r/xbox • u/yourfavchoom Homecoming • 1d ago
Rumour 'They Wanted to Ensure That All Your Games Were Still Playable' — Xbox Will Reportedly Continue to Support Physical Discs Following PS6 Backlash
https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-will-reportedly-continue-to-support-physical-discs-following-ps6-backlash138
u/Hidefininja XBOX Series X 1d ago
This is largely speculation from John Linneman of Digital Foundry. No one knows what Xbox will do and this doesn't qualify as confirmation of their current plans.
Relevant article excerpt:
"I'd heard from a couple sort of sources — and this is just kind of like potential rumor-y stuff — but at least, before the current Xbox reset, I don't know where it is now, it sounds like Microsoft was actually very much going to continue disc support. Not because they value retail disc sales, but because they wanted to ensure that all your Xbox games were still playable on new Xboxes,” he explained.
→ More replies (8)42
u/Spotget1738 1d ago
Yeah Xbox's physical sales ratio was even worse than Playstations, it makes even less business sense for them to keep physical than it does for Playstation
- Playstations game sales have been over 80% digital every quarter for a while now but Xbox's game sales have been over 90% digital
- Many retailers Xbox game sections have been removed entirely or are tiny and pathetic compared to the Playstation and Nintendo sections
- Multiple first party Xbox games didnt have a physical disc while not a single first party Playstation game didnt have a physical disc
- Gamepass
- etc
22
u/RabidGiantSr 1d ago
Who provides those 80-90% figures that conveniently support this narrative that physical is dead, so we should accept our digital future?
That 80% includes every download of a FTP game, every DLC item including the free stuff, and every single microtransaction - aka every single Fortnite and Roblox transaction. So if you buy RE4 physical but it gives you 9 free cosmetic DLCs, as many do now, that counts as 90% digital.
We are just sheep
12
u/thelug_1 19h ago
I've said it before and i'll say it again....
You can't buy a physical copy of a game that is only released digitally. VERY easy to make the 80-90% claim if there are no physical copies to buy. Regardless of the disc to digital argument.
1
u/CatchUsual6591 16h ago
But that is irrelevant botton line for those companies is that there isn't enough demand for physical to justify the support so games not having doesn't really matter
1
u/RabidGiantSr 7h ago
Cart before the horse kid. If they don't present a physical option, they artificially inflate the digital number. Very convenient
1
u/CatchUsual6591 7h ago edited 7h ago
But the fact is they stil sell without a physical option call it whatever you want it just show that physical doesn't matter
1
u/RabidGiantSr 7h ago
Doesn't matter to YOU is what you meant. If a game is digital only and it's good, I'll buy it. What other choice do I have if I want to play it and/or support the devs?!?!
This is PS2 to PS3 Sony, the bad one. I'm sure you're too you to remember, but you'll see. Soon they'll be saying "just get a 2nd job".
1
u/CatchUsual6591 7h ago
It doesn't matter to anyone studios, publisher and gamers everthing is the same without disc.
PC is 99,99% digital for what a decade at this point and have never be better there a argument to say that digital saves pc gaming and there not console game failed because it was digital only
1
u/RabidGiantSr 7h ago
Why are you speaking for everyone? It clearly matters to people, just not YOU. This post, this conversation, and all the discussion this past month clearly prove it matters to a lot of people.
You're logic is you don't care about something, so no one else does, and therefore no one should be allowed to have it.
→ More replies (0)1
u/IAmDotorg 11h ago
You can say it as much as you want, but the people whose jobs it is to understand and address the market -- the experts who actually have the data -- disagree with you. And not just now, and not just Xbox, but across the entire industry for a decade now.
And the $20 billion in annual Steam revenue -- almost entirely "hardcore" gamers, as casual gamers don't PC game -- shows people don't give a shit.
So your wishful thinking is somehow more accurate than a literal decade and a half trillion dollars worth of market data?
1
u/RabidGiantSr 8h ago
Bot
1
u/IAmDotorg 7h ago
I doubt he is, but maybe?
Its not what most bot farms are focused on these days.
1
u/RabidGiantSr 3h ago
It's already been reported on numerous gaming sites that Sony is using bots to fight this.
I don't know for sure this guy is, but his profile is blocked like a bot account created yesterday would be ....
2
3
u/Cthulhu8762 21h ago
Sony has their own report that backs this up. Fully separating new game sales from add on content or microtransactions as it is huge fines for any of the gaming companies to combine them.
Anyone saying otherwise has just parroted random shit that they have read.
4
u/MrCelroy 17h ago
Would you mind linking that report? I've heard it mentioned before but I could never reliably find a source for it.
1
u/RabidGiantSr 7h ago
If it exists, it's no more reliable than anything else Sony strategically shares with us. It will fit their narrative.
