Xbox is testing a Disc-to-Digital feature that allows converting a compatible game disc version into a digital license. Moreover, this works even with games that have been discontinued.
The feature appeared in the Xbox Insider testing program. The player simply needs to insert a compatible Xbox One or Xbox Series X game disc to get a digital license that works just like one purchased from the Xbox store.
At the same time, the disc itself remains fully functional. The digital license allows launching the game on multiple Xbox devices, including the disc-less Series S. For games with Xbox Play Anywhere support, a PC version and streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming are also available.
The most unexpected thing was that Disc-to-Digital also works with games that have been discontinued. Players have confirmed this for Deadpool, F1 2021, Minecraft: Story Mode, Rock Band 4, and Titanfall.
Initially, the feature covers thousands of games, but not all discs are supported yet. Microsoft explains this by the need for publisher participation and promises to expand the list of compatible games over time.