Xbox may be preparing a China focused Game Pass tier and a disc to digital program

Microsoft may be working on two major Xbox projects: a new Game Pass tier for China and a possible disc to digital entitlement program for future hardware.

The first project is reportedly called Project Saluki. It appears to be a new Xbox Game Pass offering designed specifically for the Chinese market. According to Windows Central, references to Saluki have been verified inside recent Xbox Insider builds.

This does not sound like a simple copy of the current Game Pass plans. Saluki may include multiple tiers and rewards built around China’s gaming market, rules, and player habits.

That makes sense. China has strict gaming regulations, so Microsoft would likely need a version of Game Pass built around approved games and local requirements. It may also lean more heavily on rewards, in game currencies, or other benefits that fit the way Chinese players spend money in games.

China is an important target for Xbox. Microsoft already has experience there through Activision Blizzard and partnerships with companies such as NetEase. The market has traditionally leaned toward mobile games, but major hits like Black Myth: Wukong show that China is becoming more important for premium PC and console style gaming too.

The second project may be more interesting for existing Xbox owners. It is reportedly called Positron, and early signs suggest it could be some kind of disc to digital program.

Details are still very limited, so this should be treated as speculation. But the idea would fit where Xbox hardware seems to be heading.

Microsoft’s next generation Xbox project, often referred to as Helix, is expected by some insiders to be more like a console PC hybrid. If that device launches without a disc drive, Xbox needs a way to avoid leaving physical game owners behind.

A disc to digital program could help bridge that gap.

The challenge is licensing. Microsoft cannot simply let players insert a disc once and permanently claim a digital copy without restrictions. If that happened, people could pass one disc around and create many digital licenses.

So a real program would need limits. Microsoft might require the disc to be permanently converted, tied to an account, or verified through an external USB Blu ray drive. Another possibility is a temporary entitlement, where the disc acts like proof of ownership while inserted, even on a system without a built in drive.

This would not be Microsoft’s first attempt at a similar idea. The original Xbox One plan in 2013 included digital style licensing for disc games, but it faced heavy backlash because of concerns around used games, lending, and ownership. The market is different now. Digital purchases are much more common, and many players already expect cloud access, Xbox Play Anywhere support, and cross device libraries.

That is where Positron could matter. Disc based Xbox owners currently miss out on some digital benefits. They cannot easily play those games through the cloud or across Xbox Play Anywhere devices unless they also own a digital license.

If Microsoft can find a fair way to convert or verify physical ownership, it could make the transition to a disc free Xbox much easier.

Still, nothing is confirmed. Positron may not work exactly like a disc to digital system, or it may never become a public feature. Saluki also appears early, with only limited details about how Microsoft plans to position Game Pass in China.

But both projects point in the same direction. Xbox is trying to expand Game Pass into new markets while also preparing for a future where physical discs become less central. If Microsoft handles it carefully, Saluki could grow Xbox in China, and Positron could protect longtime players as the platform moves deeper into digital ownership.