While Sony continues to face backlash over its decision to stop producing PlayStation discs, starting in January 2028, key rival Xbox is quietly putting together a ‘Disc to Digital’ scheme, according to recent leaks. Most recently, a roadmap has been revealed to say a beta has been available to insiders during July, and general availability is coming this month.

Last month, Xbox unveiled Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC, and August is said to come with support for Disc to Digital for all Xbox One and Xbox Series X owners. Reportedly, the scheme will allow users to insert a disc into their console and have a digital license assigned to the product, transferring the license to avoid duplication.

Disc to Digital is reportedly coming this August

According to the latest leaks, the program is to be opt-in for publishers, and they may have the ability to charge for digital conversion – though this isn’t mandatory. With the release of backwards compatibility last month, it’s clear that Xbox is pushing emulation further, and a leaked email says Xbox “manages all engineering, certification, and support efforts”. It’s important to note that Microsoft’s next games console, Project Helix, will support both Xbox and PC titles.

For both programs, XBOX manages all engineering, certification, and support efforts. You, the Publisher, keeps full control over rights, pricing, and brand; your only lift is opting in and setting commercial terms. Both programs reactivate dormant SKUs, unlock new audiences on PC and handheld, and create ready-made re-release opportunities – no porting efforts required.

Leaked excerpt from Xbox email, source: eXtas1s

It’s not known exactly when Xbox console owners will gain access to the scheme, but expect it soon. If you’re wondering why the Xbox Series S isn’t mentioned, this is because the console is a digital-only device with no optical drive. Some loose ends are yet to be tied up too, such as what happens when the disc changes hands after being made digital, like being sold to a retailer that carries pre-owned copies. This scenario is reportedly accounted for, so we’ll have to wait and see how it all works.

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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.