Xbox to follow PlayStation in ending all physical media

Zachary Roberts Published 03/07/2026

Earlier this week, PlayStation announced it will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting January 2028. Now, Xbox appears poised to do the same.

Though it isn’t coming in the form of an official blog post like the PlayStation news did, there’s plenty of reporting that Microsoft is about to do the same, though perhaps not in the same way.

Xbox set to end physical media for its games after PlayStation did

Sony has confirmed that by January 2028, it will cease production of physical discs for new PlayStation games. It’ll be all digital. Soon after, reports emerged that Microsoft is likely to make the next console generation for Xbox without a disc drive at all.

According to Windows Central, a source has confirmed that Project Helix, the reported next Xbox console, will not have a disc drive, therefore ending the “need” for a physical copy of a game. This is not all that surprising. It’s been a long time coming.

The Xbox Series X|S had different options, and the one with a disc drive was more expensive. That was step one, guiding players to the digital-only console. Step two is to remove physical disc consoles entirely.

No other details were given in the report, but none are needed. Whenever the Project Helix comes out, there will not be any physical games for it. It is currently unclear what that means for Xbox Series X|S games, since those will continue to be made for years after that point.

It hasn’t been stated, but PlayStation’s proposed plan is likely one that Xbox will follow.

Disc-to-digital

Another report suggested that Microsoft is exploring a disc-to-digital transfer. This would allow players to transfer their physical games into a digital version. This does two things.

First, it would allow gamers to bring physical Series X|S games to the Project Helix. Second, it would further erode the desire to have a tangible copy of the game with a disc and case. This is an optional thing, but it’s becoming clearer on the direction Microsoft is headed with all of this.

Zachary Roberts

About Zachary Roberts

Zachary Roberts is an avid gamer and writer that loves to merge those things. He’s been featured on VideoGamer, ComicBook, New Leaf, Esports.net, and Sportskeeda as well as the On SI network of Sports Illustrated and Sporting News.

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