A new report says XBOX’s shift away from physical media may reflect a shrinking optical-drive supply chain as users opt for digital-only hardware.
Earlier today, XBOX announced that its disc-to-digital program will launch on Monday for Insiders. The program will begin by supporting thousands of eligible games from current and former XBOX generations. This will turn the physical games you own into digital licenses you also own and can transfer to a new owner if you sell or give away the physical game, similar to Nintendo’s game key cards.
XBOX’s Physical Media Future May Depend on Disc Drives
According to a new report from Jez Corden of Windows Central, sources familiar with the situation suggest that Microsoft’s approach to the physical-versus-digital debate may be less about a hard pivot away from game discs like PlayStation’s and more a necessary move, since the future of disc drives is uncertain.
Per the report, the supply chain for disc drive components is “collapsing” as consumers keep opting for digital purchases, which means assembly lines are moving away from the tech.
Microsoft still hasn’t really put its mark on the debate, although sources tell me it’s less about the discs and more about the disc drives themselves; the entire supply chain for the components required to make optical disc drives is collapsing, with assembly lines pivoting away from the tech as users actively opt for digital-only.
As for Sony, they are not completely moving away from game discs just yet. They will stop producing physical media for their games in 2028, but they will continue to support existing discs beyond that point.
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