Xbox Wire

Microsoft's Xbox disc-to-digital program lets owners convert physical game discs into digital copies that can be downloaded and played without the disc in the drive. WIRED explains how the process works, walking through eligibility, pricing, and what converted games include. The guide is drawing attention from gamers weighing whether to trade in physical collections as digital game ownership becomes the norm on consoles.

Microsoft has announced XBOX LABS in a post on Xbox Wire. The announcement gives few details beyond the name, and it is not yet clear whether the initiative covers hardware experiments, new gaming technology, or community projects. Gamers are watching for follow-up information from Xbox about what the new division or program will actually do.