Following Sony's loud announcement about discontinuing physical copies of new PlayStation games from January 2028, new rumors have emerged about the next generation of Xbox. According to sources, Microsoft may also abandon the built-in disc drive in its future console.
Insider and Windows Central editor Jez Corden reported that his sources suggest the next-generation Xbox console, known by the codename Project Helix, may launch without a disc drive. He emphasized that this is currently only about internal discussions, and a final decision, according to his information, has not yet been made.
These rumors appeared against the backdrop of Sony's recent decision to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. Although the changes will only affect future releases, the news caused a strong reaction from players, especially after recent disputes surrounding the lack of a disc version of Grand Theft Auto VI.
If the information is confirmed, it could also fuel speculation that the PlayStation 6, rumored to launch in late 2027, might also lose its built-in disc drive. Earlier reports suggested that the cost of the new Sony console could approach the $1000 mark, which could be attributed to rising memory and storage prices.
According to observers, abandoning the disc drive would allow Sony and Microsoft to reduce production costs and increase the profitability of their consoles. However, such a move would be a serious blow to fans of physical editions and collectors, and would also increase users' dependence on the digital ecosystem.