Xbox outage blocks even disc-based games

Xbox goes down. You can't play games you own on disc

A major Xbox outage that began Sunday evening prevented players from accessing not only digital games but also physical disc-based titles. This incident highlights the changing nature of physical media: even with a disc, ownership is just a license, and online checks or updates can block play. The author contrasts this with retro cartridges that work on new hardware without any authorization, and notes that PC gaming has long been digital but with better preservation options.