A large-scale study by the preservation group DoesItPlay reveals that 50% of tested Xbox Series X physical games and 34% of PlayStation 5 discs require internet downloads to be fully playable. The findings challenge the assumption that physical media guarantees offline access and long-term ownership of game software.
For years, console gamers have viewed physical discs as a safeguard against the volatility of digital licenses and server outages. However, data from DoesItPlay suggests that the disc is increasingly acting as a hotel key card
—a tool to grant entry that may leave the actual product unfinished. According to the study, 27% of all physical releases tested across platforms require a download to fix critical bugs or access core content missing from the disc.
Platform Breakdown: Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch 2
The study analyzed thousands of physical editions in a completely offline environment to determine if they could be played as intended without connecting to services like Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. The results show a stark divide in how different manufacturers treat physical media.
| Platform | Sample Size | Fully Playable Offline | Require Downloads/Patches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | 78 titles | 50% | 38% to 50% |
| PlayStation 5 | 792 titles | 66% | 34% |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 48 titles | 75% | a minority |
The Xbox Series X fared the worst, with only half of its tested titles being complete and playable from the disc. Another 12% were beatable but suffered from serious bugs or missing content, while 38% required a download to function properly. The PS5 results were more stable, though still concerning; 34% of the 792 tested games required additional downloads to deliver the intended experience.
Nintendo Switch 2 outperformed its competitors with 75% of tested releases working without a download.
The “Broken” Disc: From Cyberpunk 2077 to Hostile Hubs
The study categorizes games based on their offline viability. A “Yes” rating indicates a mandatory download is necessary due to missing key content or critical errors. Cyberpunk 2077 is cited as a primary example of a game that is formally playable offline but suffers from serious technical problems, including performance drops and bugs, if the disc version is used without updates.
This level of instability transforms the physical disc into an incomplete or broken build of the software. While some testers managed to finish games in an abysmal state, the intended experience remains locked behind a server.
Digital Entitlements and the Xbox Outage
The vulnerability of physical media was highlighted by a recent nearly day-long Xbox server outage that disrupted access to both digital and physical games. The incident sparked debate over whether owning a disc actually provides security against service failures.
Microsoft explained that physical discs are subject to entitlement checks. While it stated that these checks should not prevent players from accessing their games, the outage exposed a flaw where some valid discs failed.
Microsoft is preparing a fix to ensure games continue working even if licensing services are unavailable. This development coincides with reports that Microsoft is testing a service to convert physical disc games into digital licenses.
The Erosion of Physical Ownership
The trend toward “incomplete” discs suggests a systemic shift in how publishers view physical media. Clemens Itzel argues that large companies are treating physical releases with disdain and that there is no reason for the format to disappear unless companies like Sony deliberately destroy this format
.
Sony has already signaled a move away from the medium, with plans to phase out disc production for new PlayStation games starting in 2028. The company has defended this decision, stating that player backlash had no impact on its business.
This shift creates a critical risk for long-term preservation. Once servers go dark, the essential patches and files required to make these discs playable will vanish. This leaves the physical disc as a permanent time capsule of whatever incomplete build shipped on launch day.
Economic Trade-offs and Future Risks
Despite the decline in autonomy, physical discs maintain a market advantage in pricing and flexibility. They can be resold or lent to friends, and some physical PlayStation games cost up to 90% less than their digital counterparts. Sony reported selling 70 million discs last year alone.
However, the value proposition is shifting. When a significant portion of a library requires an internet connection to boot or function, the argument that discs equal true ownership becomes shaky. The risk is no longer just about whether a game is on a disc, but whether the complete, playable version is stored on that disc.
As Sony moves toward its 2028 deadline for ending disc production for new PlayStation games and Microsoft prepares a fix for disc-based entitlement checks, the industry is moving toward a model where the disc is a secondary accessory to a digital license.
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