According to a leak published by insider eXtas1s, Microsoft has sent publishers a roadmap revealing the company's plans for the next generation of Xbox. If the information is confirmed, Xbox Project Helix will retain the disc drive and offer the most extensive backward compatibility in the brand's history.
As early as August 2026, the company will allegedly launch the Disc to Digital feature. Xbox One and Xbox Series X owners will be able to transfer games from physical discs to their digital library.
The next step will be to expand support for classic games:
- October 2026 – original Xbox games will appear on PC via Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft Store.
- 2027–2028 – the Xbox 360 catalog will gradually be ported to next-generation consoles.
According to the leak, Microsoft intends to use emulation so that publishers do not have to create new versions of games. They will be able to decide for themselves whether to participate in the program and set the cost of digital conversion or re-release of their projects.
If the roadmap proves authentic, Microsoft will bet on physical editions and extended backward compatibility, while Sony is rumored to be preparing to abandon the built-in disc drive in the PS6.