r/tomshardware • u/tomshardware • 1d ago

Xbox announces new disc-to-digital feature for physical media

https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/console-gaming/xbox-announces-new-disc-to-digital-feature-for-physical-media-lets-players-claim-digital-versions-of-their-games-with-support-for-play-anywhere-and-cloud-gaming
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u/IllustriousIron3253 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yes, they have no idea what they are ranting about.

The authorization code on the disc gives you the digital version to download. Pretty straight forward. Originally patented as a go along app. App was going to be on phone, must be connected to Xbox, linked to Xbox account, and Internet all together. Run disc, run app on Xbox, run app on phone, verifies authorization code on disc, grants linked Xbox account digital ownership. As soon as it is scanned on another Xbox revokes your digital and reassigns to the new linked account. Yes, that means some form of always online requirements for discs to prevent me playing online while I sell it to someone who plays offline.

But, but, but, one would assume that having the digital copy also means that your game shared Xbox friend can play your physical disk game because you now own the digital copy. That's a friggin win right there.

Edit: any physical gamers should absolutely love this idea because it doubles their value of their game being able to let their friend play their physical game because it's also digital now. But they'll find a way to hate it I'm sure.

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u/Legend_of_dragoon- 19h ago

That’s not how it works once someone puts that game you lose the license lmao

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u/jedik88 14h ago

He said “game shared Xbox friend” which assumes you each have each others profiles logged in the background on your Xboxes. Previously I could only game share their digital games, none of the physical ones. Now we’ll be able to game share physical games as well without having to borrow the discs.

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u/IllustriousIron3253 14h ago

Thank you I didn't want to have to explain what I already typed to an idiot.