Microsoft Continues Dunking on Sony as New Survey Focuses on Physical Disc Support

Amidst all the backlash Sony is facing for dropping physical media, Microsoft continues its excellent PR run; this time by pushing for player feedback on physical media support for future Xbox consoles.

A new survey distributed through the Xbox Insider Hub asks players which features they consider essential for Microsoft’s next console(codenamed Project Helix). One of those options is the ability to “install games from a physical disc”. Players can rate each proposed feature as “Not Necessary,” “Nice to Have,” or “Must Have,” with the latter indicating they would not consider buying the console without it.

The survey was first reported after screenshots appeared in a since-deleted post from X user @XBOXTIMDOG. Other features mentioned include reactive console lighting and automatically capturing gameplay highlights. This has sparked discussions and excitement from many gamers who feel passionate about the preservation of physical media and ownership of purchased games.

None of this confirms that Microsoft’s next Xbox will actually ship with a disc drive. It does, however, show that physical media remains part of the conversation at Xbox. For all we know, this could just be a publicity stunt to boost their PR amidst Sony’s many controversies.

In July, Sony confirmed that production of physical discs for newly released PlayStation games will be ending in January 2028. Despite backlash, they cite the industry’s continued shift toward digital distribution. Games released before that cutoff will not be affected.

Despite weeks of boycotts and protests from players, Sony didn’t budge from their position and instead chose to double down on their commitment to discontinuing physical media.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has recently moved in the opposite direction. In August, Xbox announced a new disc-to-digital feature allowing players to insert supported Xbox One or Xbox Series X discs and claim digital ownership for those games. Microsoft described the program as part of its wider commitment to game preservation.

However, we should keep in mind that even if Project Helix supports discs, that doesn’t necessarily mean Microsoft will continue producing new physical Xbox games. A drive could instead exist primarily for backward compatibility and existing libraries.

Still, while Sony has already put an expiration date on new PlayStation discs, Microsoft is at least asking players whether dropping them would be a dealbreaker.