Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
An Xbox outage blocked players from accessing disc-based games, not just digital ones.
An extended Xbox outage prevented players from playing disc-based games, highlighting that modern physical media still requires online authentication.
The author argues that unlike old cartridges (e.g., Game Boy games playable on new hardware like the Analog Pocket without authorization), modern discs are merely licenses. Games install to the hard drive and often require mandatory updates. This makes physical discs functionally similar to digital copies, subject to server downtime or company decisions.
What commenters are saying
Commenters see this as a preview of a larger preservation crisis. Many note that when authentication servers shut down permanently, physical discs will become e-waste. Several point out that piracy and reverse-engineering are current workarounds, but these rely on specialized expertise and legal gray areas (e.g., DMCA anti-circumvention).
A camp argues that live-service games are the real threat, as they need persistent servers. Others note that Steam and PC gaming also have DRM, though the PC has a vibrant piracy scene. Some commenters urge legal codification of ownership rights.