Microsoft is officially announcing a new disc-to-digital feature for Xbox that lets owners convert their physical game collections into digital licenses. The feature, which The Verge previously reported on, is part of Microsoft's work on game preservation and its preparation for the next generation of Xbox consoles.
Xbox VP of next generation Jason Ronald said most Xbox One and Xbox Series X disc-based games will support the feature. Players can claim a digital entitlement by inserting a supported disc into either console and launching the game.
That entitlement stays tied to the specific disc, so swapping the physical copy with a friend or signing into a different Xbox profile moves the license along with it.
Microsoft begins testing with Xbox Insider testers on August 31st, followed by a broader rollout to Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles in the coming months. Once a game is digitized, supported titles can also be played on PC through Xbox Play Anywhere or streamed to multiple devices via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Not every title makes the cut at launch. Microsoft is starting with thousands of games and will keep adding more over time, according to Ronald.
A leaked memo revealed that publishers have control over which discs qualify. The company frames the feature as a step toward ensuring players keep access to the games they buy for years to come.