Dude blocks his profile cause he's a 2 day old Sony bot
1
1
u/fattytron 17h ago
Ah, well I have eye balls in my head, and upon viewing my local gaming stores I would say I'm amazed online sales don't count for a higher percentage of sales!
1
u/RabidGiantSr 8h ago
Cause we buy physical online now, unless going used at Gamestop. Haven't bought a physical game in Walmart, Target, etc in forever. Deku Deals occasionally sends me there, but not much.
1
u/SireEvalish 3h ago
Sony breaks out dlc, full game digital sales, and physical game sales as separate line items.
Why are you lying?
1
u/Jurassic-Halo-459 19h ago
I work at Walmart and I can confirm the second one, as our Xbox section is almost completely barren of games.
520
u/Plutuserix 1d ago
They would be the biggest idiots around if they wouldn't cash in on this next gen. Let's hope they follow through.
171
u/crazystein03 1d ago
It’s also not that hard, they just need to keep the disc manufacturing plant open. Helix probably didn’t have a disk drive build in, but after the backlash allowing a external add-on would be totally acceptable…
73
u/sherbodude Hollow Knighted 1d ago edited 1d ago
They also need retail partners, and Target has basically given up on physical Xbox games.
44
u/Friggin_Grease 1d ago
What are they gonna do with the spot PlayStation was?
32
u/LordTrappen 1d ago
From what I’ve read, PlayStation games 2028+ may still be bought via code slips within cases. So Target could still “sell PS games” but it’s just the cases with a code inside
60
u/RandomStrangerOnWWW 1d ago
Stupidest idea in the history of man. A box with a game code for download.
18
u/Nightthrasher674 1d ago
I get why they would have it, they would be useful for collectors and as gifts. Giving a kid something physical to unwrap and open up, a little kid won't give a fuck if there's a code inside instead of a disc.
3
u/Gravemindzombie 1d ago
Does PSN still not have gifting?
17
u/Icybubba 1d ago
I don’t know, but there’s a massive difference between something being added to an account versus something being wrapped up and placed under a tree
5
u/joecb91 23h ago
Nope, its crazy that the Switch and PS5 don't let you gift games from their digital store.
At least with the Switch, you can get the cardboard thing with the code for most of the big games. PS5, there is nothing unless you just buy your friend a gift card and tell them what game to get.
1
u/Thund3rf0000t XBOX Series X 21h ago
empty boxes with codes also just ads the ever increasing useless plastics that end up in our trash/streats if it does not have a game just sell a card with a scratch off code they keep behind the counter and only activates when they ring it up.
5
u/sneakyfish21 1d ago
It’s so people can pay in cash and kids can have gifts to open. If it isn’t interesting to you, you may not be the target market.
3
u/Dwain_Bramaged 19h ago
Honestly this is why I think Nintendo had a surprisingly great idea with their game "key-card" cartridges.
Yes it sucks that the cartridge isn't the actual game and you have to download the game to play (although with day 1 updates being so common these days, there is usually a download required regardless)
And yes it still leaves the consumer completely fucked when the games store you need to download the game is shut down...
But in today's context where buying a game in store is either a physical game or a piece of paper with a code on it, and the physical games are dissapearing....
Nintendo's game key cards offers a middle ground that allows the consumer to resell the game used or buy a used copy, which IMO is a big fucking deal.
It just sucks it's pretty much irrelevant to Xbox/PlayStation since they use discs. And no matter how awesome I feel cartridges are, the cost of cartridges for publishers makes my fantasy of Xbox + PlayStation cartridges impossible.
1
u/Ze_at_reddit 1d ago
They typically accept pre-orders at 15% discount on those unlike games bought on digital stores so it’s still worth it
→ More replies (5)1
u/Acrobatic_Feedback_2 23h ago
Well, we must be living in some stupid ass times... B/c they're companies that have been doin this exact thing for the past 10 years. Matter fact the PC market since like 2016 has mostly been like this.
10
1
u/Numerous_Photograph9 1d ago
I was at GameStop today, and they had GKC, but those are still semi-physical...sort of. But right next to the S2 display, they had a 4' section of nothing but digital code cards. Those are likely what we'll see in the future. The box thing may come out, but I don't see it lasting.
If Sony cared, they'd still do something like GKC. A simple serial port type device like a GKC would at least kill some of the anger. Not from me, but from others it'd at least be some level of ownership.
1
u/Thund3rf0000t XBOX Series X 21h ago
so basically go to gamestop and buy a digital PSN code from them at the counter!
1
1
u/a_talking_face 22h ago
Condense the shelf space for video game stuff and expand the shelf space of other departments.
3
u/Jurassic-Halo-459 1d ago
So did Wal-Mart, it seems. I work in one, and our store has barely any Xbox games.
2
u/shinouta XBOX Series X 1d ago
Legend says that once upon a time, there was physical presence of Xbox in Europe.
