Xbox Disc-to-Digital Program Is Now Automatic for Users and Is Gaining More Support from Publishers as Ubisoft and Select SEGA Titles Appear

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Image: Microsoft

The Xbox Disc-to-Digital program has become a huge hit among gamers and publishers alike, with more games getting added and the feature now more streamlined. It’s only been a month since Microsoft launched the new Disc-to-Digital test program, allowing users access to digital versions of their physical copy of the game, and it has gained significant traction in a short span of time. According to Xbox Collection Tracker, there are currently over 1,500 games supported, and more keep getting added.

Ubisoft is among those who’ve recently joined in supporting the program, and SEGA has allowed some of its games to be included now as well. Sonic Forces, Sonic Colors, Sonic Frontiers, and Sonic Superstars have been added. Windows Central Insider has been keeping track as well and has noted the continued absence of Square Enix and Bandai Namco but suspects that the former may choose to participate soon.

“While I can’t speak much for Bandai Namco, I do presume that, given Square’s fondness for Xbox as of late, we’ll at the very least see them get on board at some stage.”

– Windows Central Insider

Microsoft has also streamlined the process for acquiring a digital license by automatically presenting users who’ve already signed into their account on the console with the option to proceed with the disc-to-digital process. Users simply insert the game disc and let Xbox know if they’d like to proceed. While this is a great way for owners of game discs to preserve their physical media, they need to be aware that if the disc finds its way to another user and they activate it on their account, the license will be transferred and the original user will lose access to the game. On the plus side, cloud saves will remain, so if that user ever reacquires a game disc, they can pick up where they left off.

It’s good to see such support from both Microsoft and the many publishers for this program, which is so beneficial for Xbox users. It’ll be interesting to see if rival Sony chooses to follow, but so far, there hasn’t been a peep from the PlayStation manufacturer, which has already announced plans to cease physical media production in the coming years.

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Peter Brosdahl
As a child of the 70’s I was part of the many who became enthralled by the video arcade invasion of the 1980’s. Saving money from various odd jobs I purchased my first computer from a friend of my dad, a used Atari 400, around 1982. Eventually it would end up being a lifelong passion of upgrading and modifying equipment that, of course, led into a career in IT support.

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