Microsoft may be working on Xbox Game Pass for China and a Disc2Digital feature

Microsoft may be preparing two notable Xbox features: a China focused Xbox Game Pass expansion and a possible Disc2Digital service that could help players connect physical games to digital licenses.

The details come from references found inside the Xbox PC app. One codename, Project Saluki, appears to point to a Game Pass expansion for China. Another codename, Positron, is linked to Disc2Digital, which suggests Microsoft may be exploring a way to let Xbox players convert or verify physical discs for digital access.

China does not currently have the same standard Xbox Game Pass rollout seen in many other markets. Microsoft sells Xbox consoles there, but local approval rules limit which games can be offered. A China specific Game Pass tier would likely need regional pricing, a smaller approved catalog, and support for local rules.

Project Saluki could help Microsoft grow Game Pass in a market where subscriptions need to be handled differently. A local version may not include the full global catalog, but it could still give Chinese Xbox players a more official way to access Game Pass content.

Positron may be the more interesting feature for long time Xbox owners. If it becomes real, Disc2Digital could let players use physical Xbox discs to claim or verify digital licenses. That would matter as Microsoft moves toward a more digital future and prepares its next generation Xbox hardware.

This idea is not completely new. Microsoft explored similar plans around the Xbox One era, but the company backed away after criticism around used games, ownership, and online checks. A modern version would need to be much clearer and fairer to avoid the same backlash.

A Disc2Digital feature could be useful if the next Xbox supports both console games and PC games, as Microsoft has suggested. If future hardware leans further into digital libraries, players with physical discs may want a safe way to carry those purchases forward.

The difficult part is preventing abuse. Microsoft would likely need some kind of disc verification or license check so one physical copy could not be used to create many digital copies across different accounts. That detail will decide whether the feature feels helpful or restrictive.

For now, neither Project Saluki nor Positron has been officially announced. The app references only show that Microsoft is at least preparing or testing ideas around regional Game Pass growth and physical game preservation.

If both features move ahead, they would fit Xbox’s current direction. Game Pass would reach more markets, while Disc2Digital could help bridge the gap between older physical libraries and a more digital Xbox future.