Despite pushing ahead with Game Pass, Xbox says it isn’t giving up on physical games and media just yet. Microsoft’s head of gaming, Phil Spencer, recently said that they will not abandon disc-based games anytime soon, though he also acknowledges that a lot of Xbox players have transitioned over to digital.
Speaking to Game File’s Stephen Totilo, Phil Spencer stated, “We ship games physically and digitally and we’re really just following what the customers are doing. And I think our job in running Xbox is to deliver on the things that a majority of the customers want. And right now, a majority of our customers are buying games digitally.”
Spencer notes that “gaming consoles themselves have kind of become the last consumer electronic device that has a drive” which could impact the price of hardware. Historically, digital-only consoles such as the Xbox Series S or PS5 Digital have been sold at a notably cheaper price point when compared to their pricier counterparts with a disc drive. As far as affordability goes, it seems like consumers might gradually make the transition over to digital eventually.
However, Spencer isn’t getting rid of physical games and media entirely. “I will say our strategy does not hinge on people moving all-digital,” said Spencer in the interview. “And getting rid of physical, that’s not a strategic thing for us.”
Last year, leaked internal Microsoft documents showed Xbox’s plans to release a disc-less Xbox Series X console as a mid-gen refresh. While it will probably cost a bit less than the current Xbox Series X, which includes a disc drive, it’s unclear if Microsoft will actually move ahead with this plan. Speaking at the recent Xbox business update, the company stated that new hardware might be coming this holiday season, leading many to believe that it’s the leaked disc-less Series X.
Source: Game File
