A new survey for Xbox Insiders suggests Microsoft still isn’t completely sure whether its next-gen console, Project Helix, should ship with support for physical discs. The company has also been quizzing its most dedicated fans on Xbox exclusives and support for automatic game highlights. Screenshots of the survey shared online show that respondents can choose one of three options.

It was only recently that Xbox rolled out its disc-to-digital program (currently limited to Xbox Insiders), giving players the opportunity to turn their existing physical discs into digital copies. Not every single publisher supported the initiative when it first launched, but more are slowly joining, including Ubisoft a couple of weeks ago; such an initiative may suggest a more digital-focused future.

Should the next-gen Xbox support physical discs or have exclusive games?

Courtesy of a post from Power Up Gaming, which says the survey is now available to some users on the Xbox Insider Hub app, we can see that Xbox has been questioning its user base on topics such as exclusives and physical media. It wasn’t long after CEO Asha Sharma took over that we started to hear Xbox “will reevaluate” its approach to exclusivity – especially after Sony moved away from single-player PC releases.

A few snapshots of the survey have been shared online, giving Xbox Insiders the chance to vote on whether these aspects are “Not Necessary,” “Nice to Have,” or a “Must Have”. It also directly makes reference to “a next-generation Xbox console,” hence why we’re talking about Project Helix. Some may already expect Project Helix to be digital-only, but this survey suggests Xbox is open to suggestions.

Despite the possibility of a digital-only future, there’s still a place for your existing Xbox discs thanks to the disc-to-digital initiative. Digital licenses are still tied to the disc, so if you choose to resell the physical media, the new owner can take your digital copy away. In other words, you can’t use the program to earn a quick buck by trading in your old discs. Sony doesn’t currently offer any kind of equivalent technology for PlayStation fans to take advantage of.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.