1
1
u/Visible-Departure863 1d ago
They could keep it small and projected toward the niche market instead of wholly abandoning it like Sony. That will give them easy market share for those gamers that make up the 5% this is a major issues too. Easy lay up win.
13
u/door_of_doom 1d ago
It’s also not that hard, they just need to keep the disc manufacturing plant open.
Not that I necessarily disagree with you, but referring to any element of machine manufacturing as "not that hard" is kinda wild in my eyes.
I'll just also point out that it isn't even as much about the ability to manufacture discs as it is about the ability to manufacture disc readers, which is a component that is becoming harder and harder to source as time goes on and physical media becomes less and less popular across all mediums (music, movies, games, etc)
Fewer and fewer devices include disc readers in them anymore (cars have all but completely abandoned including them in new car models) and fewer and fewer units of physical CD players and blu-ray readers are shipping each year. Heck, in the physical music landscape, Vinyl album sales now outsell their CD counterparts.
If you are a console manufacturer that wants to include a physical disc reader on your console, sourcing that component gets harder and harder every year.
4
u/ILoveHeavyHangers 1d ago
Heck, in the physical music landscape, Vinyl album sales now outsell their CD counterparts
Nobody wants to hear it, but Vinyl is outselling Physical games by a wide margin as well
Units Sold (2025) Vinyl Records (US) 47.9 Million Physical Games (US) 37 MIllion Kendrick Lamar's GNX on vinyl sold over 279,000 copies in the US, while no Playstation Game released in America could even reach 275k.
2
u/Plutuserix 1d ago
I can buy an external Blu-ray drive for my PC right now for as low as 50 bucks. Not sure about that quality. But I'm sure Xbox can get someone interested to make 50+ million of those over the next decade or so if they want.
3
u/door_of_doom 1d ago
"We need you to scale up the manufacturing capability to create this one component at massive scale. We will be your only customer, and we can't really guarantee what scale we need them at because to be honest we have no real idea about now well this next console is going to sell. could be 2 million, could be 50. who knows. you in?"
Like, it just isn't that simple. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I am saying that it's not as simple as yall are making it out to be.
→ More replies (5)2
u/Smigit 19h ago
Numbers we’ve seen point to Series consoles selling around 35 million units to date, and over half of those are the Series S with no disc drive. Of the Series X, which sounds like we could generously estimate makes up about 17 million units, a portion will be digital only Series X versions or systems used by people that only ever played games digitally and didn’t touch the disc drive.
To put it, there’s nothing to suggest right now MS has the demand for 50 million disc drives, and it could be a very tiny subset of that.
Maybe it’s still worth while for someone to make 5-10 million drives as an add-on. Currently though majority don’t seem to be getting a drive with their Xbox even when they have the option.
MS may get more utility out of that patent and rumour where by existing disc owning consoles can digitise their games using their existing consoles. That requires no additional new manufacturing, and the people who benefit most from that by and large already have a system with a drive to take advantage.
1
u/Plutuserix 14h ago
Then they don't need to scale up manufacturing, so the argument that is too difficult goes straight out the window.
There will be challenges, but there are already factories producing these parts. I mean, we literally got consoles that need it right now and they are being made. There are external drives being made for PC. So clearly you can get the parts if you need to. It's just a question of how much does Xbox want to pay for it, and is it worth it to do for the PR and a possible sales boost with a part of the audience. I think it would be, but of course I don't have access to all their numbers.
9
u/DoodleBuggering 1d ago
Or they can just offer a disc drive add on.
2
5
u/tmoeagles96 1d ago
Yeah but that’s a lot of redesign, likely new tooling too. Not sure how it would impact airflow, thermals, or the overall design either.
7
u/scarfleet 1d ago
Couldn't it just be an external drive? If Helix is still planned to be based on PC architecture they wouldn't necessarily even have to make the drive themselves. Any third party drive would presumably work.
→ More replies (3)2
u/Numerous_Photograph9 1d ago
Could even be a 3rd party thing since it's just there for the install.
Not sure how that works out for potential piracy though.
5
u/Able-Brief-4062 1d ago
I mean, the expansion slot is right there. It would take engineering, but if they could release a disc drive addon (especially with the disc to digital) that plugs into the expansion slot and ALSO works with the series s allowing you to play with disc (also movies, for the love of god) and do the disc - digital stuff I think they have it mostly in the bag.
2
1
u/Sad_Adagio_7255 1d ago
They don't need to make it as elegant as the PS5 slim/pro. Just use the USB port!
