disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console and launch the game. The resulting entitlement is tied to that specific disc, meaning it can transfer to a friend if the disc is passed along, or move between accounts if used on a different profile.

Testing starts later this month

Microsoft will begin testing the feature with Xbox Insider participants on August 31st, followed by a broader rollout to Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles over the following months. Once a disc-based game has been digitized, and if the title supports it, players will also be able to access it on PC through Xbox Play Anywhere or stream it across devices via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

A memo that leaked earlier this month indicated publishers will control whether their titles support the feature, meaning not every game will be included at launch. Ronald said the rollout starts with thousands of titles, with more being added over time.

The announcement comes just weeks after Sony revealed plans to end physical PlayStation discs altogether, with games released after January 2028 going digital-only. Sony, however, has not offered any equivalent way for players to convert their existing physical libraries into digital ones. Separately, Microsoft is also bringing Xbox and Xbox 360 titles to PC, a move that could eventually let a future Xbox console play nearly every game in the platform's history.