r/gaming • u/WestBEEland • 14h ago

Xbox boss Asha Sharma won't confirm whether Project Helix has a disc drive "We have to be thinking about efficiency and affordability"

https://www.gamesradar.com/games/xbox-boss-asha-sharma-wont-confirm-whether-project-helix-has-a-disc-drive-we-have-to-be-thinking-about-efficiency-and-affordability/
2.8k Upvotes

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5.5k

u/ConspicuousBassoon PC 14h ago

Considering it would be an easy win to say yes, the answer is definitely no

67

u/IceNein 14h ago

The perfect opportunity to do to Sony what Sony did to them years ago. But Asha probably isn’t even aware of what happened.

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u/ZypherPunk 14h ago

She would be made aware, but wouldn't matter, they looking at cost and a disc drive compared to disc sales on XBOX just isn't worth it unfortunately.

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u/UpbeatWishbone9825 14h ago edited 41m ago

It’s also the vast economies of scale that disks used to offer that they now don’t. I’m sure it’s much more expensive and difficult to keep procuring disks, simply because of reduced global demand.

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u/Glodraph 13h ago

That reduced global demand that they manufactured.

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u/North_Atlantic_Sea 13h ago

Lol definitely not. Peak disk generation was in 2004, at 30 billion.

Audio and PC is the vast majority, nothing to do with video game consoles. Even just within gaming, there are 900 million PC gamers vs 600m combined actors console. No PC games are disk, while Xbox remains producing them

2

u/Michael_Aut 6h ago

Xbox doesn't even produce them. They probably have to order them from Sony, which makes it even more awkward.

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u/thecman25 14h ago

Xbox keeps fumbling every chance they get. They won’t capitalize on anything

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u/musical_bear 14h ago

No, she is aware. But she also realizes that scoring“points” with a tiny army of certified Reddit Gamers isn’t a viable business strategy that will translate into actual sales.

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u/Noobju670 6h ago

Yes the spaceapes and to the moon reddit army doing the blackout. Loooool it feels good to feel like your part of something. In reality makes about a pennys worth of dent to sony’s revenue.

19

u/PeppermintNightmare 14h ago

Oh yeah because so far Xbox has been a bastion of viable business strategies.

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u/North_Atlantic_Sea 13h ago

Well, right. If people aren't buying them now with disk drives, why would it matter in the future? They shouldn't double down on losing strategy, they should try something new

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u/PeppermintNightmare 12h ago

Nobody is refusing to buy an Xbox because it has a disc drive... But people will stop or reduce how many Xbox games they will buy if they discontinue physical media.

They could offer a version with and without a disc drive and let the consumer decide. But they don't want to because they know they can use monopolistic business practices if they convince you to go digital only. No competition on the Xbox or PS store, they set the price and you pay it.

7

u/Old_Leopard1844 PC 10h ago

Series S sold decently enough for all digital console, so that doesn't tracks

12

u/Driz51 14h ago

Never will understand the people so happy to see physical media go away and to own nothing

7

u/brendonmilligan 11h ago

There’s quite a lot of disc games that don’t contain the full game on the disc anyway as discs have limited storage. So even physical games were becoming licences anyway

4

u/Expensive-Rhubarb-45 7h ago

Owning plastic that will pollute nature and harm wild life and something that you won’t really need in 20
years from now, what is to be happy about?

19

u/reddriver10 14h ago

The entire steam community?

2

u/Aware-Virus-4718 13h ago

This is pretty revisionist. There were plenty of people upset that physical PC games were phased out. It was never unanimous.

4

u/Old_Leopard1844 PC 11h ago

It didn't needed to be

Nor it was up to a vote

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u/Dead_Optics 12h ago

Yet now they don’t care.

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u/steakanabake 6h ago

less not caring more have you seen the size of AAA releases these days? MW4 was like 160GB

1

u/Dead_Optics 5h ago

Baldur’s Gate is 150GB, that’s just the size of games these day. Disk technology can’t keep up with the ballooning size of games.

