Xbox is making good on its promise to let players trade physical discs for digital licenses, and the feature is now open to everyone who owns an Xbox Series X or Xbox One. The company has rolled out its disc-to-digital program to all users, following a period of testing with Insiders.
The move comes as gaming hardware moves toward a digital-only future. Sony has said it will end physical disc production in 2028, and many expect Xbox to follow a similar path by the next console generation. Physical discs have been outsold by digital copies on both consoles in recent years, but many longtime fans still have large collections from before the big digital push.
How The Claim Screen Works
To see how it works, a writer dug out a physical copy of Injustice 2, a game the writer does not own digitally. Putting the disc in the Xbox Series X revealed a new option in the game’s app menu: Claim digital license.
Clicking it brought up a screen. The writer claimed it, and the process was done. The writer no longer needs to use the disc for Injustice 2 anymore. Easy.
The writer also learned that playing the game automatically claims the license. So putting the disc in and starting the game does the same thing as clicking the button directly.
Which Games Are In
Not all games are included in the program. Xbox 360 and original Xbox games are not supported at the moment. A giant Xbox 360 collection in the basement is hopeful, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Some publishers do not support the feature at all. Sega just got on board earlier today, and Ubisoft was in as of earlier this month. Square Enix is one of the most notable remaining holdouts.
Both Sega and Ubisoft’s games were not supported when the program first began rolling out to Insiders. Both have since come on board. That pattern suggests Square Enix and any others currently not participating might join later.
A fan-made list suggests at least 1400 games are currently compatible with the program.
The Automatic Play Issue
There is a catch when you put a supported disc in the drive. Everything starts installing the second you insert it.
Xbox’s support page recommends a fix. Go to Settings > Devices & connections > Disc and uncheck “Play disc automatically.” The writer plans to do that, and readers may want to as well.
Why Keep The Disc
Even if you digitize your collection, the company advises hanging onto the physical discs. Selling or losing a disc may result in you losing the digital license, especially if someone else redeems it.
It is fine for the disc to gather dust. Just do not throw it away.
The Rollout Timeline
| Step | Timing |
|---|---|
| Testing with Insiders | Ongoing |
| Full rollout announced | Today |
| Sega joins | Earlier today |
| Ubisoft joins | Earlier this month |
| Square Enix status | Not participating at the moment |
What This Means For Players
The program is a practical convenience for anyone with a shelf full of games they no longer want to manage. Instead of digging through a box to find the right disc, you can play the digital version immediately.
It also gives players a hedge against the coming shift away from physical media. If Sony’s 2028 deadline holds, and if Xbox follows a similar path, a digital library becomes the only way to access older titles.
The Holdouts Matter
Square Enix remains the most notable publisher not yet on board. Both Sega and Ubisoft were not supported when the program first rolled out to Insiders.
Both Sega and Ubisoft have since joined, so the pattern is familiar. It is possible that Square Enix and any others currently not participating will join later.
The Dust Trap
The advice to keep the discs is notable. Xbox is asking players to hold onto physical media even as it pushes digital adoption. The company’s warning is clear: selling or losing a disc may result in you losing the digital license.
That creates a strange situation. You can have a digital copy, but you need to keep the physical disc around just in case.
Final Word
The rollout is a welcome update. It simplifies the experience for anyone with a physical collection, and it brings a feature that was previously reserved for Insiders to the entire user base.
The program is not perfect. Some games are left out, and the automatic installation issue is annoying. But the core promise — that you can keep your games without keeping the discs — is now available to everyone.
For longtime players with shelves full of old titles, this is a relief. The digital future is coming, and Xbox has made sure your collection can survive it.
Source material: “Xbox’s Disc-To-Digital Is Rolling Out Now To All Users,” Kotaku.
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