Xbox disc-to-digital: Huge win as 1,578 games now convert
If you still have a shelf full of Xbox games, Microsoft now wants to put them in your digital library too. The Xbox disc-to-digital program, which Xbox Insiders have been testing since Aug. 31, is now rolling out to everyone, VGC reports.
Pop in a supported disc and the console grants you a digital license for that game. You keep the physical copy, but you also get the benefits of digital ownership — including play on multiple Xbox consoles and, where supported, Xbox Cloud Gaming.
How Xbox disc-to-digital works
When you insert a compatible Xbox One or Xbox Series X disc and launch the game, the Xbox disc-to-digital program ties a digital license to your account. The disc still works if you want to keep it, but the digital version means you can play the game on any Xbox device, including the Series S, which has no disc drive.
If a title supports Xbox Play Anywhere, you’ll also be able to play it on PC, and cloud-enabled games can be streamed through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Which games are eligible
Xbox has said “thousands” of titles are supported, though not every disc works yet, according to VGC. The fan-run XCT.live Community Disc to Digital Database has logged 1,860 games so far. Of those, 1,578 are confirmed to work, 221 don’t, 37 are unconfirmed and 24 depend on which version of the disc you own.
One of the program’s biggest perks is support for games that have been pulled from the digital store. Physical owners of delisted titles such as “Deadpool,” “F1 2021,” “Minecraft: Story Mode,” “Rock Band 4” and “Titanfall” can still claim a digital license.
Recent database updates also show a batch of Sega games now working, among them “Sonic Superstars,” “Sonic Colours: Ultimate,” “Sonic Frontiers,” “Metaphor: ReFantazio” and several “Like a Dragon” and “Persona” titles.
What’s next for Xbox disc-to-digital
Xbox hasn’t said which new games came with the wider rollout, but the company says it will keep adding support over time. Players get the feature with their next system update after Xbox’s announcement email, and they can track newly working titles through community resources like the XCT.live database.
Microsoft first announced the program on Aug. 26, pitching it partly as a way to preserve games. See how PlayStation is handling its disc-free future and the latest Xbox Cloud Gaming changes.
Reporting from VGC and Game Informer contributed to this story.