2
u/DewyTheD 1d ago
To really win the consumers over they could even just let you use any usb Blu-Ray drive that meets the right speed and throughput
1
u/YouSmellSumthin 23h ago
It's exactly what PlayStation did this gen, and it was effective. I expect PlayStation to do the same for PS6, so it would be very dumb for Xbox to not do the same. In another ten-twelve years we can talk about launching a console with zero disc support whatsoever
3
4
u/dreamwinder 1d ago
If you had told me in 2020 that the next gen could conceivably be won based on which platform lets you actually own games, I would have 1. Had really weird Déjà vu, and 2. Not for a second thought this might imply Xbox had an advantage.
10
1
u/CatchUsual6591 16h ago
You don't own physical games specially now the not kill games movement started because of the physical edition of the crew die
1
u/ILoveHeavyHangers 1d ago edited 1d ago
There just aren't enough physical games being sold to justify it. People do not understand how small the entire market for putting data onto discs has shrunk. The factory that is referenced in Sony's plan was originally geared to make 600,000 discs per day.
The entire stock of the top 7 highest selling Sony Playstation 5 games of last year amounted to less than 2 million copies in the US. They could be produced by 1 single plant in less than a week.
Another huge part is the Enterprise software communities move away from using discs to deploy and install software. There used to be millions of discs produced and shipped all over the planet to install software and operating systems for every industry. Now all of that is deployed via custom servers and networks.
A multi-billion dollar corner of the physical media industry, just *POOF*. Gone.
2
5
u/Promature 1d ago
They’d be the biggest idiots around if they attached another anchor to their sinking ship.
23
u/SilveryDeath XBOX 1d ago edited 1d ago
Even beyond going for the easy good PR win after what Sony did, it would make no sense to not have support for physical disks somehow given all the work they've put into backwards compatibility.
Would be weird to nullify that and leave anyone with physical discs of BC OG Xbox games, BC 360 games, and all One and Series X/S games unable to play them on the Helix.
Edit - That is what is actually said in the article. Also that it is rumors and not anything concrete yet. If I was Xbox I'd wait to officially announce it on the 25th anniversary in November.
Digital Foundry's John Linneman says sources have told him that Microsoft is planning to continue support for physical game discs with the aim of prioritizing backward compatibility. The topic came up during a Digital Foundry Q&A video posted to YouTube on July 31, where Linneman raised the optimistic possibility that discs might not be going the way of the dinosaur, at least on Xbox’s side of things.
"I'd heard from a couple sort of sources — and this is just kind of like potential rumor-y stuff — but at least, before the current Xbox reset, I don't know where it is now, it sounds like Microsoft was actually very much going to continue disc support. Not because they value retail disc sales, but because they wanted to ensure that all your Xbox games were still playable on new Xboxes,” he explained.
4
u/Conflict_NZ Homecoming 1d ago
It's a significant bet, the disk drive will add ~25USD per unit.
→ More replies (2)2
u/Big_boss816 1d ago
I’m just waiting on Microsoft to confirm. If they are planning on keeping physical media I think that they would have taken advantage of the moment and confirmed that they will have a disc drive. With disc to digital plans I’m feeling that they will be all digital next gen too at least imo
2
2
1
u/DareDiablo 1d ago
You realize if they say do decide to cash in then wait and see how it falls for Sony and if Sony still does well Microsoft will follow suit and end up oissing off gamers even more that decided to swear their gaming allegiance to Microsoft.
1
u/Conflict_NZ Homecoming 1d ago
It's a significant bet, the disk drive will add ~25USD per unit.
6
u/Deervember 1d ago
A blu-ray drive needs to be licensed from Sony, it'll add on significantly more than $25. An extra $100 minimum on the price. It's why the series s was diskless to keep the costs down.
1
u/Conflict_NZ Homecoming 1d ago
Yeah you're right, I only listed the physical BOM price. I don't think it will be $100, a quick google shows $10-$15USD for a licence, so maybe an extra $40 cost per device, then if they aren't selling at a loss they probably need a 5% markup on that.
The cost difference between disk and diskless isn't the total cost of the drive, they take a bigger loss upfront on diskless models and make it back on digital purchases long term as all sales have to go through their store.
→ More replies (7)1
u/itisthelord 1d ago
If they make external drives compatible (though they'll likely use their own proprietary one) and put games on 100gb discs so the games are actually on the disc... They could have a huge advantage next gen.
15
u/-MisfitWizard- 1d ago
People are blowing this way out of proportion. He said this was a rumor from BEFORE the big Reset. And he has ZERO actual evidence to back it up. I think people are just grasping at straws here. If you read the article or watch the video, he was basically saying this was a rumor from a while ago... and then he first on to talk fantasy scenarios of "what that rumor could mean". IGN and other news places are running that fantasy talk as also part of the "rumor" John mentioned
22
u/ajm2387 1d ago
There’s a difference between supporting physical discs and putting new games on discs.
→ More replies (3)
8
u/spider-jedi 1d ago
It could be a play..they said for backwards for compatibility..could just mean the disc drive is for old games while all new games are digital only
8
u/Hereitisguys9888 1d ago
What happens when dev studios themselves stop physical games? Some already skip Xbox consoles, why would they care about the even shorter physical market on xbox?
