The whole Sony killing off physical discs on PlayStation thing has been the subject of debate for several months. Sony was the first to strike, and many assumed Xbox would follow suit. Xbox’s plans, it seems, aren’t set in stone, with Xbox reportedly asking owners whether Project Helix, its next-gen console, should support discs.
It’s reportedly putting the question to Xbox owners via the Xbox Insider Hub app on Xbox consoles. At first glance, the answer is obvious. Even if it costs more to produce discs, the PR gains would be invaluable. It may even get Sony’s loyalists on board with Project Helix. Heck, just asking the question is a PR stunt.
Xbox could do the funniest thing
Specifically, Xbox wants customers to rate potential features on the upcoming consoles as either ‘Not Necessary’, ‘Nice to Have’, or ‘Must Have’. If something is considered ‘Must Have’, it means they would not buy the console without that feature. If you’re an Xbox owner with access to the Insider Hub, it’s time to make your voice heard.
Microsoft already knows the answer. People obviously want the option to buy a physical disc, even if all the evidence points to digital sales being dominant. The blowback from Sony’s decision to go all-digital has certainly proved that.
Of course, Microsoft including a disc drive doesn’t mean it’ll continue printing new discs. It may still follow Sony and release all new games digitally. We’d obviously rather this wasn’t the case, but we’re braced for the worst. But having a disc drive would mean keeping hold of your old games — Xbox is particularly good with backwards compatibility. We haven’t even mentioned your Blu-ray collection.
One solution could be for Xbox to sell the disc drive as an add-on, as Sony did with the PS5. Then players can choose the route that works best for them, and Xbox gets all the praise. Of course, without new discs in circulation, it presents an even bigger problem — Sony and Microsoft controlling the digital market. Without secondhand titles and no ability to share your games, they can charge whatever they like.
It’ll be interesting to see exactly how Microsoft tiptoes around the issue in the coming years. On one hand, it stands to make more money by going all-digital. On the other, it risks losing current and potential customers and forcing them to the lesser of two evils: Sony. With the way Sony is moving, though…
