Blu-ray drives now rip console games

New firmware lets certain Blu-ray drives read and copy games from older consoles like the GameCube, Wii, and Xbox 360.

A new custom firmware has been released for specific models of modern Blu-ray drives, enabling them to read the unique disc formats of older game consoles. The modification allows these drives to rip games from the Nintendo GameCube, Wii, and Microsoft Xbox 360. Previously, creating digital backups of these games required specialized or vintage hardware that is increasingly difficult to find. This software-based solution works on several common LG, ASUS, and Pioneer Blu-ray drive models, making the process more accessible to a wider audience by bypassing the drives' standard limitations.

This development is significant for game preservation and the emulation community. As original console hardware ages and fails, reliable methods for backing up legally owned physical games are crucial for long-term access. For developers and hardware enthusiasts, it provides an accessible tool for studying older game technology and reverse-engineering console systems. By enabling modern, off-the-shelf hardware to perform this task, the firmware lowers the barrier to entry for digital archiving, helping ensure that classic game libraries are not lost to media degradation or hardware obsolescence.

This firmware lowers the barrier for digital game preservation, allowing owners to back up aging physical media using modern, accessible hardware. It aids emulation, reverse engineering, and ensures classic games are not lost to hardware failure or disc degradation.

For companies involved in game development, retro gaming, or digital archiving, this provides a low-cost method for accessing and studying legacy game assets from physical media. It may also influence the market for specialized disc-ripping hardware.