Microsoft's plan to give disc owners a digital copy of games they already paid for has started testing with Xbox Insiders. It comes with a twist that matters to anyone with an old shelf of games, because even titles pulled from the Xbox Store have been shown to qualify. Which discs actually work with Xbox Disc-to-Digital? And what happens to your digital license if you sell the disc later?

How the Claim Works Right Now?

The feature is currently limited to Xbox Insiders, and Microsoft has not announced a public release date. You need an Xbox One or Xbox Series X with a working disc drive and an Insider preview build. Xbox has said the goal is to reach most disc games over time, with thousands of titles expected at launch.

Testers describe a short process once the game is installed from the disc. The steps below reflect what early guides report.

  • Insert an eligible disc and let the game install.
  • Highlight the game and press the Menu button on your controller.
  • Choose the option to claim a digital license and confirm it.
  • Remove the disc and launch the game digitally.

Because the preview is still changing, menu wording and requirements may shift before the public rollout. Once claimed, the license is tied to your Xbox profile. Features such as Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming apply only where a game supports them.

Which Discs Qualify?

Eligibility mainly depends on publishers, who have to opt in before their games can be claimed. Xbox has also hinted at technical and licensing factors it has not detailed publicly. Xbox 360 and original Xbox discs are excluded, and there is no sign that will change soon.

The most interesting finding from early testing involves delisted games. Deadpool, F1 2021, Minecraft: Story Mode, Rock Band 4 and Titanfall were reported to convert successfully, even though they cannot be bought in the store anymore. At least one title, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, did not receive a license. That mix shows why testing a disc on your own console is the only reliable check today.

What Happens to Your Disc and License?

Claiming a digital license does not stop the disc from working. The catch is that the license stays linked to the physical copy. If another person inserts your disc and claims the license on their own account, your digital access is revoked.

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That means selling or gifting a converted disc effectively transfers the digital rights to the new owner. If you plan to keep playing digitally, it makes sense to hold on to the disc. Reports also say there is no time limit for claiming, so waiting will not cost you the option.

Disc-to-Digital is shaping up as a real win for collectors, especially those with games that vanished from the store. The trade-off is that your digital copy only stays yours as long as the disc stays with you. Until the public release arrives, testing a few key discs and keeping them is the low-risk plan. Which delisted game on your shelf would you try first?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell my disc after claiming a digital license?
Yes, but the digital rights move with it. If the buyer claims the license on their account, your digital access is revoked. You should only sell once you no longer need the digital copy.

Do delisted Xbox games qualify?
Some do. Early testers confirmed that titles such as Deadpool, Titanfall and Rock Band 4 could be claimed despite being unavailable in the store. Not every delisted game works, so results vary by title.

When will Disc-to-Digital be available to everyone?
Microsoft has not announced a public release date. The feature is currently limited to Xbox Insiders. Publisher support is also expected to grow over time.