A previously teased disc-to-digital feature may be on the way Xbox consoles soon, according to a social media post from an Xbox insider. Given that the next-gen Xbox console is unlikely to have a disc drive, the disc-to-digital conversion feature would potentially give gamers a way to play supported titles on the upcoming system.
Rumors of Xbox's disc-to-digital conversion method first surfaced on July 1st. In short, the digital conversion feature would give Xbox console users a digital right for a specific game after inserting a disc into an Xbox console. This digital right would be specific to each Xbox Blu-ray disc, meaning it would belong to the Xbox user who owns the disc. The license would be transferable if the disc is lent or sold to another Xbox user, making it possible to continue buying, selling and trading Xbox titles. However, this feature only works on Xbox One and Xbox Series X game discs, meaning Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles are not supported.
Xbox's disc conversion feature may soon be ready for public testing
Since Xbox's Project Helix console may not have a disc drive at all, this would prevent disc-based Xbox titles from being playable on the new system. But according to Windows Central editor and Xbox insider Jez Corden, the disc conversion method could be coming in the coming days. Corden posted a message on July 9 from Xbox Insider host Brad Rossetti saying that Xbox Insider flights were paused for the first full week of July. Rossetti said the hiatus was to give the Xbox Insider development team time to prepare for something that could be coming during the week of July 16. Rossetti said the next flight would be worth the wait.
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In response, Corden claimed that the next Xbox Insider preview could include Positron, which is Xbox's development codename for the disc-to-digital conversion feature. Interested Xbox console users can test future Xbox console features by downloading the Xbox Insider Bundle from the Microsoft Store and selecting an Xbox Update Preview to join. When Xbox joins PlayStation in the future, the disc conversion method will allow some games to play on Project Helix via backwards compatibility.
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Image via Microsoft -
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The transition to a digital console generation can result in increased profits for game developers and hardware manufacturers. According to Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of KantanGames Inc., allows a digital release from first-party Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo to keep the full cut of a game released on each company's respective storefront. By comparison, a physical first-party game release would see 35% of each copy sold go directly to cover shipping costs. Given that Blu-ray discs have a capacity limit of 100GB each, games such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been shipped with multiple discs to ensure the game can be physically released.
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As of this writing, there is no official timetable for Xbox's potential disc conversion feature, so users will have to wait for more information. While some questions about the price of Xbox Project Helix still linger, it remains to be seen how many Xbox users will convert their game discs to digital licenses.
Source: Dexerto
