A notorious gaming insider reports that Xbox The Project Helix console may not have a disc drive, and that the company may be considering an end to physical discs. While Xbox has been tight-lipped about the news so far, one of the biggest headlines in the video game industry this week was that PlayStation will stop making and selling physical discs starting in January 2028. This has hit fans like a freight train, leaving many wondering what video game ownership will be like come 2028, and consumer protection authorities wondering what they can do about it.
This comes shortly after the reveal GTA 6 it won't have physical discs and none will be made for Rockstar's monumental release. In fact, physical copies of the game will only have a digital download code, to the point that some retailers refuse to sell the game because it's against their policies. The industry seems to be moving into a digital-only era, and Xbox seems to be following suit.
The official PlayStation Disc Petition is blowing up
Gamers upset with Sony's decision to end production of physical PlayStation discs are starting a petition that is quickly gaining momentum.
Say goodbye to physical discs in Xbox's Project Helix console
Jez Corden, a renowned insider who specializes in Microsoft and Xbox news, shared on the Xbox Two Podcast that Project Helix may not have physical disc drives and may now be considering not supporting physical games. Earlier, Corden stated that “Project Helix was never planned to have a disc driver”, but a subsequent article by Tom Warren claimed that Project Helix had not yet been decided for sure. Corden followed up on the news with his sources and didn't really take any confirmed stance. However, Corden wonders what Xbox's silence about PlayStation no longer supporting physical discs means, and thinks it might be wiser for the company to say nothing now if Xbox is also “considering the death of physical discs” as an option for Helix.
“The fact that Xbox hasn't done anything to capitalize on it yet,” Corden says of PlayStation's disc-less approach, “probably speaks volumes.” “I still think there's very little chance that Helix will have a disc drive natively,” Corden continues, “because I just think the economics of a company printing discs have become unviable.” This is not unlike an analyst's comment about PlayStation saving costs with its digital approach, saying that prepaid game cards could be a valid alternative to physical discs. With Corden adamant that Project Helix won't have a disc drive, and with Xbox remaining silent on the matter in an industry with rising costs, it seems highly likely that physical games won't stick around.
It makes all the more sense when you consider the high cost of RAM and console production these days, with analysts predicting that memory shortages could persist beyond 2027. In this scenario, it seems likely that video game companies will try to cut costs where possible, and physical discs seem to be a prime candidate for that.
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Fans are hoping that the Xbox Project Helix will be more PC-like in that it may not have a disc drive, but will allow users to insert a removable drive or something similar. Whether that will be the case remains to be seen, but Xbox's silence is not encouraging. Still, Xbox is reportedly testing a feature to digitize physical games, and it could be just what Project Helix needs to win back fans after the PlayStation debacle.
