Summary
While studios may not appreciate leaks, it is an inevitable part of the gaming industry, and players were treated to a ton of them this week. Due to a recent FTC document filing, many of Microsoft’s potential plans for the future ofXboxhave been revealed. Not only does the studio apparently have plans for aDishonored 3andOblivion Remaster, but it also may be releasing a whole new version of the Xbox Series X. Moreover, its release could be a sign of things to come fromXboxand the console market in general.
As the gaming industry goes digital, the future of physical media has been put in doubt. The film industry has been dealing with this for years due to the rise of streaming, and now it seems like video games may be following suit. While there are still options for players to buy discs,this next Xbox Series Xcould take that option away. Just like with PC gaming before it, the fate of physical media seems to be hanging in the balance, and this release could be the final nail in that coffin.
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Physical Media May Be on Its Way Out
There was a time when the only way for players to access games was through a physical disc. However, those days are very much behind the industry as studios push for a more digital-only future. While there are still loads of physical releases every month, players seem to beincreasingly opting for digital instead. It seems to be far more efficient, easier to access, and even sometimes cheaper than seeking out the actual disc.
Already, the PC gaming community has mostly moved away from physical media entirely.The rise of Steamhas given players an easy way to browse, purchase, download, and play a massive library of games that grows bigger every single day. Competitors like the Epic Game Store, Ubisoft Connect, Battle.net, and the EA App have given players even more ways to play. Most of these titles do not even get physical release anymore, making actual discs a thing of the past. Because of this, many PCs and laptops do not come with disc trays as there is really no need for them in 2023.
WhilePC physical media already seems to be dead, the console market was still holding on. However, that all seems to be changing in this latest generation. For the first time, both Xbox and PlayStation launched digital-only consoles alongside ones with disc trays. Unlike the two PS5s however, Xbox’s digital only console was also weaker than the flagship Xbox Series X. This still pushed players to buy the one with the disc tray, which at least gave them the option for discs if they wanted it.
Recently,leaks from FTC documentshave revealed that Xbox may be drastically changing its approach soon. While nothing has been confirmed yet, the mid-gen refresh of the Xbox Series X will allegedly remove the disc tray while also adding more space and a whole new controller. This means that players looking for more power will no longer have to purchase a console with a disc tray, which could mean that discs may be on their way out. With the rise of Xbox Game Pass, there really does not seem to be a reason to buy these games on disc anymore.
This rumored Xbox Series X refresh could mean thatXboxis officially moving away from the concept entirely, which would just leave Nintendo without a digital only version of its flagship device. Removing that option for players will mean they flock to the online stores, and that will likely kill off a significant portion of the physical market. While there will probably always be players who want to own the discs, it could soon be a lot harder to find them.
