Report: Xbox Could Introduce Its Disc-to-Digital Game Conversion System Next Week
This week, users in the Xbox Insider program did not receive the usual update for Xbox Series X|S consoles. The delay came as a surprise, especially since Asha Sharma said some time ago that new console updates would be released every two weeks.
Brad Rossetti, head of Xbox Insider, suggested that the delay is because the next update will be worth the wait. While he did not reveal what it includes, Jez Corden believes he already knows the answer.
The feature is called Project Positron. It is Microsoft’s planned system to make the move from physical games to digital games much easier for players. It also comes at a time when PlayStation plans to stop supporting disc-based games starting in January 2028.
Xbox Could Add Project Positron in Next Week’s Insider Update
Rossetti’s social media post created a lot of discussion, but Corden responded with a simple message: “Positron commeth.”
Based on what is known so far, Positron is a system that converts physical Xbox games into digital licenses. It is expected to arrive as Microsoft’s solution for a future where physical discs become less common.
If the reports are correct, Positron will let players insert supported Xbox One discs, as well as Xbox Series X discs, to receive a digital license permanently linked to their Microsoft account.
While this is not the same as keeping physical discs forever, it offers two important benefits. Players can still lend physical games to friends, and the second-hand market can continue to exist.
The system works by linking the digital license to the account that activates the disc. If the account changes, the game can no longer be accessed through the previous account. However, the digital license can be transferred from the disc to another person’s Microsoft account when the game is sold.
Nonetheless, nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but everything points to Project Positron arriving on Xbox sooner than expected. As more information becomes available, we’ll make sure to let you guys know here at MP1st.
In other news, Microsoft is already testing another Xbox system update through the Insider Program. The update includes expanded 15-character Gamertags, Xbox 360 achievements in Game Hubs, the ability to use cloud gaming while updates download, and much more.
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I really need this system explained to me very slowly and clearly.
If I digitize my disc, then sell it, I lose my digitized version. But only after said disc has been installed on a different account? So what if it just sits at the store I traded it to for a year? And how would my system know that it was activated again? Surely it would need to be online, right?
The whole thing seems complicated. Plus, I’m assuming that Helix won’t have a disc drive which further complicates things to me.
It says when activated, so yes, unless the store activates on their acccount, your licence would stay valid until the disc is used in another system.
Honestly this is the best thing they could have done
I have the series s, so there’s no change for me. But, digital games are more expensive, and there’s no second hand purchase for cheaper outside of digital keys and piggy backing off of someone’s account!
This is really cool but…just, like, I haven’t even considered purchasing a hard copy of a disc since…2010? Over a decade ago, for sure. So long ago that every game I ‘would’ convert to digital has already been repurchased in digital via some kind-of updated GoTY re-release pack. Like, I see these Sony Playstation gamers flipping out rn about discontinuing hard copies and go, “Oh, that’s just generally what I did 10-15yrs ago & idk why there’s even a backlash about it rn bc the system plays smoother, cooler and quieter without a disc”. iow, it’s a cool option but, tbh, it woulda been a lot more useful back when Bumblebee was still an unreleased prototype Camaro.
a lot of people still use discs as it is a cheaper option and a lot of secondhand, older games are found much cheaper through physical media. just because you don’t do it doesn’t mean there isn’t millions of people doing it. also, a lot of people get physical games through the special deluxe releases of the consoles with the games (such as the GOWR ps5 combo). i can say that most people have never considered the fact that the game apparently plays better digitally than with the disc.