When it comes to Xbox, I feel like I’m writing an article like this every few months, and quite frankly I hate it. Last weekend we saw the Xbox Showcase and we got to see what they have planned the rest of the year. A few days later we started to get pre-order details, and sadly Xbox has alienated their physical fans once again and the community has been pretty vocal about it.

When pre-orders went live for The Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4 and Gears of War Reloaded, the retail versions for these games were all codes in a box on Xbox (there’s some question about Gears being potentially on a disc), while the PlayStation versions are all on a disc. Many in the community, myself included, considered this a slap in the face to us Xbox physical players.

To make matters worse, it was just last month when I broke a story here at GSC that Xbox had changed its stance on minimum prints on Xbox. If that is the case, and you are already creating boxes for these codes, why not just print some copies on a disc. 

We’ve known for a while now that Xbox is less and less interested in printing Xbox physical games. We know physical sales on Xbox are only about 10% of total sales, though that is misleading in my opinion since it included digital only games that skew the numbers. But by in large those that still do buy physical are spending much more on Xbox games than the average consumer. 

I can feel confident in saying things like that because I am one of those who still buys physical on Xbox, and I constantly see the community of physical gamers. They tag me in their purchases, and ask me about contacting people to make physical for Xbox. I admit my contacts in order to do that are limited, but I do what I can. Point is, I know there is still a viable physical media community on Xbox. 

While I understand Xbox wants Game Pass subscribers and all of that, they can have their cake and eat it too. I have a Game Pass subscription specifically for digital only indies. Game Pass is great for that. I also use it for games like The Alters or Revenge Of The Savage Planet that got physical releases after their launch. But I also buy most games, including day 1 Xbox Game Pass releases if they come on a disc, and I’m not alone in doing that. 

Does Xbox Care?

The frustrating part is Xbox either has no idea this community is still thriving, or they simply don’t care. They have shifted their focus so far to “play anywhere” that they think codes in a box are what people want. Based on everything I’ve seen, that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

And I think that’s where the divide comes from community and creator. Play Anywhere is fantastic….if you use it. People buying physical do not care about play anywhere. They want to pop the disc in their console at home and play. 

The thing is, this isn’t the first time they’ve sold codes in a box. Most recently Avowed released in February with a code in a box, and a few months before that Flight Sim 2024 released with a code in a box. Both editions came with sleek steelbooks, a collectors dream in this day and age. Yet 99% of the community skipped them both solely because they were codes in a box.

Xbox has the metrics on what both those editions sold though. So, is it possible that they sold in line with similar games that got a disc and they therefore think the community is ok with that? I suppose it is possible, but I have my severe doubts. 

The Players Voice

One thing we always give credit to Xbox for is that they do listen to and engage their community. I admit they haven’t done as well of a job doing that of late, but in general they do. I am happy to say that having talked to a few within Xbox (not people that would be able to dictate anything on discs mind you), Xbox definitely has heard the noise from the community on this issue. Enough to change course? Who knows. But your voices have definitely been heard. 

So, who are those voices? I recently went to social media to have players sound off on the issue. My question was simple. If Xbox stopped doing physical games with a disc altogether, what would you do? Would you purchase the code in a box? Would you just leave the platform? Would you go digital? 

The answers mostly speak for themselves. With nearly 300 replies, most who said they still prefer physical would either leave the platform (some already have) or significantly reduce their spending. You can see just a few of the replies below here, but the sentiment is loud and clear. Give us a disc.

The Easy Solution?

I’ve been saying this for years now, and it rings true even more now that there is no limited print. I have no idea why Xbox and other companies aren’t simply doing something similar to Limited Run Games. Take pre-orders up until a month before release and that gives you a rough idea of interest. You get 5,000 copies in pre-orders, print 5,500 copies to sell a few post release. 

And if the game does blow up afterwards you can always print more. Just look at Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a recent great example. They printed a limited number of copies on both PlayStation and Xbox and they sold out quickly. They are in the process of getting more printed to resell. Publisher Kepler doesn’t have to worry about lost money with things sitting in warehouses, and physical gamers get their physical copies. Everyone is happy.

Ultimately at some point physical will mostly die out as sad as that is for me to say. But until that day happens myself and other physical collectors will continue to use our voice to keep our preferred option. We just hope Xbox is listening.