A new report claims that Xbox’s “Positron” disc-to-digital software is far more seamless than expected.
A few months ago, code snippets showing this emerged Xbox runs on digital software from a disc, details are thin on the ground though. Now we have a reliable report detailing how it can work.
With that in mind, this is a hot topic right now PlayStation has just announced that it will no longer support discs of any capacity starting in 2028, and the PlayStation 6 will not support discs at all. For those who own existing disc-based games, they’re effectively sitting on their laurels PS5 will continue to operate forever. But with that in mind PlayStation just killed access to previously purchased movies and closing digital stores on PS Vita and PS3, people are more concerned than ever about forward and backward compatibility.
Xbox has been something of a pioneer in the console space here. Its backward compatibility programs Xbox 360 and OG Xbox is the industry leader in the console, and it’s committed to bringing everything that already works. Xbox Series X|S to the next-gen Xbox Helix. But a big question mark remains over disc-based games, now more than ever.
When Positron was discovered by accident, many wondered if it required some form of middleman, such as taking the disc to a retailer or something, to work. But The Verge says it won’t.
Simply installing an Xbox game from disc will add it to your account and give you full digital rights. You will be able to log in via Xbox Cloud GamePlay anywhere on Xbox Ally X as if you fully owned the digital version of the game. It says that if you sell the disc or give it to another Microsoft Account holder, you will lose your digital rights to that game.
The Xbox One had a similar model, but the DRM was so aggressive that it required retailers to “unlock” the disc. It seems that Microsoft has found a way to enable digitization by adding the signature of the discs to your account. Although Microsoft warned testers that some older Xbox One discs “may not have the necessary features” for the system to work.
Indeed, this will only work with Xbox One discs and above, so those looking to digitize Xbox 360 discs are out of luck. Still, if everything works as described here, that would be great news for those who might be left out of digital features like Xbox Cloud Gaming.
The Verge says that Microsoft hasn’t finalized whether to include a disc drive in the Xbox Helix, but our sources have been hinting for months that Microsoft is moving away from including a disc drive in the next-gen console.
Given that PlayStation is leaving the disc-based market, I’d bet money that even if Xbox doesn’t decide to ditch discs, it almost has now. But new Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball said they’re “rethinking” everything about the Xbox Helix … so maybe he’s a big disc fan? Time will tell. I’m sure Xbox is watching the reactions too Sony‘s uncharacteristically preemptive and transparent announcement here.
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