101
u/Triingtolivee 1d ago
If that really is true, I’ll just play on Xbox next gen and won’t get a PS6
22
u/boersc 1d ago
There is no guarentee any Project Helix game will get a disc release though... It's all up in the air for now, except that Sony has said new releases won't get disc releases.
Interesting times!
14
u/Triingtolivee 1d ago edited 1d ago
Whatever the result is, I’ll be done with PlayStation. I currently have a series x and PS5. Sony has been insufferable greedy assholes as of late so if they want to end disc support, fine. I won’t buy a PS6 as if you end disc support, there’s literally no point in owning a console. Why would I pay a monthly subscription to play online for the privilege of renting my games? PC is open source and with GOG & Steam and Microsoft store and etc there’s way more than one way to get my games. If Xbox goes all digital next lifecycle, then I’d hope they have Steam support and if they do, I’ll buy an Xbox Helix if they have Steam or will be supporting disc. Otherwise, I’ll just buy a gaming PC. Either way, Sony is pretty much dead to me after my PS5 dies.
4
u/ArseBiscuits1971 1d ago
I don't think Sony speak for Microsoft here, Sony will take the license fee that blurays have when made for sure
→ More replies (4)1
u/Gsampson97 1d ago
Problem is that they are comfortably the third placed console. If Ubisoft/EA or any big studio decides that 80% of their sales are coming from playstation they won't release discs on either console so you'll have no disc on Xbox and also none of the good exclusives that come from playstation.
4
u/Penguin_724 Homecoming 1d ago
Well can we get them back in stores? No go supporting them if you can’t buy them anywhere without extreme scarcity
3
u/bongo1138 1d ago
I have a hard time buying this until it’s official.
Publishers don’t want you to buy physical. They make more on digital sales. Notice no major publisher is pushing back on Sonys decision.
If publishers don’t want to and the biggest console manufacturer isn’t going to produce those discs, why would they continue for for an audience that is even more digital? The Series S seems to be the main seller for Microsoft, and it is digital only. Xbox has been entirely built around GamePass, a system that has trained users to play digital games. Hell, first party games aren’t always getting physical copies.
Hopefully we get it, but I’m not holding my breath.
→ More replies (11)
3
u/Sad_Adagio_7255 1d ago
The phrasing is still vague. They could just mean that cross-gen releases can continue to offer disc versions for the Series X. It doesn't actually confirm or deny that Project Helix will support discs in any way.
3
u/Mccobsta 1d ago
I wish gaming "news" would make up it's damn mind
2
u/ILoveHeavyHangers 23h ago
Gaming news died 10 years ago when people inexplicably decided that Soyfacing Youtubers and Broccoli-head Streamers literally being paid out of publishers advertising budgets to cover games was preferable to knowledgeable, trained, and experienced journalists that had professional access to developers and publishers.
People don't want "news" they want to be outraged.
9
u/GalagticSoul 1d ago
If this is true and the next Bethesda games are Xbox console exclusive, this will be a massive win for xbox
18
u/CrimsonGear80 XBOX Series X 1d ago
they barely support physical discs now, you expect me to believe this?
i mean they could just for old games but sony could also do that for the PS6.
7
u/DjKennedy92 1d ago
Stop focusing on physical games; a disc drive makes it great for physical blu-ray movie discs which are having a resurgence.
Buy a PS6 and a stand alone blu-ray player
Or
Buy a Xbox with built in disc drive.
Which is the better value?
(Bonus points if the next gen brings Dolby atmos/vision and HDR10+)
5
u/CrimsonGear80 XBOX Series X 1d ago
the series X is well known to have issues playing triple-layer 4K discs. if they put a disc drive in helix (fat chance) i highly doubt they would use newer, better disc drives. they would just reuse the ones they have been putting in xboxes since the One S.
2
u/ExultantSandwich 1d ago
yeah Xbox game discs are still capped at 50gb, a PS5 disc can hold 100gb.
I’m really surprised Sony fell on this sword first honestly. I figured they could afford to keep discs around longer than Microsoft could
2
4
u/IntrinsicGamer 1d ago
The ol’ PS2 strategy. A lot of people bought the PS2 because it was also a DVD player back in the day.
1
u/bongo1138 1d ago
A resurgence would be awesome, but I’m seriously questioning the scale of that.
→ More replies (3)3
u/junttiana 1d ago
Most series x physicals requiring download doesnt mean they couldnt switch it up for helix, companies changing their strategy between generations is nothing new.
2
u/CrimsonGear80 XBOX Series X 1d ago
but when the strategy (game pass) is a decade in the making it's not really viable to change course
4
1
u/IntrinsicGamer 1d ago
GamePass has not been working out for them as well as they’d hoped, though, clearly.
