Microsoft's current head of the Xbox division, Asha Sharma, acknowledged the strong negative sentiment generated by competitor Sony's decision to abandon physical media on PlayStation. This raises the question of whether the next iteration of Xbox, codenamed Project Helix, will include disc games. Although there is no definitive confirmation yet, Sharma indicated that this option is being considered.
Recently, Microsoft announced that Xbox One or Xbox Series X users could purchase digital versions of titles that originally had discs. Some interpret this as a subtle sign of a future transition to an Xbox ecosystem without the need for physical media. However, the final decision on this point has not yet been made.
In an interview with the BBC, Sharma addressed Sony's decision, suggesting that both formats—physical media games and digital versions—will remain available for Xbox players. She stated: 'I know that players love physical media and I know there are many benefits to digital media, and I want to ensure that people have a choice.' She added that, given the large volume of games on shelves, the company is announcing the possibility that players with 1,000 physical disc titles could access their digital version.
This statement points to the inclusion of physical media in Project Helix. However, during the same conversation, the executive mentioned that Microsoft's primary goals for the new Xbox generation are to balance accessibility (cost) and performance. This implies that physical media could be dispensed with in favor of these factors.
Sharma highlighted the company's history, saying: 'We have always been pioneers in backward compatibility, and you will continue to see that in future generations.' But she added that in this next generation, it is crucial to focus on 'efficiency and affordable price, in addition to performance.'
This discourse aligns with Microsoft's recent efforts to persuade game studios to allow compatibility of Xbox (original), Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S titles with Project Helix. Despite this, there is a high probability that this compatibility will be offered exclusively in digital format.
Despite this, Sharma maintained ambiguity, without confirming whether Project Helix will or will not have support for physical media. The reason for this caution may be that even the leaders of the Xbox division do not have a concrete answer. Sources close to Microsoft, cited by the BBC, indicated that the decrease in the production of optical disc units has increased the cost of this component, which worries the company.
There is a remote possibility that Microsoft might follow the Nintendo model, making games available on cartridges. The obstacle here is that the costs of the Flash memories used in these cartridges are also constantly rising.