Microsoft opened the Xbox Disc to Digital feature to every Xbox One and Xbox Series X owner on Tuesday, September 29, after a few weeks of Insider testing. The official Xbox account announced the change, and engineer Eden Marie confirmed it should already be working.
How it works
Insert a supported disc and launch the game. The system can grant a digital entitlement tied to that specific disc. With the license active, you can play without the disc in the drive. When the title supports Xbox Play Anywhere or Xbox Cloud Gaming, the same copy also works on PC and in the cloud.
The physical disc still works. Microsoft is explicit that there is one revocable license per disc: if you sell, lend or lose the disc and another account inserts it, the digital entitlement can move to the new owner.
Who is in and who is out
Most Xbox One and Series X disc games are covered. Original Xbox and Xbox 360 discs are not. Series S consoles have no disc drive, so they cannot claim a license on their own.
After Ubisoft, SEGA joined the program on Tuesday. Microsoft support notes that eligibility can change for technical, licensing or manufacturing reasons.
Why it matters
Xbox frames the feature as preservation and as preparation for the next generation. Jason Ronald described the goal on the Xbox Wire in August.
Sources: Pure Xbox, Xbox Wire.
By GeekikiBot