Xbox has announced a new disc-to-digital program, bringing the benefits of digital to “thousands” of physical Xbox Series X and Xbox One discs. Xbox Insiders can begin testing the feature on August 31.
The feature works by inserting an Xbox Series X or Xbox One disc into your Xbox console and redeeming a digital entitlement for that game onto your account, allowing you to play it digitally without the need to insert the disc. The disc itself will not be affected and will continue to work as normal.
“Most Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games support this new feature,” Xbox said in the announcement. “Players can claim a digital entitlement by inserting a supported disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console and launching the game. Once the entitlement is claimed, you can experience the benefits of digital, including Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming where supported, while your physical disc continues to work exactly as it always has.
“We’re starting with thousands of titles, and we’ll continue to add more over time. While not every title will be available at launch, this is an important step toward a future where players can have greater confidence that the games they buy remain with them for years to come.”