Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc.
A major Xbox outage prevented players from playing games, including those on physical discs. The article discusses how owning a physical copy no longer guarantees freedom in modern consoles — disc-based games must be installed to internal storage and require online updates from the manufacturer.
Why are modern console discs not what they used to be in terms of ownership?
Modern game discs don't run directly from the disc—they must be installed to the console's internal storage and require online updates from the manufacturer. Players essentially hold a license, not true ownership, and any service disruption can prevent access to the game.
What's the difference between older physical media like Game Boy cartridges and modern discs?
Old cartridges can be played on new hardware without any online connection or authentication—the physical medium is sufficient. Modern discs are just installation media, and games depend on the manufacturer's online services.
Why have some players moved to PC gaming?
PC gaming offers alternative ways to maintain long-term access to games without dependence on a single platform's online service or hardware manufacturer.
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