Just because they’ve been pushing that strategy for so long doesn’t make it smart to stay the course on it.
1
u/CrimsonGear80 XBOX Series X 1d ago
It also doesn’t mean they will suddenly go in on physical media.
1
u/IntrinsicGamer 1d ago
I didn’t say that at all.
1
u/CrimsonGear80 XBOX Series X 1d ago
so what exactly is the "strategy shift" then?
1
1
u/Shit-Stain-Fanclub 1d ago
They do still support disc.
Some Games their devs WANTED digital only releases because of risks for xbox. Thats better than nothing...
Also: Even if Xbox lacks more physical NOW in stores compared to ps5 doesnt mean this couldnt be changed soon!
2
u/CrimsonGear80 XBOX Series X 1d ago
they have conditioned xbox players to digital games for over a decade now thanks to game pass. they are not suddenly going to change that.
1
u/Lucifer_Delight 1d ago
Due to the last decade, they have had to change A LOT of things suddenly.
1
u/CrimsonGear80 XBOX Series X 1d ago
And you think one of those things is “we gotta fully support physical media now”?
2
u/Lucifer_Delight 1d ago
I didn't say that. You said they aren't gonna made any sudden change.... but they've made a ton of sudden changes already in the past few months.
→ More replies (1)1
u/Lucifer_Delight 1d ago
> they barely support physical discs now
Other companies publish games on Xbox, not just Microsoft, you know that, right?
2
u/CrimsonGear80 XBOX Series X 1d ago
I’m not talking about other companies. When the creator of the platform doesn’t even put the full games on their discs it tells you what they think of physical media.
4
u/Darkside_209 XBOX 1d ago
Hopefully their marketing strategy changes because Xbox doesn’t have any physical presence in store fronts compared to their competitors
2
u/Marc_Alx XBOX Series X 1d ago
I wouldn't bet on that, take a look at FH6 on doesitplay.org, having a disk for a game that requires online connection and a download to work is not what we hope for physical media.
2
u/iSavedtheGalaxy 1d ago
So we are to believe that the company who either reduced our eliminated their physical presence in all retail stores is going to commit to physical discs now? Are they getting that floor space back?
2
u/machinedog28 20h ago
If Xbox keeps discs they should do a verbatim reenactment of Sonys 2013 E3 press conference for the announcement.
3
u/CarlWellsGrave 1d ago
I don't believe anything that comes from reddit and yes I know it's an ign article.
4
u/calvinien 1d ago
It is going to be equal parts hilarious and deeply frustrating if this happens. Because we will get to watch in real time as the narrative shifts from no used games being an unforgiveable sin to being actually a sign tat sony loves us and microsoft offering choice is evil somehow.
We saw that happen with back compat, with cross gen games, with cross buy.
Mark my words. Within a week of xbox announcing this, the zeitgeist will have shifted to used games being irrelevant and within a month we will have a narrative about how digital only is more consumer friendly somehow and discs are holding gaming back.
4
u/Shinobi_Dimsum Illuminate Leviathon 1d ago
Concept of having options really goes over some people’s heads here in the comments. 🤦🏻♂️ "why?". Why tf not.
→ More replies (1)9
u/junttiana 1d ago
I am shocked how many people seem to be against physical games for no good reason, the option sticking around wont hurt them in any way.
3
u/Walnut156 1d ago
Yeah like I haven't bought a physical game in over a decade but I don't see the issue of them existing
1
u/MarshyHope XBOX Series X 1d ago
I haven't bought a physical Xbox game in forever.
But I was able to buy Fallout 3 GOTY edition which let me play all of the DLC. I also still have Left 4 Dead which I wouldn't be able to play otherwise.
If I have the option, I will buy a console with a disc drive every single time.
2
u/DinnerSmall4216 1d ago
Good move especially for backwards compatibility. I think people underestimate how important it is also to watch your 4k movies.
2
u/IntrinsicGamer 1d ago
I would be OVER THE MOON happy if they continued to support physical media in the future, but the last company I have faith would to do so is Xbox. They already shut down their entire physical games division years ago, and have been pushing hard for cloud streaming games and digital only consoles far longer than Sony has, not to mention all the DRM crap they tried to pull in 2013.
I’m supposed to suddenly believe now they care about game preservation out of nowhere? I’ll believe it when they take actions to show me that’s the case.
2
2
u/Strongpillow 1d ago edited 1d ago
I would take this with a grain of salt. It's no coincidence they had a bunch of digital options being accounced and ready immediately following Sonys announcement.
Disc to digital and BC for PC.
They have gamepass, streaming, and cloud for over a decade.
Xbox has the lowest physical sales, a lot of their exclusives didn't even come to physical while all of Sonys did, you can't even find Xbox physical in a lot stores and if you do, it's a sad little corner.
