Xbox announced on Wednesday, September 30th, that its Xbox consoles are officially receiving the Disc-to-Digital feature. This functionality allows users to digitize game licenses purchased in physical format. Disc-to-Digital was initially introduced in July and covers a selection of titles available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
Although the tool was in testing with players since August, it now enables the installation and running of games acquired on physical media without needing to keep the disc inserted in the drive. This serves to ensure the preservation of these games in digital format.
However, the company clarified that not all games are eligible for this conversion. Specifically, physical games from Xbox 360 and original Xbox cannot be converted using Disc-to-Digital. Additionally, the Xbox Series S will not receive this tool, as this model does not have a disc drive.
The system works by associating the license contained on the disc with the player's account. After this registration, the user can store the disc and start the game without having to put it back into the console. It is important to note that the CD license is not permanently transferred to the owner's digital account; it remains linked to the disc and will be transferred to the new buyer if the CD is used, traded, or lent, provided they insert the CD into their own Xbox.
This rule also allows Disc-to-Digital to be used with used games, without causing a permanent duplication of the license. Extra content and promotional items obtained separately will remain linked to the account that registered the code.
This launch occurred shortly after the video game industry began signaling a complete transition to digital format, a trend expected to begin in this generation of PlayStation. One of the biggest concerns for players regarding this new policy is the risk of concentrating game sales in the companies' own digital stores, coupled with the infeasibility of buying used games and the fear that certain content may become inaccessible in the future, a situation that has already occurred with movies on the Sony platform.
Currently, the expectation is that the next generation of Xbox, internally codenamed Project Helix, will manage to maintain the relevance of physical media. This prediction was suggested by the company's CEO, Asha Sharma, last month.
The system itself automatically detects and offers the option to register a compatible game license to the account as soon as it is inserted into the console. When viewing the option to obtain the digital license, the user must confirm the redemption, allowing the game to run without the disc in the drive. For those who prefer not to automatically link all physical games to the account, or who wish to register multiple titles sequentially without waiting for each one to install, there is an adjustment option in the settings.
Furthermore, the license obtained through the disc can be used on PC, enabling the download of the computer version without the need for a new purchase.