While typically exclusive XBOX franchises, such as Halo, have only recently appeared on PlayStation platforms, Sony has been profiting from XBOX physical releases for some time.
Because XBOX discs are made by companies that license Blu-ray technology from Sony, Sony has earned a cut from every physical XBOX game sold for a while.
- More Physical vs. Digital Game News: Nintendo Software Sales Are Becoming Increasingly Digital
Sony Earns a Cut From Physical XBOX Games Thanks to Blu-Ray
This information stems from a recent report by Stephen Totillo of Game File, which notes that while Sony’s physical games are made in-house at Blu-ray disc facilities, XBOX has to go through a third party that ultimately pays Sony anyway.
A key difference: Sony games in most regions are made in Sony’s own Blu-Ray disc facilities (the main one in Austria’s has been getting all the press since July and is the one that will wind down manufacturing of new game discs). XBOX discs are made by firms such as Technicolor that license the Blu-Ray tech from Sony. Due to that license, Sony makes a small cut of every Blu-Ray for XBOX.
Physical media is, of course, front and center these days after Sony announced it would end production of physical game discs for its PlayStation platform beginning in 2028. Some PlayStation users are trying to fight this with a protest, but Sony is confidently moving forward with its plans.
The future XBOX platform is planned to be a PC and console hybrid, and there are plans for a disc-to-digital strategy that may prove to be more transparent about digital ownership.
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For more, check out our review of Halo: Campaign Evolved, the first in the franchise to be playable on a PlayStation platform. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Yeah makes sense. Now they’re all abandoning it. Sony better sell Sony Pictures to Netflix