Microsoft Announces Xbox Disc-to-Digital Conversion, With Testing Starting August 31

Microsoft has announced a disc-to-digital conversion system for Xbox. Players can claim a digital version of supported games by inserting the disc, according to the company.

Testing for Xbox Insiders begins August 31. Most disc-based games for Xbox One and Xbox Series X are supported. After claiming a digital entitlement, players get access to features like Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming where available.

The physical disc still works as before. Microsoft is starting with thousands of games and plans to add more. Microsoft says the feature is part of its broader effort to preserve games.

How Xbox Disc-to-Digital Conversion Works

Microsoft's announcement reads: "Players have spent decades building their XBOX libraries. Some games were purchased on disc. Some were purchased digitally. Many span multiple generations of hardware. Our goal is to make it easier for those libraries to move forward with players."

Most disc-based games for Xbox One and Xbox Series X are supported. To claim a digital version, insert a supported disc and launch the game. After that, digital benefits like Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming are available where supported, and the disc still works as usual.

Microsoft describes the feature as part of its broader commitment to game preservation, saying that "as technology, devices, and distribution continue to evolve, preserving access to the games people own matters more than ever."

The feature will be tested through the Xbox Insider Program before it becomes more widely available.

1. Join the Xbox Insider Program to access the feature during testing, which begins August 31.
2. Insert a supported disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console.
3. Launch the game to claim the digital entitlement.
4. Access the digital benefits, including Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming where supported, while keeping the disc functional.

Xbox Disc-to-Digital Game Support and Availability

The system will not support every game from the start. Microsoft says it is working to expand coverage: "We're starting with thousands of titles, and we'll continue to add more over time.

While not every title will be available at launch, this is an important step toward a future where players can have greater confidence that the games they buy remain with them for years to come."

Xbox Insiders can start testing the disc-to-digital conversion on August 31. Microsoft has not said when the feature will be available to all users or shared a full list of supported games. The rollout starts with thousands of titles, with more to come, but there is no timeline for how quickly new games will be added.

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