OmniDrive Firmware Makes Some Classic Game Discs Easier To Back Up On PC

A new open-source firmware project is making it easier to read and back up certain classic console discs using a standard PC Blu-ray drive.

OmniDrive is a firmware modification for MediaTek MT1959-based optical drives manufactured by Hitachi-LG Data Storage. According to the project’s GitHub page, OmniDrive adds support for reading several proprietary game disc formats, including GameCube, Wii, original Xbox, and Xbox 360. For collectors who want to make personal backups from discs they own, that’s a meaningful change. The practical path to creating clean backups from these systems has historically required specific old drives, modded consoles, or a collection of platform-specific tools.

Compatibility matters here. OmniDrive works only with specific MT1959-based drives, and flashing firmware always carries risk. RetroRGB notes that using the wrong firmware can brick a drive, so this is not a casual undertaking. Format support also has limits: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Series, and Wii U discs involve encryption and other complications not addressed by OmniDrive.

Redump, the disc preservation database project, highlighted OmniDrive in March and confirmed that updated tools including redumper and Media Preservation Frontend now support OmniDrive features. The Redump wiki has compatibility details and flashing instructions.

The legal situation depends on where you live, what format you are working with, and whether copy protection is involved. OmniDrive lowers a technical barrier. It does not resolve the legal questions. As always with preservation tools, know your jurisdiction before you start.

As optical drives and discs continue to age, the ability to read physical media with accessible PC hardware becomes more valuable. This is a tool worth knowing about.