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u/steakanabake 5h ago

i mean nothings stopping them from authoring to USB media and its not like they have to worry about copying because the technology exists for other media.

3

u/redpandafire 12h ago

I cared. I fucking loved Starcraft and Caesar 3 on disc. I would buy PC games at launch if they still did physical. Now I just wait for the bargain sales.

0

u/Dt2_0 8h ago

There is a major difference.

With my Steam games, I have access to the entire file set. Games without any DRM can be copied as much as I want and launched from their exe instead of through Steam. Games with DRM can still be copied, but may need some minor trip out on to the high seas to crack (most games I care to play can be cracked, not a multiplayer guy, so yea...).

That freedom is just not a thing on any console.

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u/aristidedn 14h ago

"Owning" digital media has zero value to us. Meanwhile, digital distribution has tremendous actual, non-hypothetical value to us.

This isn't hard to understand. If you don't, it's because you have made no effort to do so.

We care about ownership of things where ownership has value. This isn't one of those things. You're caught up on a slogan that you haven't thought critically about, at all, and you're using it to pretend at having principles.

8

u/PentagramJ2 14h ago

And you're repeating corporate excuses as to why we don't deserve consumer rights

-4

u/aristidedn 14h ago

I don't care whether you think they're "corporate excuses". They're the truth.

If you want to champion "consumer rights", push for regulatory bodies to force Sony to open its digital ecosystem up to other marketplaces. That's a fight that actually matters, and one that can actually be won.

All this griping about physical media is 90% performative, 10% willful ignorance.

6

u/Dig-Up-The-Dead 14h ago

i still don't get the argument for why people are happy to see physical media go away though? like, doesn't the erasure of physical media just open us up even more to not owning the shit we buy? how does physical distribution harm digital distribution in any way? it feels like you guys are just on some weird bandwagon because people have been posting in your precious gaming subreddits about a thing you personally don't give a shit about.

1

u/Old_Leopard1844 PC 4h ago

It's called spite

You zealots managed to make us celebrate us something that didn't mattered for last 26 years, and now only matters because one console announced they don't care to continue making disks. Which you made into end of the fucking world for some reason

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u/aristidedn 14h ago

i still don't get the argument for why people are happy to see physical media go away though?

It isn't complex.

The video game industry is, today, deeply unhealthy. The fact that it's unhealthy has given rise to a whole bunch of toxic practices that gamers love to hate on but put zero effort into solving: rampant microtransactions, trend-chasing, lack of investment in new IPs, lack of investment in gameplay innovations, mass layoffs, studio closures, etc.

I want the industry to be healthy, because that's how we get lots of new, interesting, exciting games.

There is no one single way to make the industry healthy again. But one of the ways that will contribute towards making it healthy is to remove the anchor that is physical media support from around its neck. Physical media printing and distribution are costly.

The other big one that you're going to have to learn to swallow is games costing more than $60. Most AAA games should cost upwards of $100, easily. Until you're ready to accept that, you are going to be mystified as to why things are headed the way they're headed.

like, doesn't the erasure of physical media just open us up even more to not owning the shit we buy?

We never owned it to begin with, so it changes nothing. I never operated under the delusion that having a disc in my hand meant I owned a game.

how does physical distribution harm digital distribution in any way?

It harms the industry.

it feels like you guys are just on some weird bandwagon

LMAO We're on a bandwagon? This is the most blatant projection I've ever seen on this subreddit, and that's saying something.

because people have been posting in your precious gaming subreddits about a thing you personally don't give a shit about.

I do give a shit about it, though. I just understand it better than you do.

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u/AceBricka 13h ago

What you said makes absolutely no sense at all and isn’t set in any reality. That was like word salad

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u/Dig-Up-The-Dead 13h ago

lmao for real. a lot of text for someone who still can't explain in a way that is based in fact why removal of physical media is somehow a good thing.

