Talking Point: Do You Think Xbox Will Release Another Disc-Based Console?

It’s gonna happen sooner or later. They better release an external drive that I can buy to use all of my older physical games tho. Physical is going bye bye. I saw some figures a few months back on physical sales vs digital and it was ridiculously lop sided in favor of digital. So again, physical will be phased out of consoles eventually. Wether that happens with the next console is anyone’s guess. If I had to take a guess, I would say no. There will be a disc based version next time. It will be the console after that where it will get axed.

I can’t honestly not tell, if it was in their original plan that got leaked during the ABK deal.
Then I would say yes they will go all digital console wise.

Because basically I think Microsoft are on a journey with Xbox and a certain direction and they are not changing direction for any reason what so ever for good or bad.

They are sticking to their plan and guns and that is that no matter what.

I mean when you look at percentage of third party sales on series consoles see below, that must be hurting their reputation with third party developers etc, but they are not going to change direction no matter what the world thinks:

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
PS5 49%, Switch 38%, Xbox Series 8%, PS4 5%

Yes I think the fact that gamers more than anyone love their special editions is a big deal. I also think all the culling of games and movies from online stores when you thought you owned it forever is making a huge impact. I love digital I am lazy. But f Sony can elimanate huge swaths of stuff paid for whats keeping everybody from doing it. I have ordered the BG3 disc version and several other games lately.

I suspect the Xbox Series X (and for that matter the PlayStation 5 and possibly the upcoming successor to the Switch) will be the last game consoles to support physical media, given how several major retailers are no longer carrying physical media and it ultimately benefits publishers more by cutting out the second-hand market (which game subscription services are poised to replace anyhow).

To everyone who said it is really lopsided about digital to disc I agree it is or was lets watch the next few months. Before we were kinda naive in it will alsways be there I think we now know that is not true.

I’m not ready to digital only on console, unless prices are going below physical release MSRP (new games). When I see prices like €80 for a base game (and if I can believe some media, prices are gonna go up), I feel some nausea …

Sony or MS controlling prices can never be good for consumers! Give them choice! I wouldn’t rule out physical yet (but I’m a dinosaur, so what do I know).

I’ve done some good deals with digital games but that’s years after launch (and 3rd party).

@RIghteousNixon I think there was an article a while back suggesting they are coming up with a way verify a disc with out needing a disc drive. My speculation is if they were able to figure this out, there would be no need for the next system to support physical discs. This would also cut down costs of console hardware development and production.

No one wants an all digital console future where game companies rip us off even more than now no thanks there's no sell on value plus people like to actual own a physical game not a digital download

Probably some sort of external disc drive sold separately.

If they do I will go back to PC gaming. The only upside to consoles are the physical media.

@iplaygamesnstuff

That would be fantastic as that just means less money I have to spend. As long as I am able to play my older physical based games, I’ll be happy.

@Dan1283

Sure, there are some gamers that feel that way, but less and less all the time. I have 3 teenage kids and they could give a rats fart about physical. Their generation vastly prefers digital games over physical. And digital sales absolutely destroy physical. The figures I saw a few months back were like 93% digital, only like 7% physical for the month of Black Friday. With sales figures like those, physicals days are numbered, wether we like it or not.

I’m thinking future base consoles will be digital only with a removable/external disc drive similar to PS5s newest model. It just makes sense at this stage of the industry.

@RIghteousNixon I think the next Xbox generation will be digital but with an optional external disk drive

@DesertRanger There are a lot of existing external disc drives that plug in with a USB cord. Considering the console runs off the backbone of Windows OS it shouldn't be too hard for Microsoft to figure it out.

Honestly, I don’t expect it. But I definitely will always buy a device that takes physical media vs digital only

Xbox has grown significantly in the last few years. If a significant portion of CoD sales are on disc, then maybe we don't abandon it so quickly. Besides, how do we prove we own disc-based games from previous generations?

They kind of have to cater to physical media in some way or another. Many of their back compatible titles are only accessible with a physical disc. I'd be willing to bet the optional drive like Sony is doing with the newer PS5 model will be the standard for awhile.

