Xbox 360 may support Blu-ray

[Innes]

In a major blow to the HD DVD camp, Microsoft has conceded the Xbox 360 games console may eventually support Blu-ray.

Xbox UK head Neil Thompson has stated that if Blu-ray defeats HD-DVD in the high-def format war then Microsoft will add Blu-ray support to the Xbox 360, reports Gamasutra.

Speaking to the BBC, Thompson is quoted as saying: "Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution. The only debate is if you want to watch Blu-ray movies and pay the extra money for that feature. We prefer to offer the consumer choice."

Thompson's comments come as Sony's Blu-ray enabled PlayStation 3 hits the shelves in Europe, the Middle East and Australia. Microsoft plans to release an optional HD DVD player for the Xbox 360 next week, but Thompson's comments leave open the possibility of an optional Blu-ray player in the future.

The XBox 360 comes with a 20GB hard drive and the optional HD DVD drive will sell for $AU250, on top of the $AU650 for the Xbox 360 Premium Pack or $AU500 for the Xbox 360 Core System.

The PlayStation 3 comes with Blu-ray as standard but sells for $AU1000 with a 60GB hard drive. The 20GB PlayStation 3 model will be closer to $AU800 but Sony is holding that out until later in the year, ensuring early adopters are forced to pay top dollar.

Microsoft is also rumoured to be soon releasing a $AU750 Black Xbox 360 with a 120GB hard drive and HDMI output as a spoiler to the latest PlayStation 3 launch.

Sony is banking on the PlayStation 3 to help Blu-ray defeat HD DVD in the format war and has already taken the front foot in the propaganda war. Recently Blu-ray Disc Association chairman Frank Simonis said that Blu-ray discs were now out-selling HD DVDs by 3:1 in the US - a claim disputed by Deputy General manager of HD DVD at Toshiba, Olivier Van Wynendaele. He said the Blu-ray camp's "propaganda" relied on Blu-ray vouchers given away with PlayStation 3 games console to fudge the numbers.



Source - http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/10733/532/

[sub]

I don't see how this is a blow to HD-DVD, all he said is that they will support which ever format wins, which is a damn sight better than having Blu-Ray shoved down your throat courtesy of Sony.

[quickshot89]

thats very very old news, it says he HDdvd is set to launch next week :S its been out for ages now

[kurosaki7]

Quickshot you honsestly dont think things through do you, its the release of the hd-dvd player in Australia, this news is very new!!

[quickshot89]

well i read wrong, shoot me =/

[Azure]

Pass me a gun.

[DinnyHoon]

It's obvious that MS would have to support BD should HDDVD collapse. Sony make VCRs, don't they? Corporations are immoral. They won't stick to what they think is best for the consumers, or what will hold their relationship with other corporations together. They zoom in on profit. If BD takes off, MS will have no choice but to add support to the 360, or PS3 will be laughing away to 2012.

[quickshot89]

or PS3 will be laughing away to 2012.

will it? by that time the 3rd xbox will be out, or about to come out? consoles dont last for very long, regardless of what people say, new technology allows them to be made better, xbox 1 lasted 4-5 years, ps3 was 7 years best, the xbox has been out for 2 years almost, so in 5 years time, who cares about who has BD, holographic discs can hold 200x as much as a duel layer BD in theory, now thats true next gen

(thats a 1Tb disc btw i was referring to)

[Azure]

new technology allows them to be made better, xbox 1 lasted 4-5 years, ps3 was 7 years best, the xbox has been out for 2 years almost, so in 5 years time, who cares about who has BD, holographic discs can hold 200x as much as a duel layer BD in theory, now thats true next gen

Do you speak English?

[BIG D 04]

This was said before however he talks about Choice, if HD DVD then you can have a Blu-Ray Player, that's not choice that a series of events that have lead to you realising that Blu-Ray have won.

I'm never surprised or excited about this, as I brought my Xbox 360 to play Games on not to watch HD Movies on a possibly "soon to be extinct" storage format.

[Pirate Balloon]

will it? by that time the 3rd xbox wilJesus christ on a bicycle, he was exadurating to make a point/funny.

[quickshot89]

for azure

the xbox 1 lasted 4-5 years
the ps2 lasted 6-7 years
blue ray and hd-dvd will be nothing compared to holographic discs
new technology is being made every 6-12 months, so the hardware inside the machines will be obsolete easily in 3 years
consoles dont last forever, regardless what people say

[Retro]

Its the fact that microsoft are admitting that they are preparing for the worst senario, which in turn makes them look weak.....because they are already talking about the if's.........

[BlueHoopedMoose]

blue ray and hd-dvd will be nothing compared to holographic discs

agreed, but bear in mind that I was reading about blue lasers for DVD playback at least 6, 7 years ago - when do you think holographic discs will become available?

[Azure]

blue ray and hd-dvd will be nothing compared to holographic discs

Market Forces.