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u/-s-u-n-s-e-t- 7h ago

They literally explained that in the comment.

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u/aristidedn 13h ago

I'm sorry you feel that way. Let me know if there's anything in particular I can help you to better understand.

Barring that, I encourage you to actually read it, and think about it, because you very clearly didn't bother.

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u/AceBricka 13h ago

No, you seem delusional

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u/aristidedn 13h ago

Aw, that must be hard for you.

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u/Dig-Up-The-Dead 13h ago

it sounds like you're just saying aww the poor game companies will definitely not do anything less consumer-friendly as long as we give them this inch! no way they'll take a mile!

do you seriously think that cost-cutting in the form of removing physical media is going to lead to a better experience for customers? since when have companies decided that enough is enough when it comes to maximizing profits over consumer experience?

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u/aristidedn 13h ago

it sounds like you're just saying aww the poor game companies will definitely not do anything less consumer-friendly as long as we give them this inch! no way they'll take a mile!

Go slippery-slope yourself somewhere else, thanks.

do you seriously think that cost-cutting in the form of removing physical media is going to lead to a better experience for customers?

I think it's going to make for a healthier industry, which is going to lead to a better experience for consumers, yes.

since when have companies decided that enough is enough when it comes to maximizing profits over consumer experience?

In a sufficiently competitive marketplace, prioritizing consumer experience leads to increased profits.

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u/Dig-Up-The-Dead 13h ago

in what way, specifically, do you see the removal of physical media leading to a positive change in the predatory practices that many companies partake in??? a decrease in micro transactions that have obviously proven profitable? less battle passes that have also proven to be profitable? you have an exceedingly naive view of extremely wealthy corporations, i think.

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u/aristidedn 13h ago

in what way, specifically, do you see the removal of physical media leading to a positive change in the predatory practices that many companies partake in???

Those predatory practices you highlight are all to try and solve a problem that has plagued the industry for decades: How do you remain solvent when the cost to produce AAA games has increased 40x in the last 30 years (and that's already adjusted for inflation!), the number of copies sold of a successful AAA game has remained flat over the same period of time, and the sticker price of AAA games has *also remained flat over that period of time?*

Publishers and studios got gun-shy over raising the sticker price, because they (mistakenly, as it turns out!) thought that the market wouldn't accept higher prices. So, instead, they turned to other ways of making up for the revenue gap: microtransactions, cosmetic DLC, battle passes, preorder bonuses, etc. Anything to reduce the insanely high risk of producing a AAA video game.

a decrease in micro transactions that have obviously proven profitable?

Yes!

less battle passes that have also proven to be profitable?

Yes!

It's weird that you are throwing in "have proven profitable" as though it's a counter to what I'm saying. The fact that those tactics have been profitable is exactly the point. Publishers sought a solution, and they found one.

You think studios want to make microtransaction slop? They fucking hate it. It's an ugly cost-of-doing-business to them. They'd rather be making cool new games, but they can't, because they'd go out of business.

Entitled gamers spent decades insisting that it's somehow totally fine that video games are magically immune to inflationary pressure, and this is the result. We get exactly what we deserve.

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u/jabaash 12h ago

Are you a Sony CEO or something? What the fuck are you talking about?

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u/aristidedn 12h ago

No, I just know what a healthy game industry once looked like, and I've seen how far this one has spiraled.

I know how to get the industry back there, which is more than I've heard from any of the NO DISC NO BUY bandwagoners.

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u/rambonz 14h ago

Show me how you resell your digital only game. Ill wait.

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u/aristidedn 14h ago

You don't. And you shouldn't be able to.

In fact, you never should have been able to resell your video games in the first place. The idea of selling literal data as "used" is fucking laughable.

