More Hints of Blu-ray Playback for Xbox 360
In the early days of the format wars between Blu-ray and HD-DVD, Microsoft seemed to be hedging its bets. It supported HD DVD by releasing an optional add-on for the Xbox 360. By not building the format into the game console it seemed to be saying "We like you, but we just want to be friends." It's possible that lack of commitment helped tip the battle to end the way it did, but since then everyone has been wondering one thing: when will MS offer a Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360? If a new bit of info from the always reliable "inside sources" is to be believed, it could be sometime this year.
The rumors about a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360 started right after Toshiba ducked out of the competition. Microsoft issued a denial, but it just seems like a matter of time before something is released. The difference about this rumor is that it doesn't point to an external add-on, similar to what MS released for HD DVD, instead for a wholly new version of the 360 that has a built-in Blu-ray player. This version is supposedly currently under development for a release sometime in the latter-half of the year.
True info, bogus rumor, or someone just predicting the inevitable? One thing is for sure: we'll find out sometime within the next eight months!
From Engadget
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David Schaubhut @ Apr 1st 2008 4:20PM
April Fools! No way will this ever happen. There is roughly a $30 loyalty fee to Sony for a Blu Ray drive + the cost of the actual hardware. AND, since not all 360's have one, games are ONLY ever going to be released on DVD. Why would microsoft pay so much money, and take such a hit in contribution margin to offer movie playback and compete with their own on demand xbox 360 vidoe content? They wouldn't! Ridiculous article.
Benjamin F. @ Apr 1st 2008 5:43PM
First off money is never a subject of concern for Microsoft. Doesnt matter if they have to pay 3x the amount, Bill Gates only cares about one thning. DOMINATION OF THE MARKET. Were talking about a guy who stole the format for the entire Windows operating system as well as the technology for the mouse. He has built an empire from stealing and modifying technology. To think that Gates is going to sit around twittling his thumbs while a market that generates 100's of millions of dollars passes him by is atrocious. Not to mention how terrible 360s current movie purchasing system works. First you have to buy Microsoft points then you have to scroll through a list which includes hundreds of movies arbitrarily placed (can you tell me what Stephen Kings "It" is doing in the new releases?). With every movie distribution company signing exclusive contracts to blue-ray any person with two hemispheres of a brain and a teaspoon of common sense can tell what the future holds.
John Mason @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:36AM
I own a 360 repair shop. Microsoft will need to catch up fast. They cut a lot of corners when it comes to manufacturing, but they have trained their consumer to expect all kinds of issues with gaming hardware. One of the main causes for failure of the old style 360s is overheating of the gpu (graphics processing unit.) The HD DVD technology overheats 360s the best. That's why they came up with the quick fix (sometimes) of the current 360 consoles. Their software only allows 2 disc items (internal DVD & external) to run on the 360 anyway. The alternative would be some people trying to hook up external HD & BD drives to their 360? They will move into the BD business with an internal drive and a rethought main board. This will be painful, but 360 owners have come to expect Microsoft treating their console like a crappy PC that can't be upgraded. They've learned to sell their old console on eBay and run to Wal-mart for a new one. Sony is paying Microsoft for the "rumble" feature, and MS is happy to pay them with some of their own money for BD. Microsoft will continue to dominate this market in all ways.