Xbox Series X update allows more discs to be played completely offline

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Microsoft has quietly updated its Xbox Series X system software to remove the need for a one-time online registration before playing Xbox One discs and some cross-generation "Smart Delivery" discs. When we first wrote about this issue last May, we noted how the Series X hid the download of some required configuration files behind a "Preparing your game..." message when first loading a game. affected disc game. If the system was not connected to the internet, however, Series X users would be presented with a "This game is not ready yet" error, completely preventing them from playing their game on disc.

Fast forward to last week when YouTuber Hikkomori Media noticed that the online recording had apparently been removed. Discs that previously exhibited an error when run offline can now be mounted and played directly from the disc, even if the system has no internet connection.

Replying to a tweet about this video this week, Eden Marie, Head of Xbox Engineering, confirmed that Microsoft has quietly rolled out this change (without any specific mention in the release notes) in updates 2208 from the system last month. “We have reviewed data since the launch of Series X|S and determined that online compatibility checking is not necessary in the vast majority of cases for Xbox One discs,” she said. "Some games may still need to be updated online after installation to ensure the best experience."

Unfortunately, backward compatible discs from before the Xbox One era will still require online access and download to play on newer hardware. This is because these games don't use any data from the disc itself for backwards compatibility, but rather rely on a completely separate downloadable copy that can go through a special emulation layer.

This new update should ensure that discs from Xbox One (and later) will continue to work on any Xbox Series X, even if and when Microsoft stops supporting the console altogether with its online servers.

For Xbox One titles, however, game data can now be copied and played from disc to Xbox Series X hard drive, with no online connection required. Now, if only Microsoft removed the requirement that "you must be online when you first set up Xbox", offline gamers would really be in business.