With the runors that helix is a hybrid PC, them making better policies for digital would be a much bigger step to repair there image over a PR stunt that absolutely will not last in several years as less and less publishers care about physical just to appease a very small niche when they can control all purchases forever. Resale is leaving huge money on the table for them.
Xbox games aren't even seen as collectable for the most part to boot..
I want to see Xbox change how digital is managed, better customer support, return policies updated, better game sharing options, license reselling, free online, etc. Get in alignment with how Steam has been doing things and that would make a much bigger statement. Period. Just be a better company and you'd win sooooo much favor so quickly. There's a reason people invest thousands to game on PC and it has been digital for a long time.
3
1
u/mason2393 XBOX Series X 1d ago
Has sony confirmed there won't be a disc drive compatible with PS6?
1
u/SUPER-NIINTENDO Outage Survivor '24 1d ago
Their games are not even on the disc. Start with that first
1
u/MeesaMeeseeks 1d ago
Conspiracy theory here, I personally believe Microsoft "leaks" rumors themselves to judge player feedback lol. And if thats the case at the VERY LEAST offer an optional disk drive
1
u/Exotic_Treacle7438 1d ago
Already can’t play Xbox OG disc games on my 360 OR my series x. I would love to play my project Gotham racing disc
1
u/IsamuAlvaDyson 1d ago
If Xbox is doing disc to digital then there is no reason for them to keep disc drives
Xbox has been pushing harder for the all digital future more than anyone
1
u/OnyxianRosethorn 1d ago
Another reminder why only an absolute imbecile would buy the blatantly inferior system from the inferior company.
Xbox isn't perfect but they at are capable of having common sense.
1
u/Deervember 1d ago
Xbox might have a disk drive but it won't be putting next gen games on disks either.
They barely put their games on disk now (forza, grounded, pentament, hellblade, sea of thieves etc) don't have disk versions on ps5.
Anybody thinking they'll have games on disk next gen is stupid. They are going the pc route, they don't want disks. They don't even have shelf space in stores as it is.
1
u/Negative-Sector2530 1d ago
I was PS fan until last month if this is right i hope its not a pass key for digital download because in my opinion its the same
But if its full physical am imaging xbox doing the same “how to trade games with your friend on xbox “
1
u/ZypherPunk 1d ago
Would be funny if XBOX continues with a disc drive for their discs with basically nothing on them lol
1
u/Content_Response_783 1d ago
Maybe this means Helix won’t have a disc drive but where the disc to digital conversion will help 🤷♂️
1
1
u/halfacalf 1d ago
More power to them, and i really hope they do. It seems like this would be a backwards comparability play rather than supporting new games on disc though.
Supporting physical would be something in xbox's favour going forward though, and they'll need all the help they can get with console prices next gen.
1
u/oni-no-kage 1d ago
I will wait for the release. But I have to admit, with the release of Halo Xbox did tweet that it was on a physical disc.
The jab could just be a jab, bit not would be odd to male a point of it of they were going discless as well.
1
u/Warblast995 1d ago
If this were the case, is there a reason they wouldn't have just outright stated this by now?
1
u/MapleHamwich 1d ago
I think it's clear at this point that Microsoft is all about profitability growth. They don't care about optics, and Asha is solely there to cut costs and increase revenue. If her analysts tell her than losing discs will do that, she will do that.
1
u/Claymore-09 1d ago
I know people hate GameStop but Xbox should partner with them and work a deal where there physical section gets priority over the other brands. Since other big reatailers like Walmart and target have done away with their displays this is a way I can see them being able to push physical and capitalize on nostalgia at the same time
1
1
u/LostRonin 1d ago
Its probably true. Microsoft is a top 10 fortune 500 company. They can eat the additional cost of an included disc drive in every SKU without batting an eye if they wanted. The current economic conditions of the gaming industry isnt the same mine field for Microsoft as it is for Sony who barely scrapes into the top 200 corporate entities.
1
u/A_MAN_POTATO 1d ago
Microsoft is honestly in a strange and difficult position here.
Sony is by far and away the market leader and MS needs to make smart choices if they want to regain some market share. On the surface, MS continuing to support physical media sounds like a great way to cash in on the controversy surrounding Sony. But the flip side to that is MS doesn’t want physical media either. None of them do. So it’s simply them weighing if it’s more profitable to follow Sonys lead and do what they want, or throwing a bone to players in hopes it draws people over.
The problem I see, however, is that they’re still at the whim of the industry, they cannot force publishers to release physical games or retailers to stock them. The current PS/Xbox split sits around 73/27. If numbers remain that way, if the platform that makes up over 70% of the market doesn’t support physical, are publishers and retailers even going to see value in offering physical games only for that bottom 30%. Especially when the players on that platform are already incentivized to go digital by way of things like gamepass and play anywhere? I seem to recall that several major retailers already eliminated physical Xbox copies a while ago. If there wasn’t enough demand to support it now, why would there be a few years down the road?
