Microsoft has unveiled a new Xbox program that will allow owners of eligible physical game discs to claim digital versions at no additional cost.
The initiative, dubbed Positron, is set to begin testing on Monday, initially among members of the Xbox Insider programme.
Under the programme, players will insert a compatible game disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console. The system will then offer an option to activate a digital licence for the game.
Once activated, the digital version will be linked to the player’s Microsoft account, meaning the disc will no longer be required to launch the game on that account.
Microsoft said the physical disc will retain its licence and can still be transferred to another owner. However, transferring the disc would not transfer the digital copy, which remains tied to the original user’s account.
The programme will also give eligible games access to digital features such as Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing players to access supported titles on PC and Xbox Ally handheld devices, as well as Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Games can also be shared with other members of a user’s family group where family sharing is enabled.
Microsoft said Positron will initially support thousands of games, with the list expected to expand as testing progresses.
However, not every physical disc will be eligible. Microsoft warned that some titles may be incompatible because of manufacturing differences or copy-protection technologies used when the games were originally released.
The programme marks another step in Microsoft’s push toward a more flexible digital gaming ecosystem while retaining support for players who own physical copies of Xbox games.
