Microsoft Is Bringing Xbox 360 Games to PC (theverge.com) 21
Microsoft reportedly plans to let developers bring Xbox 360 games to PC and next-generation Xbox devices, with a gradual rollout expected between 2027 and 2028. A separate disc-to-digital program would also give players transferable digital licenses tied to their physical Xbox discs, preserving the ability to resell or trade them. The Verge reports: With 360 games, developers can opt into making them backward compatible, and they will have control over things like a game's price and if it's available on Game Pass. The feature is expected to have a "gradual" rollout between 2027 and 2028 "across next-gen devices." The "full launch" of original Xbox games on PC is also set for October 2026; the initial program announced in July included just four games.
The document also includes details about a way for players to get a digital version of a game that they already own on a physical disc, which The Verge's Tom Warren reported on in July. The document says that if a player puts an Xbox One or Series game on disc into an Xbox One or Series X console with a disc drive, they'll be granted a digital license that's bound to "that disc and the player's account." The license will stay with a player across Xbox devices, but if the disc "changes hands," the license will transfer to the new person. That should mean that gamers can still trade and sell discs; once the original owner of a disc does so, they can't play the digital version they got from that disc anymore.
According to the document, a public beta for the disc-to-digital program was set for July with general availability set for August. We understand Microsoft had originally planned to test its disc-to-digital program with Xbox Insiders in July, but the beta was delayed. It's unclear if the timeline of August general availability is still accurate.
The document also includes details about a way for players to get a digital version of a game that they already own on a physical disc, which The Verge's Tom Warren reported on in July. The document says that if a player puts an Xbox One or Series game on disc into an Xbox One or Series X console with a disc drive, they'll be granted a digital license that's bound to "that disc and the player's account." The license will stay with a player across Xbox devices, but if the disc "changes hands," the license will transfer to the new person. That should mean that gamers can still trade and sell discs; once the original owner of a disc does so, they can't play the digital version they got from that disc anymore.
According to the document, a public beta for the disc-to-digital program was set for July with general availability set for August. We understand Microsoft had originally planned to test its disc-to-digital program with Xbox Insiders in July, but the beta was delayed. It's unclear if the timeline of August general availability is still accurate.
hate to say it (Score:3, Insightful)
I hate to say it, but Microsoft has a reasonable approach with their planned disc-to-digital system. All the benefits of physical discs: visiting a friend's house with the disc, selling the disc, plus all the benefits of a digital license: can run on a handled and other diskless systems. The idea that "the last account where the disc was used" would be the licensed owner gives a lot of flexibility, and the 2 biggest are going to a friend's house or traveling with a handheld.
Of course, the devil's in the fine print. Let's see how their revocation system works for games using a 7-year music license. Steam has a good policy that if you own the game, they won't revoke it due to license lapses; but Steam also sucks in that you can't just take a disc to a friend's house -- they have to log into your steam account (which isn't the end of the world). But Steam won't sell the game once its licenses to content expire. And *many* games these days are cutting costs by licensing music for only a few years instead of in perpetuity. I don't know, yet, how Microsoft will deal with that. If they revoke your game once it's infringing on IP due to a lapsed music license, then it's crap.
Re: (Score:2)
If you hated to say it you could have just not done so, especially since this is not the right way to do this from the consumers' point of view where they are losing resellability.
Um, are you sure about that? From TFS, "A separate disc-to-digital program would also give players transferable digital licenses tied to their physical Xbox discs, preserving the ability to resell or trade them."
Re: (Score:2)
There's almost certainly some other motive involved that lands them more cash or power, but that doesn't necessarily mean this won't happen at all.
Wild ass guess - I'd wager they'll do this disk resale stuff in order to capture some more of the Playstation market (since it's dropping disk support entirely), but will later drop the disk drive as an XBox option, effectively putting an end to it.
Regardless, as stated, the plan retains users ability to resell, and arguably improves on it some. At least it's not
Re: (Score:3)
Most Xbox Series systems don't have disc drives.
Later Xbox One models don't have the disc drive.
Until recently, all the rumors for the next Xbox suggested it wouldn't have a disc drive.
One of their biggest selling points on Xbox is they've got way better backwards compatibility than Nintendo or Sony. The #1 factor in what console people buy now is what their last console was. They all have at least one generation of backward compatibility, so everyone buys the same one they had before.
The point of this is t
Re: (Score:2)
Appreciate the clarification; It makes this news a whole lot less interesting!
"... if a player puts an Xbox One or Series game on disc into an Xbox One or Series X console with a disc drive, they'll be granted a digital license ...", TFS.
Given what you said -- that they don't have disc drives now -- I figured they must sell an external / companion drive, but my assumption would be wrong. I'm honestly shocked there aren't readily available external disc drives for the Xbox, but, apparently, it's blocked in s
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The shift toward all digital has been happening for a long time, and happening on Xbox even faster than the other consoles. Most people don't use the disc drive at all anymore. Most stores don't carry Xbox discs.
This is about getting the last holdouts to move on. Stick your discs into your older console you're still hanging on to, get the license, and then you can move on to the new console.
As to the drive compatibility, it's about the copy protection. The discs are all encrypted, and the decryption keys ar
Get your Dupe on (Score:4)
Not a dupe (Score:2)
Normally Slashdot is bad with dupes, but this is not a dupe.
The original article was about compatibility plans. It also mentioned it is digital only. It also was restricted to titles 4 titles Microsoft chose.
This article is about a program to allow developers to control their games and opt them into the system. This includes expansion of the program to other generation of devices, and the roll out of a disk to digital program as well as a pricing and licensing system.
But you didn't read any of that. You jus
Re: (Score:2)
It brings me real joy to know someone is pissed off by my posting to AC out cheap insults. Happy to help keep you entertained buddy.
Hopium (Score:2)
Does this mean we'll get GTAVI on PC ahead of 2030?
Re: Hopium (Score:2)
weird (Score:2)
They announce this after firing LaChapelle?
https://www.windowscentral.com... [windowscentral.com]
All my drives are broke (Score:1)
That's great news, except for all of my three Xbox 360 drives are broken and no one can fix them.