Summary
- New Xbox games like Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2 only offer digital codes.
- Even the first-party title Gears of War: Reloaded lacks a true disc release on Xbox.
- Physical versions still available for PS5, widening the platform gap.
Are Xbox Physical Discs Gone for Good?
Xbox fans looking forward to 2025 releases like The Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Gears of War: Reloaded have noticed something odd—there are no physical discs. Instead, even deluxe editions only come with download codes inside the box.
It’s a big change, and one that has the community worried about the future of Xbox Physical media.
What makes things even stranger is that PlayStation 5 versions of these games are getting full physical editions—with actual discs. Xbox fans are getting empty boxes with digital codes. This includes both third-party games like Ninja Gaiden 4 and first-party titles like Gears of War: Reloaded.
That’s led many to believe Xbox has stopped making physical copies altogether for its big games this year.
Game Pass Effect and Shifting Strategies
It’s no secret that Xbox players often rely on Game Pass to access first-party games on day one. That may be part of why Microsoft sees little value in producing discs anymore. Also, low physical sales on Xbox compared to PS5 could be shaping this digital-first strategy.
But for collectors or fans who just want to own their games, this shift isn’t very exciting.
Even though we don’t yet know if titles like Halo, Fable, or Gears of War: E-Day will follow the same path, this move is making one thing clear: the future of Xbox Physical is uncertain—and might already be disappearing.
