Physical Support Rumored To Still Be In the Air For Next-Gen XBOX, Disc-To-Digital Program Now Testing Internally

The current conversation across the console landscape as of late is about direct ownership & preservation. Over at PlayStation, Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed that plans to proceed with physical releases on the platform will cease by January 2028. It was later rebounded with a report that a major production operation in Europe primarily known for manufacturing components for its disc readers is being refitted to produce other components by next year.

At XBOX, the conversation lingers with its own overtone. Preservation was previously addressed to receive a new update sometime later in 2026. However, there was an update on ownership. It was reported that a new initiative – Project Positron – would feature a new disc-to-digital entitlement program which would extract the license to the owner’s account.

Now details emerge which reveals that the entitlement system is now in testing internally at Microsoft. The Verge reports that the Project Positron will be applicable to both XBOX Cloud Gaming & XBOX Play Anywhere once obtaining the respective game’s license. It was also understood that ownership is only stripped if the disc is read on a separate account via selling or borrowing. 

The Verge does share that the disc-to-digital program is compatible with XBOX One & XBOX Series X|S copies; XBOX alongside XBOX 360 are not eligible. Tom Warren also indicates that the decision for Project Helix to go completely digital has yet to be decided. “I understand Microsoft hasn’t fully finalized whether the next-generation Xbox, codenamed Project Helix, will ship with a built-in disc drive.”

However, Windows Central was also tipped that Microsoft is leaning towards a fully digital SKU come 10th generation hardware. Howbeit, Pure Xbox points out via the Xbox Two Podcast that Jez Corden is now under the impression through sources at Microsoft that the firm is working to find ways in implementing physical support for Project Helix.

“Tom Warren put in an article that nothing has been decided for Helix yet. Things had been decided for Helix previously, however Tom had more up to date information that they are now seeing what might be possible about Helix with regards to discs. […] I went and tried to update my information, and it does seem like indeed – they are trying to figure out what they can do here before they fully commit to the death of physical discs.”

Are you convinced that XBOX will support physical games for Project Helix?

Source: The Verge