XBOX Could Follow Sony’s Reported Move Away From Physical Game Discs

XBOX may follow Sony’s physical disc move as new reports suggest Microsoft’s next-generation console could move further away from physical games.

Sony reportedly plans to stop producing discs for PlayStation games released in 2028. Now, questions are growing over whether XBOX will make a similar shift with its next console generation.

XBOX may follow Sony’s shift away from physical discs

According to Insider Gaming, Microsoft’s next-generation XBOX console, reportedly known as Project Helix, may not include a physical disc drive. The report claims sources suggest Microsoft plans to drop the drive from the console, although XBOX has not officially confirmed the detail.

This is not the first time Microsoft has been linked to a stronger digital-only strategy. XBOX has already released disc-free hardware in the past, and speculation around a fully digital next-gen XBOX has circulated for some time. Reports that XBOX is working on a disc-to-digital feature have only added fuel to that speculation.

However, several key details remain unclear. Microsoft has not confirmed whether Project Helix exists under that name, whether the console will ship without a disc drive, or whether XBOX users would get the option to buy an external disc drive separately.

Next-gen consoles could move further toward digital games

If both Sony and Microsoft move away from built-in disc drives, the next console generation could mark a major turning point for physical game ownership.

Analysts have also speculated that the base model of the PS6 may not include a disc drive. That would make the next PlayStation and XBOX systems more focused on digital downloads, subscriptions, cloud gaming, and online storefronts.

For players, this shift could bring convenience but also new concerns. Digital-only consoles remove the need to swap discs, but they also limit used game sales, physical collecting, offline access, and long-term ownership options.

Physical game buyers may also worry about preservation. If publishers reduce or end disc production, players would have fewer ways to keep permanent copies of games outside digital storefronts.

For now, Microsoft has not made any official announcement about removing the disc drive from its next XBOX console.

The disc drive report comes as Microsoft prepares for thousands of layoffs across multiple divisions.

In other XBOX news, the company is also shifting its funding strategy, suggesting broader changes may be underway across Microsoft’s gaming business.