XBOX Next-Gen Plans May Include Physical Discs Amid Sony’s Digital Shift

XBOX appears to be considering physical disc support for its next-generation console as questions grow around the future of physical media.

New evidence from a survey on the XBOX Insider Hub suggests that the next generation of XBOX systems may still support physical game discs. It’s news that arrives as physical media becomes ever less relevant in the console space, especially considering Sony’s stated objectives for physical game distribution.

For a while now there have been rumors that XBOX would use the opportunity to keep offering physical games on its next-gen hardware. The company is already working on a physical-to-digital solution that’ll allow physical games to be part of a broader digital collection. That tactic could put XBOX in an intriguing spot as the industry moves toward digital purchases.

The announcement of possible extended physical media support comes in the wake of word that XBOX was looking at next-gen physical support with developers at Gamescom. Those allegations were only speculations before, but the latest XBOX Insider Hub survey adds more proof that the corporation is at least considering the idea.

Apparently, the study asked users what they believed was the most crucial for the next-generation XBOX console. One idea was a system that could install games from a physical disc, while another idea was to use a phone as an accessory. The poll does not specify the final hardware architecture, but the fact that physical-disc capabilities exist is a good omen.

XBOX's next console could give physical media fans another option.

The study does not ensure the next XBOX will have an integrated disc drive. Another possibility is for Microsoft to follow Sony’s PlayStation 5 and provide an external disc drive as a separate purchase. That would be a move that would allow XBOX to play both sides of the market. It could be possible for consumers who want a completely digital collection to find a less expensive digital-only system.

While those with physical games in their collection may have to spend more money on an external drive. The physical-to-digital program could be an important part of this plan. Instead of making users choose between physical and digital libraries, XBOX can continue working on a system that caters to both kinds.

That would give the existing physical collection people a reason to stay in the XBOX environment. But there’s no sign that the new XBOX will feature a disc drive, either internal or external. However, based on stories in the past and the recent study, physical media appears to be here to stay in discussions about Microsoft's next-gen intentions.

The move could take on added significance as rival platforms move away from physical releases. The other way the next platform could stand out is if XBOX can still offer physical support when the rest of the world goes to digital distribution. It seems like XBOX is also changing its strategy on one of its most famous properties.

The next big Halo game is still a few years away, from the sounds of it, which shows the long production cycles that plague massive AAA games. Halo Infinite was launched in 2021, so the next major entry in 2028 would result in a development gap of over seven years. Halo 5: Guardians was released in 2015, so there was already a six-year gap between both major releases.

Halo’s long development cycle shows a bigger AAA industry problem.

The long production cycle for Halo is a microcosm of a broader problem facing AAA studios today. Big-budget games could require enormous budgets and longer and longer development cycles, meaning that every game could be a huge financial risk by the time it really hits the market.

According to the report, the claimed production schedules were one of the reasons XBOX decided not to rely on Halo Studios alone for its upcoming big sequel. However, it seems that Activision was given a chance to weigh in on the design of the future of the series. Activision has a long history of often dropping Call of Duty games.

The Call of Duty series has a totally different development structure. But its annual release cycle demonstrates how a massive franchise may have a more consistent flow of new games. That doesn’t mean Halo is necessarily dying away. According to the insiders, after the newly released Halo remake.

There may be Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes, but it is uncertain what the status of those projects is. The bigger question is how XBOX will be able to match the scale expected of a modern Halo game with the time it takes to produce it. Extended development cycles can build expectations while raising production costs.

Sly Cooper’s new trademark sparks hopes for a resurrection but doesn’t indicate a game.

What is the future of Halo? Who knows? But another classic PlayStation franchise has lately come to our attention, for a totally different reason. A new Sly Cooper trademark from Sony has popped up, but it doesn’t look to be for a new game. Naturally, Sly Cooper admirers have been attracted by the large selection of merchandise.

The trademark presumably covers a wide range of products, including printed posters, graphic novels, comic books, writing and drawing instruments, pens, crayons, folders, paintbrushes, modeling clay, silicone food storage containers, table linens, and party supplies. It has been years since the series has been in the limelight, so any new trademark activity on the brand is certainly interesting.

However, the trademark doesn't mean Sony is creating a new Sly Cooper game. Companies file trademarks all the time, spanning a wide range of categories, to protect intellectual property; the presence of merchandise-based categories doesn’t mean a new game is on the way. Though, it’s an interesting possibility considering a previous story indicated Sony was considering bringing back Sly Cooper.

While the new trademark could lead fans to revisit past charges, there’s no present indication that the two cases are linked. There is another history of things coming out without a corresponding game reviving. The report has some unique material in it, including Banjo-Kazooie merchandise. However, no new Banjo-Kazooie game has been announced following the merchandise.

So the Sly Cooper trademark is an interesting development, but not a definitive indication of a revival. It might simply mean that Sony wants to maintain and grow the franchise’s retail potential. If you’re hoping to see Sly Cooper return, the trademark provides you one more reason to keep an eye on impending announcements from Sony. A mere product filing is far from sufficient proof that a new game is in the works.

XBOX’s ambitions around physical media could prove to be one of the more interesting features of the next console generation. 

While the company has not confirmed its final hardware approach, the Insider Hub survey suggests that physical games are not completely off the table. If XBOX does end up supporting physical discs on its next console, it might provide gamers one more alternative while the market is moving increasingly toward digital distribution. Whether this is a built-in drive or a separately sold accessory is not clear.

For now these three developments are still unfinished tales. XBOX has yet to confirm next-gen disc hardware, the anticipated future development time frame for Halo has not been completely confirmed, and Sony’s Sly Cooper trademark does not confirm a new game in the works. But they do highlight a number of critical themes in the console business.

Including the increasing friction between physical and digital games, the ever-longer AAA production cycles, and the constant interest in reviving dormant properties. The way corporations respond to these issues could make the next generation seem very different. For physical-media fans, it will be interesting to see if there is still a major role for discs in the console space when XBOX reveals its upcoming hardware.