Xbox opens disc-to-digital licensing to all users
Eligible Xbox One and Series X discs can unlock play without the disc in the drive, but support varies by title.
Microsoft is rolling out its disc-to-digital licensing feature to all Xbox users, expanding access beyond Xbox Insiders. The programme lets owners create a digital licence for an eligible physical game and play it without keeping the disc in the drive.
To claim a licence, users sign in to their Xbox account and insert the game disc. A console notification confirms when the licence has been created. Microsoft has not said how many games qualify, and eligibility varies by title.
The feature covers Xbox One and Xbox Series X games. Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles are not supported, and the disc-based process is unavailable on Xbox Series S, which has no disc drive.
The licence stays tied to the physical disc rather than the owner’s account. If the disc is sold or lent, the licence transfers with it when the next owner inserts it into a console.
Games in the Xbox Play Anywhere programme may also be installed and played on PC after being digitised.
