Microsoft is reportedly surveying gamers about the importance of physical disc media for its next-generation Xbox console. According to findings from Power Up Gaming, Microsoft is conducting this survey through the Xbox Insider Hub application, where a select group of Xbox Insiders are asked about their stance on various topics. Microsoft will later use this feedback to analyze and make decisions. One question asks whether the console should allow users to install games from physical discs, with response options including "Not Necessary," "Nice to Have," and "Must Have."

Considering that Microsoft recently launched its disc-to-digital program, an initiative to promote a digital-only future for Xbox consoles, the viability of physical media is now up for debate. With disc-to-digital, players can insert their game discs into the console to convert them into digital licenses. When the disc is scanned, Microsoft uses the unique key to create a digital license, which prevents the disc from being activated on third-party consoles and stops it from being rented, borrowed, or sold to others.

Data shared by analyst Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics suggests physical discs still account for a meaningful share of revenue for PlayStation's biggest exclusives, even as Sony winds down disc production starting in 2028. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 pulled in $1.2 billion overall, with 35% of that coming from discs. Ghost of Yotei sits close behind at nearly 40% of its $400 million in revenue coming from discs. Astro Bot, Stellar Blade, and Death Stranding 2 all land in a similar 32% to 47% range. Helldivers 2 is the clear outlier, with physical copies covering just 8.3% of its $235 million in revenue, but that's to be expected from a multiplayer game.

As the numbers suggest, Sony's big-name exclusives still have a sizeable audience that leans towards physical discs. Meanwhile, Sony seems to be getting more careful about its bets. Concord's cancellation reportedly cost over $300 million, and titles like Marathon, Saros, Marvel Tokon, and Lego Horizon Adventures all landed softer than hoped. Marvel's Wolverine, one of the studio's biggest remaining tentpoles, just settled at 78 on Metacritic after its review embargo lifted, matching last year's Days Gone Remaster and falling short of prestige expectations.

When Xbox previously announced its Disc-to-Digital attestation program, it said that many publishers were working to bring their games to the insider program, and, thanks to tests by gamers, it has been confirmed that Ubisoft is one of those major publishers to join D2D. One specific post on X says that Trials Fusion, Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and Far Cry Primal were all able to be registered via the Disc-to-Digital program.

The gamer who shared their results also notes that it does not appear that those games are playable on PC via the Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC program. Corroborating the post on X, the changelog on Xbox Collection Tracker (XCT) shows pages on pages of new Ubisoft franchises confirmed to be part of the D2D program, including Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and the Tom Clancy franchise. These include titles published on both the Xbox Series consoles and the Xbox One. So far, the community-driven XCT lists 1,478 games confirmed as being part of the Disc-to-Digital program.

Sony has filed its response to a proposed class action lawsuit over how the PlayStation Store discloses its digital licensing terms. The company's stance is that no reasonable buyer expects to actually own a digital game. The suit, Heycock v. Sony Corporation of America, was filed on June 18 by four PlayStation owners in the Northern District of California. It alleges that Sony's checkout violates AB 2426, a California law requiring clear disclosure when a digital purchase only grants a license. Sony's August 21 response argues that "reasonable consumers would not be misled" into believing they own their games, since buyers agree to the Software Product License Agreement (SPLA) before purchase, which states plainly that "the software is licensed to you, not sold."

To support the point that digital ownership "is not plausible," Sony's lawyers cite two of the plaintiffs' own purchase histories: Jason Mendoza bought Resident Evil Requiem on February 14, 2026, and Edward Heycock bought the same digital copy for $69.99 just 11 days later. If ownership was genuinely transferred at purchase, Sony argues that Heycock's transaction couldn't have occurred, since Mendoza would already own it. Judge Vince Chhabria is set to hear both the arbitration motion and Sony's fallback dismissal argument on October 1 in San Francisco. Sony has confirmed it will stop producing physical PlayStation discs for new releases starting January 2028, leaving digital licenses as the only option for future titles.

Recently, rumors popped up that Sony may be rethinking its commitment to an all-digital game future, thanks to supposed internal chatter at Microsoft about a "100% physical" Xbox Helix console. Now, industry insiders, both former and current, appear to be shutting down those rumors entirely, alleging that Sony will stick to its digital guns and have an all-digital console ecosystem by the end of December 2028.

Richard Browne, formerly of Sony and Psygnosis, commented on both new rumors in a new X post, claiming that there was no talk of a change in Sony's plans at the recent Gamescom industry expo, adding that publishers are "following their guidance for discless in 2028," and that Microsoft's new Project Helix would also likely be digital when it launches. While his commentary has largely been called into question, given he last worked at Sony in 2014, notable leaker, NateTheHate2, has also chimed in, echoing Browne's comments about Sony.

CD Projekt Red still plans to give The Witcher 4 a physical release, though joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski says whether it comes with an actual PS5 disc inside isn't up to the studio. Speaking to The Game Business, Nowakowski confirmed the box will exist regardless, but a disc depends entirely on Sony's own manufacturing plans. CD Projekt Red has previously confirmed that The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release, the same year Sony is set to stop producing PlayStation discs entirely. Here's what Nowakowski had to say:

"We don't know what's going to be the case. We know what PlayStation has announced, and we have no influence on the policies of the first parties. The discs for the first parties, including PlayStation, have to be manufactured in their own factories. So, if they stop manufacturing indeed by 2028, then yes, we won't have a disc … We're going to be for sure having a box. We're going to have a box that's going to have some feelies in it."