Xbox 360 With Built-In HD-DVD Capability On Its Way?
In the battle of the video game consoles there's also been a second battle playing out in the background: Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD, which are the competing next-gen, high-def disc formats. Sony's Blu-ray is supported by the company's own PlayStation 3, which can play Blu-ray movies right out of the box.
Microsoft's Xbox 360, meanwhile, supports the HD-DVD camp, but makes it optional, so you have to buy a separate drive an plug it into your console if you want to play high-def discs. So far, it's kept down the price of the basic console. Now, according to some supposed insiders, the company may be rethinking its tune, working on a media-centric Xbox 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive.
The supposed new Xbox 360 will not only support HD-DVD playback, but may also include a dock for syncing your MP3 player and dual HDTV tuners, meaning it could act as a Tivo-like DVR (digital video recorder). While this news is attributed to an unnamed Toshiba executive (Toshiba is the creator and largest supporter of HD-DVD), it goes against earlier statements by Microsoft executives who said the Xbox 360 would never come with an internal HD-DVD drive.
Whom to believe? We certainly don't know for sure, but you can be sure we'll bring you updates when that becomes a bit more clear.
Since the high-def disc war is still far from over, you should probably just keep buying your consoles based on the games you want to play rather than the movies you want to watch.
From Smarthouse
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MrBlu @ Oct 22nd 2007 2:20PM
First they make a black 360 that mimics the PS3. Then they include the HDMI port in all their systems, that mimics the PS3. If they include the drive they will basically go against nearly every comment most 360 loyalists make: Sony FORCED Blu-Ray onto the masses while MS made it a choice. If MS stuffs the next 360 with an HD-DVD drive it will confuse long time fans and developers; considering of course if they start to burn future titles to HD-DVD. With stories like this the 360 continues to send out more and more mixed messages about what the console is supposed to be.
maxpower @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:22AM
The only "mixed" message is that MS is trying to stay a head of PS3. The only selling point that PS3 has is that its the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market. If MS decides to go this route, that would lessen the reason to get the PS3 in the first place. BUT this well never happen, at least not with games. Game Developers for the xbox 360 would then have to make two versions of the game. One from HD-DVD (which is like 30 gb) and a standard DVD (9gb). There is no way they are going to produce two versions of a game. Now they might include the HD-DVD drive to just play movies, but that also doesn't make sense. Just lower the price of both (or bundle them together) and it solves the problem. MS won't include a HD drive until the next Xbox. And it very well could be blu-ray.
MrBluHater @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:40AM
You're retarded MrBlu