Xbox is testing a feature to convert your physical games into digital copies
A reported test could turn disc-based games into permanent digital licenses.
The future of video games looks vastly different from what it was 15 years ago, especially with recent announcements that physical games are being completely replaced by digital copies. And while this may cast doubt on the future of our physical copies, a report claims that Xbox is already working on a way to digitize our library, including our backlog.
According to The Verge, Xbox is testing a model to convert physical games into digital licenses under the name Disc2Digital. This test, which has been underway since May, will allow players to register physical games on the console to create a digital copy of the game. Upon doing so, the user will receive a “digital entitlement” linked to their Microsoft account, which “will move from account to account if you swap the physical game with a friend or log in to a different Xbox profile and try to play a disc-based game.”
This feature, as explained, will work “only with Xbox One and Xbox Series X discs, and not with those for the Xbox 360 or the original Xbox console.” Among these discs, we can also include games that were bundled with the console or multi-disc titles, although it is noted that some Xbox One discs may not be compatible, as this “all depends on how and when the disc was manufactured,” according to what the testers told the media outlet.
For now, we’ll have to wait and see if this becomes a feature, as it is currently still undergoing internal testing at Microsoft.
The future of video games is moving toward the digital world.
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While downloading video games has made it much easier and more convenient to get a game, the concern lies in what might happen down the road. The issue of preservation means that future developments—such as the closure of digital stores or simply the revocation of a license—could result in you losing access to your games. Over the past 10 years, video game sales have shifted entirely to the digital realm, with only a small percentage of players still preferring to own a physical copy.
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