Between MS, Sony, and Nintendo; whoever does the first digital only console (with no physical version at all) will be considered a failure and will lose that generation of gaming…then the other 2 will follow up do the same thing and be loved.

I think with the whole "gotta perserve games" thing MS has going on I think there consoles will have a disc option BUT I don't think new games will keep coming on discs, the drive will be see as a backwards compatibility option.

Digital only would be their downfall i think.
If they do that i will stick with PC.

Hopefully or Imma be going back to PC full time. Even the gaming PC I built and the gaming laptop I bought still have BD drives.

I think physical discs are sadly a thing of the past. What is the point of physical anymore? When you receive it, the chances are that it'll have a day one update anyway & thus rendering the physical data obsolete on the day of release.
This is less of an issue with Nintendo, but Xbox & PS is terrible for this. The only time I feel physical is remotely worth it is when companies release "complete editions" like the recent Shredders Revenge, SOR4 & Cyberpunk 2077.

Both Sony and xbox already have a digital only console, they would love an all digital future. Like others, I think next gen will be digital but with optional disc drive. Nintendo will be last console maker with built-in media drive, physical games make better presents for kids!

@RIghteousNixon I agree it makes no difference what gamers want it's happening that's guaranteed I'm afraid

Easy way to look at it is Blu-ray. They do sell them but everything is slowly moving over to streaming. It is just a matter of time that they won't use physical media simply because "What's the point?" It's just another expenditure of production, supply etc. When all they have to do is put it on a server and ta da. Jobs done.

Be a shame if they dont i love the fact i can watch my blu rays on my xbox and that it upscales all titles i have the best of both worlds all my games and blu rays and all streaming services in one place amazing

Added accessory maybe? Just a thought

The Series S have proving they don't need it. I think the real question is will the PS6 be disc based or not. Either way disc based consoles will be gone within 2 generations ignoring Nintendo of course as they won't drop physical media just yet. I game exclusively digital now and i watch my Blu Rays/DVD's on my region free player so no matter what happens it doesn't impact me.

Honestly, I think that Series X will be the last Xbox to support discs and PS will follow. I don't have many Xbox discs because Xbox One was my first Xbox and I have bought most Xbox One and all backwards compatible and Series games digitally, but I love how Xbox has a better Blu-ray player and is able to play CDs, unlike PS. I have a lot of CDs, DVDs and BDs. CD is better quality than most streaming services and most audio downloads. I'm going to keep my Series X even after getting the next Xbox console, unless the next Xbox supports discs. Series X could be my media player and developer mode allows running homebrew and older games.

EDIT: It's also very likely that they start selling the disc drive separately like Sony is doing now.

I do believe they will stop making discs and I do believe that'll be what kills the brand. Despite what their PR claims, they've shown the opposite of games preservation - Microsoft not only doesn't bother getting older games relisted or prevent delistings in the first place, they actually delist their own games too. Not in a million years would I trust a company like that with a digital-only console. And they can't even get devs to bother making games for them now, you really think only having a digital console is gonna help that, or drive more off? Especially after the botched Xbox One launch?

GameStop executives probably nervous about this. I am forever physical unless it’s only available digitally. Kudos to Limited Run and Strictly Limited and others for keeping physical games going! 👍

I see some users complaining often about Microsoft mishandling digital games, but in my experience they are a thousand year ahead of Sony and Nintendo. You can redownload any Xbox game you own and the games that are delisted is usually because of the publisher, not them, requesting so for reasons. Reasons like copyright issues or because they are releasing a "remaster". These users always blame Microsoft. Copyright issues (cars and music) also affected the old Forza games published by Microsoft, unfortunately.

There is A LOT of misinformation posted by users about the Xbox 360 store. Yes, it will shut down this year BUT

Moreover, you will be able to buy Xbox and Xbox 360 games that are included in the backwards compatibility program on Xbox One, Series S|X and future consoles.

I trust Microsoft for digital games as much as I trust Steam and I don't trust Nintendo nor Sony, at all. Sony doesn't even send you a digital invoice! I asked for them and they refused.

