Before the big reset, XBOX wanted to keep the Blu-ray drive on the Helix
, by Thibaut
A lot has changed since the big XBOX reset, which saw hundreds of people laid off and even studios shut down. The manufacturer has also revised its priorities, which are now focused on its major franchises and consoles.
In a video published by Digital Foundry, John Linneman shared some unexpected information. According to several of his sources, Microsoft would almost certainly have continued supporting physical discs on XBOX prior to this infamous reset.
According to Linneman, this wasn’t because the company "prioritized disc sales," but because "they wanted to ensure that all your XBOX games would remain playable on the new XBOX consoles." He added that an external drive or "some other means" might be introduced for Project Helix. This would be part of the program allowing players who own a disc-based game to obtain a digital license at no additional cost.
Finally, Linneman concluded with speculation, stating that he envisions a "future where Microsoft will support physical games for users who want to take their library with them, while Sony will cut itself off completely from people" on the matter.
Of course, all of this should be taken with a grain of salt. We don’t yet know if XBOX has completely changed its plans following said reset that took place in early July.