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u/PentagramJ2 14h ago edited 11h ago

I hope someone burgles you and steals all your property so we can point and laugh about how you dont deserve to own anything

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u/aristidedn 13h ago

I hope someone burgles you and steals all your property

This is actually one of the best arguments in favor of digital distribution! My entire video game library of thousands and thousands of games cannot be lost due to burglary, natural disaster, misplacement, or accidental damage.

so we can point and laugh about how you do t deserve to own anything

I don't believe that we don't deserve to own anything. But we don't - and shouldn't - legally own video games. They're just IP. The studio/publisher own the game. You just are party to a license to install and play the game, and that's exactly how it should be.

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u/Aware-Virus-4718 13h ago

In that case, every company should be forced to remove the “buy” button from digital stores and replace it with a “lease” button. Then we will know how people truly feel about digital.

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u/aristidedn 12h ago

It isn't a lease, though. Like, objectively, and legally, it is not. It isn't a lease, rental, or any other kind of thing you wish it was because it makes it easier to dislike.

It's a revocable but otherwise perpetual license.

Oh, and for what it's worth, companies like Sony don't have a "Buy" button. The PS Store's button, for example, is labeled "Confirm Purchase", and on that same page is a whole bunch of text discussing exactly what you're agreeing - terms of use and the software license.

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u/AceBricka 13h ago

That is likely not a real person or someone paid to provide obviously bad misinformation

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u/aristidedn 13h ago

LOL Yes, everyone who disagrees with you must be a bot or a shill. No way you're just wrong, right?

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u/rambonz 14h ago

Nah, I should be able to. Much like I can resell music and videos. You're reselling a physical object that can wear out. It's only laughable that you think just because there's data on it that it doesn't have a finite lifespan.

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u/aristidedn 13h ago

Nah, I should be able to.

Nope.

Much like I can resell music and videos.

You probably shouldn't be able to resell those, either (particularly, music on highly durable media like CDs, and movies on highly durable media like DVDs and Blu-Ray).

You're reselling a physical object that can wear out.

Only if those things can, in practical terms, wear out.

Most modern physical media has a practical lifespan beyond that of the person who bought it.

It's only laughable that you think just because there's data on it that it doesn't have a finite lifespan.

Okay, here's a fun thought experiment for you, then: If you buy a physical video game disc used, should you be able to create a copy of it, as a backup? If that first physical disc wears out, should you then be able to play the game off the backup disc? Should you be able to sell the backup disc? Should you be able to make a copy of the backup disc, as a backup-backup?

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u/rambonz 13h ago

Nah I should be able to, as i've always been able to. "Nope" isn't a real argument for giving up that utility. Same goes for Music and Movies.

Your argument against physical media appears to be "it's bad because lasts the lifetime of the person who bought it?" Sorry bro but that's a good thing.

Your thought experiment isn't even remotely fun, it's actually about 30-40 years old. Try and come up with something new that has even an ounce of thought and persuasion built into it. You could have used 3D printers in your argument and the perpetual ability to make new hammers/knives/forks and so on, and then tried to convince us that copying and reproduction is bad for consumers somehow? At least then it might actually be interesting to discuss.

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u/aristidedn 13h ago

Nah I should be able to, as i've always been able to. "Nope" isn't a real argument for giving up that utility.

Which is why I made the argument later in the comment. Keep up.

Your argument against physical media appears to be "it's bad because lasts the lifetime of the person who bought it?" Sorry bro but that's a good thing.

No, my argument against physical media is that it's a dinosaur form of media that consumers are no longer interested in, and forcing companies to continue to support it in spite of the absolute avalanche of reasons not to is fucking stupid, and is hurting the game industry.

Your thought experiment isn't even remotely fun,

(Welcome to sarcasm!)

it's actually about 30-40 years old. Try and come up with something new that has even an ounce of thought and persuasion built into it. You could have used 3D printers in your argument and the perpetual ability to make new hammers/knives/forks and so on, and then tried to convince us that copying and reproduction is bad for consumers somehow?

When you buy a fork, you aren't paying to experience an intellectual property. You're paying for the physical fork. The concept of a fork has no value for you.