@iplaygamesnstuff If they could verify discs without a disc drive, for backwards compatibility reasons, it would be great. Verify discs and download the games. I guess it would be a camera of sorts.

they’d be dumb not to

I'm thinking it's all digital going forward for everyone with the disk drive an optional attachment. I'm sure Nintendo would love to be all digital as well to eliminate the second hand market but I'm not sure if they will pull that trigger on switch 2, likely wait for the next one after Xbox and Sony go all digital

It is getting harder and harder to find physical media... All digital is not far away.

I started buying digital in 2005 with Frogger on X360. Since they started shipping games digitally I start buying them digital only. Am very happy I did. Would not go back to physical media ever again.

I stream music on Spotify, stream movies and TV through firesticks, and download my games to my consoles, ROG ALLY, and PCs to play. Also, will play the odd game on cloud, but frankly the cloud is a lesser quality experience.

@Krzzystuff I think nintendo will always have a cartridge. One of the greatest things about them is going back and digging out that dragon quest 5 for the ds and being able to play and it just working and you can basically put any of their handhelds in the spot i listed ds they just continue to function. They have closed their various digital stores but the games work if you download them before the closure.

I hope Xbox learned their costly lesson in 2013. The competition should do a quick video on how to share games with friends if Xbox try to go through with this.

Discs are on their way out, physical media sales are only a small minority these days.

@CaptainCluck Sony released a digital-only version of the PS5 when they launched it and seem to be onboard with the digital sales and live services direction as well. Then you have Nintendo who seems to be planning on making the Switch 2 digital only. I guess like time will tell but it seems like the days of physical media being a big deal is in the past. The greater majority of the market doesn't seem to care anymore. At best it's just someone trying to score e-points that most people won't care about. Physical has become a real niche market.

@Kaloudz the disc an digital version console is wat Sony did. I think Microsoft may wish they’d done the same rather than the less powerful Series S. The Series S has had a few ball ache moments teyin to get certain games to work. Baldur’s Gate 3 became a Playstation exclusive for a while because of difficulties with the Series S version. I have a feeling the same might happen with GTA6. GTA6 will be Playstation exclusive for a while because of the Series S.
i do think if Xbox went all digital it would be bad for them. Xbox are constantly telling us they’re the best at backwards compatibility, going all digital, for me, would put Playstation at number 1 for backwards compat. Series X is my first Xbox, the only physical Xbox games i own are Elden Ring, Dead Island 2 and Left for Dead 2. I’ve owned every Playstation an i have about 70 physical PS4 games. I’d be pissed if Sony prevented me playin any of these on my console.

@JayJ You're repeating Microsoft's leaked Powerpoint, but I don't agree. A completely locked-down digital console that doesn't have any secondary market to purchase games is terrible for gamers and will kill any Xbox momentum. Sony's latest console release has merged both models with a detachable drive, and the Nintendo stuff is a complete guess.

Who knows whether physical will still be relevant enough to justify or not. The vast majority of gamers don't buy Physical and that market is in decline.

Its not as if every 'hardware' comes with a physical media player today and since the XB1/PS4 era, discs themselves are nothing but a 'key' to opening access to the Software that has to be installed on your HDD/SDD to run - the disc 'delivered' the Software too but often its not playable without additional Downloading (missing content, patches, updates etc) because Physical media is not adequate for 'modern' gaming.

Its been that way for over a decade now, but some are too stuck in their 'traditional' ways and with BC requiring 'proof' of purchase and others using it to watch Blurays, Media players are a necessity for some too - so I don't know that they'll abandon the Disc Drive 'soon' - but I don't know that they'll continue wasting money on Manufacturing and Distributing plastic discs that fewer and fewer are buying...

@CaptainCluck So in other words you're a completely delusional Sony fanboy. Cute, but I think you're on the wrong website.

They would have to, otherwise the physical only players won't buy. I know I wouldn't buy anything digital from Microsoft.

@JayJ I only own a Series X, but I’m just not an unpaid marketer for Microsoft when writing comments here.

Well yeah the Series X is for sure the last Xbox that plays physical media. Xbox has been awful on that front since Xone. The big question isn't whether PS follows suit with PS6 but will there be a next Xbox ? If it is all digital why would you choose it over a PC ?