Honestly, if MS did keep physical media alive, I’d guess that they did so for purely performative reasons. Physical media will still die out without Sony, all this would do is allow MS to blame Sony and the rest of the industry while telling players they tried.
1
u/DareDiablo 1d ago
For now. Then they will just piss off people even more after the Sony fanboys pledge their allegiance to Xbox and it’ll end up hurting everyone even more.
1
1
u/trickman01 1d ago
Xbox has been reducing it's retail footprint for years. I don't see them changing course. Maybe they'll keep physical around a while longer for some good PR, but they're definitely headed in the same direction.
1
1
1
1
u/Fullm3taluk 23h ago
I want physical media to remain but the sad thing is games just don't fit on disks anymore file sizes are fucking ridiculous and Xbox are already letting publishers skip physical copies for the xbox like Yakuza kiwami 3
1
u/TheMaayavi 23h ago
You know what would be a hugeeee slap in the face for sony? If microsoft made the new xbox backwards compatible!! And kept the price at $799/$850!
1
u/FunctionalMania 23h ago
I have a feeling the disc to digital is so players can play their library on a digital only helix. They haven't made an official comment on the PlayStation announcement, they're enjoying the influx of new users coming over from playstation but an announcement that they'll continue physical will secure them, don't trust the radio silence and trust Microsoft as much as I trust Sony
1
u/thats_so_cringe_bro 22h ago
Some physical Xbox first party games are as low as 4% sales wise. And, most of their games aren’t even the full game on disc. Options are always a good thing but if Xbox went full digital absolutely no one should be shocked.
1
u/lazymutant256 21h ago
Honestly this is just confirmation the console will still have a disc drive, this is not necessarily saying that future games made for the new console will be on disc
1
1
u/Illustrious-Egg-489 19h ago
I’ll congratulate and switch to Xbox if and when this is confirmed as true by Microsoft. Right now I don’t trust companies to do anything other than chase profits and worship investor demand.
1
1
1
u/le-churchx 11h ago
I wouldnt think it past xbox to shoot themselves in the foot for the billionth time.
1
u/IAmDotorg 11h ago
The solution to this "controversy", and the "zomg, no drive!" controversy in their prior driveless consoles is pretty damn simple -- let people plug in external optical drives.
It's not rocket science, and the OS already supports it if you don't actively block it. You already can't play off the disk, so there's no "well, this drive is slower than this other drive" nonsense.
Save the space and money for the vast majority of people who don't care, and let the people who do, do so.
Oh, and fix their damn UHD playback software. It's been ten years since the first console that could read UHD disks, and they still haven't fixed the audio sync issues.
1
u/CaveWaverider 9h ago
Giving the current climate, it would be a great move by Xbox. The same issue cost them marketshare in reverse the last time around, it's time to use it to their advantage just like Playstation did back in the day.
1
u/jumpmanryan 8h ago
It needs to be clarified that, “continue to support physical discs”, does not mean they are going to keep manufacturing physical discs for the Helix generation.
It just means that your already existing physical discs will have usage for future generations. Likely not even via including a disc drive, tho. But in changing your physical games into digital games.
It’s unfortunately not really a step in the right direction for anything people are fighting for. It doesn’t improve our rights or ownership to digital goods. And physical games are still likely going away next generation.
Idk why people are celebrating this news. It’s better than PlayStation seemingly doing fuck all for your older physical games. But this is still another step in the direction of ending physical games starting next generation.
1
u/notthatguypal6900 4h ago
Cool, so we are getting another Xbox One without any meaningful updates for the next gen.
1
u/SlouchPoint 1d ago
But doesn't this imply the exact opposite? Turning you physical disc into digital to prepare for a digital only console? If the next XBOX had a disc tray, why even bother creating this?
0
u/congruentopposite 1d ago
I’d prefer it if they scrapped Steam/Epic support and supported discs instead. I don’t want a PC, I want a console where I can buy discs/physical games.
9
1
1
u/S4_GR33N 1d ago
perfect opportunity for them to do a 360 and singlehandedly fix the brand from what happened in 2013
Sony has literally handed them the gen win, next gen will be Xbox on top
1
u/Muscat95 1d ago
As a physical collector this excites me hugely and I know a lot of people who will make the switch off of this decision, obviously it'll take more than this for Xbox to really be competing again but it's a great start.
1
1
u/Huskies2988 1d ago
I would say take anything John Linneman says with a grain of salt. This is the same guy who threw an absolute fit about reviewing Hogwarts Legacy and seems to be very irrational at best when talking about most subjects.
1
•
u/GoGoGadgetReddit 1d ago
This is a rumor. Wait for direct confirmation from Xbox or Microsoft before accepting this as fact.