Xbox Expected to Go Full Digital Next-Gen, Analyst Predicts

Xbox is expected to abandon physical media and go fully digital for the next generation. At least, that’s what industry analyst Mat Piscatella believes.

For quite some time, Xbox has been leading the charge in the digital transformation. In addition to several high-profile titles, including recent ones like Hellblade II, not releasing physically, several major retailers have stopped selling physical copies of Xbox games. Earlier this year, we reported that Xbox layoffs might have included shutting down the physical release teams. “Microsoft has also shut down departments dedicated to bringing Xbox games to physical retail … which if you’ve seen the digital-only Xbox console leaks … well, you get an idea of where Microsoft is going here,” wrote Jez Corden from WindowsCentral.

On X, industry analyst Mat Piscatella stated that Xbox players should expect no physical releases sooner rather than later. He added that Sony might follow this trend after another generation, with Nintendo likely doing so after two more console generations. “Folks should probably just get used to this (no physical Xbox versions) across the market sooner rather than later,” Piscatella wrote on X, following a post from the CEO of Limited Run Games about the physical release of the Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Collection.

“Yep, give [PlayStation] another gen, Nintendo another 2,” Piscatella added on X.

Whether Microsoft will indeed go fully digital in the next console generation remains to be seen, but the shift is evident. Following the all-digital Series S console, Microsoft recently announced the new Xbox Series X digital edition. This white version of the Series X will launch this holiday season for $449.99/€499.99.