MS are a software/tech company that offers some hardware and Xbox will be the next windows phone. Just is what it is

i have a lot oh physical xbox games and i hope they at least offer us an add-on

I already can no longer buy any new physical xbox games in Brazil.
I wanted to play street fighter 6, and had to buy it for the PS5. I wanted the xbox version, but i simply couldn't because it was not released down here on the stores. :/

It depends but they're definitely moving in that worrying direction.

I mostly use my series x to play my 360 discs and the occasional xbox one game disc. I simply would not buy an all digital Xbox. If I'm going all digital I might as well stick to PC where I have other methods of ensuring ownership and continuing with my launch Series X for my discs rather than move on to the next gen.

Same goes for PlayStation to a lesser extent. I mostly use it to play PS4 games on disc. And Switch to a greater extent where my entire library is physical (Due to the entire game being on the cartridge most of the time). If they all stop then I might as well save the money and get a quieter PC rig.

I went unlikely. If it wasn't for physical I'd not own an Xbox. I get odd Xbox One games for it but otherwise I'd rather go OG/360 instead and already am.

Office, Windows, Gamepass why would Microsoft care anymore even then Windows is on a USB stick for $100+ not a disk. Is it physical yes but I mean you could do that yourself if you knew how to.

Services and software is what they do now. Samsung TVs are the start, other devices later besides yes PC/Mobiles already and streaming box price would have worked as I mean if we got a TV for the price of 2 Series Xs I think the console is more worth it even if they lose money on consoles and get money in software with the TV I don't think Microsoft really gets that money unless using the app on your TV.

It works well the app and a Series X by two different users but at the same time a console give me more excitement. A new object, what design it has, what features it has. It's why I care about controllers so much and their features the gimmicks sell me on them not a boring box. Putting something physical in it is nice.

If games are going to be more modern and disappointments (or ones that are flops I see a mile away but still play them but gamer and critic tastes and my 180 different enjoyable and wants), Indies can be sometimes unique, sometimes nostalgic and boring because I can play older experimental ones by AAA or AA left behind with more original and fresh ideas in them left behind then popular game copying and fan game levels of just not interested but without those characters but just improved movesets versus more compelling actually different movesets/mechanics.

Whether back compat as a digital experience and the license on the disk or cloud saves I just like having a box still.

I only buy Xbox physical, granted they haven't gotten me interested in their first party as much but with smart delivery I have Xbox One games to play from third parties.

Demon Turf on Xbox is physical, every other platform digital. If it wasn't for that I'd never have bought it or if did digital on Switch/PS4 instead. It's a good game but I wanted it physical and got it physical (Xbox One/Series version, smart delivery copy too) and I'm happy to own it.

@Valkyrian What Sony sends is not an invoice, it's just a receipt.

Don't forget, digital only pushes out anyone with slow internet, and newer games take up more and more space.

I kinda wish some xbox games were distributed on the external hard driver format, just plug in.... already installed, and just play.

@Whybox Sadly the hard drive space argument is why I stopped buying physical games early on last gen. It became clear to me how discs had become little more than an extension to DRM, just a "you must have the disc in the drive" version of the concept. I loved buying physical games back when it meant you could play the game directly off the disc or have a minimalist install. As soon as the disc version required me to install the same amount of data as I would having bought the game digitally, I was over it. It's simply more convenient not having to deal with disc swapping or having to worry about the disc drive breaking, not the mention how it saves a lot of physical space that discs and their cases would take up in my home. The mandatory full installs ruined it for me.

When there's a mid generation refresh they'll keep the disc for the highest end model, but I'm not as sure with whatever will come next.

The used and retail market is dwindling so there's not the pressure there there once was, and game discs are becoming pointless as you need to install the game to the hard drive and update from the internet to play anyway.

The only reason I'd want to get a version with drive is so I can play movies and CDs all on one device rather than buying separate devices for everything.

It will happen sooner or later just sad to see physical copies go. Growing up in the Blockbuster Era was so much fun.

@Valkyrian Besides, the invoice is a legal document.

Their lack of transparency and attitude towards their playerbase speaks volumes. We all know digital is the future but it would be nice of them to say so instead of the Xbox gamers learning about it through leaked documentation.
I am glad I recently sold both my series X's and games before the prices nosedived.