# Report shows 34% of physical PS5 games and 50% of Xbox Series X games do not work fully without a download first

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/report-shows-34-of-physical-ps5-games-and-50-of-xbox-series-x-games-do-not-work-fully-without-a-download-first/
- Published: 2026-07-31T12:09:43+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-31T13:19:44+00:00
- Original publisher: PC Gamer
- Original article: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/report-shows-34-percent-of-physical-ps5-games-and-50-percent-of-xbox-series-x-games-do-not-work-fully-without-a-download-first/
- Topics: Entertainment, Gaming, TV

## Key points

- Many physical current-generation games still require downloads.
- Half of Xbox Series X titles reportedly need one.
- The trend raises access and preservation concerns.

## Summary

A report has found that a significant share of physical PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X games cannot be used fully straight from the disc, instead requiring an initial download. This matters because it limits the long-term usefulness of boxed games for players without reliable internet access and raises preservation concerns.

According to the report, 34% of physical PS5 releases and 50% of Xbox Series X releases need downloads before they work completely. The findings suggest that owning a disc does not always guarantee a self-contained, playable copy of a modern game.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.