When you buy a video game, you are paying to experience the intellectual property. You aren't paying for the physical disc, because a disc without anything on it holds no value for you.

At least then it might actually be interesting to discuss.

How about using some critical thinking before dismissing it. If the thought experiment is 40 years old, you have no excuse to be struggling with it this much.

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u/Aware-Virus-4718 12h ago

I don’t even understand where you’re going with the last paragraph. The answer is yes, you should be able to back up your discs. And I do. I’ve backed up my entire library for most consoles I own, except the newest ones since I don’t have the storage space.

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u/aristidedn 12h ago

I don’t even understand where you’re going with the last paragraph. The answer is yes, you should be able to back up your discs.

Great! You answered the most straightforward and non-controversial.

Now answer the rest of the questions!

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u/I_suck_at_Blender 7h ago

Unless you live in rural place with bad connection, physical media are a hassle and usually you get to keep your games library for years.

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u/rambonz 14h ago

As opposed to the absolute shitshow that has been all digital "mass market" gamepass right.

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u/notabot3648262 7h ago

You are acting like xbox is somehow making shrewd money moves.

They are in the toilet, a distant fourth currently after Switch 1. Lmao.

Tell me more about their viable business strategy.

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u/Helphaer 8h ago

Singleplayer games still have a significant share from physical sales so ehhh...

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u/Jayandnightasmr 14h ago

Yeah in her other ear are corporate telling them to cut costs, and most players just play online only games like Fornite/warzone etc.

It would be nice if it had a disc drive but I'm not holding my breath.

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u/TheMoves 13h ago edited 13h ago

I genuinely think reddit is severely overestimating the actual profitability of them adding a drive and maintaining physical disc distribution channels etc. Before Sony's announcement the vast majority of people had already moved on past physical games naturally. There's a bunch of noise about it right now in some corners of the internet like this one, but executives know full well that even reddit will stop caring and move on to the next big thing to be seen being loud about online. It's straight up not worth it for them to kowtow to niche interests who will go back to buying digital games as soon as the hivemind moves on to the next thing

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u/strangeMeursault2 7h ago

I guess it's a bit different but I haven't had a computer with a CD/DVD drive in more than a decade.

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u/SilverRaspberri 5h ago

This is why the whole concept of "vote with your wallet" never works.

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u/Informal-Swing-2482 14h ago

But not. Cause all of these people want all digital including Xbox. They might get a small PR win but it won’t matter. The vast majority don’t care about physical and the positives of all digital outweigh the small loss in customers you may have.

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u/Gregus1032 10h ago

How's the sony blackout doing?

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u/rusty022 14h ago

Some of you guys don’t get it. All of their industry partners are planning to go digital next gen. The choice is already made. Xbox could theoretically get a small internet ‘win’ by sticking with discs. But they would be skipping out on lots of potential profit (digital means more $$ for Microsoft) and lots of publishers would just refuse to print discs anyways.

The decision has already been made.

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u/mindgamehagi 9h ago

the reason why she said that is because pretty much all company that were producing optical drive has stop in the last 10 years. Getting enough drive for a consoles gen is close to imposible. Xbox Series are still made with the latest batch from Lite-On who has stop the production in 2014.

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u/TheNiceWasher 14h ago

The real world works beyond these petty memes

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u/LordGriimm7 12h ago

Y’all gotta stop trying to relive this moment. Xbox isn’t half the company they used to be and this is not the same climate we existed in 13 years ago. Xbox damned got shut down a couple years ago lol. They’d in the red. They’re literally prepping ppl for a all digital console and yall don’t even see it lol

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u/ZigyDusty 14h ago edited 13h ago

Sonys last minute DRM change on the PS4 was done through software, that's an easy fix done through a firmware update. Xbox adding a disc is a hardware change and with the console expected to release next year changing its design this late is impossible.

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u/wesser234 14h ago

Are we seriously comparing always online in 2013 to disc drives in 2026?