Following a recent widespread Xbox network outage, Microsoft has addressed concerns from users who reported being unable to play games from physical discs. The company unequivocally stated that offline play for disc-based titles should not have been affected during the service disruption. This statement sought to reassure users that their physical media was indeed designed to function independently of online services for basic gameplay.
However, in clarifying the unexpected behavior, Microsoft identified the root cause as an issue with 'entitlement checks.' These checks, which verify game ownership and licensing, failed to correctly read the licenses associated with physical discs. This malfunction inadvertently locked users out of content they rightfully owned, directly contradicting the intended offline functionality of disc-based games. The company has acknowledged the severity of the flaw and has assured its user base that a software update is currently in development to permanently resolve this entitlement verification problem, preventing similar occurrences in future outages and ensuring the reliable access to game libraries for all Xbox owners.
