By Paula Beaton Xbox is asking Insiders what they want to see in next-gen consoles, including whether they would prefer physical discs for Project Helix.
The recent Xbox Insider survey, shared by Power Up Gaming from a now-deleted post on X by @XBOXTIMDOG, reportedly asked which features were most important to players. Survey participants were asked to rate features as “must have”, “nice to have”, “not necessary” and so on.
Included in the list of features were things like the option to install games from a physical disc, the ability to connect a PC and mouse, being able to watch YouTube while gaming, lighting which changes depending on the game being played, cloud streaming, and a feature which automatically identifies and saves game highlights.
Following the recent introduction of the Xbox Disc to Digital program, speculation has been rife that Project Helix, the codename for the next generation of Xbox consoles, would be a digital only console. While that hasn’t yet been confirmed, the fact Microsoft is asking players what they want to see come to next-gen consoles implies they’re taking this seriously.
That could be as a result of the fallout Sony has faced following its controversial announcement to stop production of physical games entirely by 2028.
Even if Project Helix has a disc drive, that doesn’t automatically mean it will have new physical games. Microsoft could follow in Sony’s footsteps and make the move to an all-digital catalogue, going forwards. A disc drive could be included on next-gen consoles to allow players to play their existing physical titles, depending on demand. If enough people consider a disc drive a “must have” then Microsoft is likely to include one either a built-in drive or a detachable one.
This news should be reassuring for Xbox fans wondering whether Sony has set a precedent for the end of physical games with its recent decision. There are no guarantees that Project Helix will have a disc drive, but the fact Microsoft is asking its players what they want is at least proof it’s listening to its community.
Fletcher Wilkinson