Microsoft Ejects Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:24AM EST

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Redmond has finally ended its silence and officially laid its Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on to rest, just weeks after giving the player a hefty price cut. Now the big question: Is a Blu-ray drive for Microsoft's gaming console in the works?

News of the Xbox 360 HD DVD player's demise comes almost a week after Toshiba, the prime mover behind HD DVD, announced that it would cease production of HD DVD players, a move that essentially ceded the HD format war to Blu-ray. A slew of retailers and movie studios have given up on HD DVD in the past few weeks, and while there was little doubt that Microsoft would also throw in the towel, the software giant (and major HD DVD backer) kept mum on its HD DVD plans until Saturday. 

About 300,000 gamers (including yours truly) own the Xbox 360 HD DVD player, according to the AP. Microsoft promised that it would continue to honor the warranty on the deck.

Of course, the news threw gas on a long-simmering Xbox 360 rumor: that a Blu-ray player for the console (or even a 360 with built-in Blu-ray) might be on tap. Naturally, Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything at this point, although company execs haven't ruled out the possibility, either.

Personally, I think there's at least a 50-50 chance that we'll see an Xbox 360 Blu-ray player before the year is out. Why? Because the Blu-ray-equipped PlayStation 3 isn't a joke anymore—sales are surging, and the PS3 actually moved more consoles than the Xbox 360 in January. A reasonably-priced Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360 would be a way for Microsoft to fend off the resurgent PS3, at least in the high-def arena. And were it to sell for $180 or less, I'd buy one.

So Xbox 360 owners, what do you think: Would you buy an add-on Blu-ray player for the console? Or how about a 360 with built-in Blu-ray?

Update: CNET is reporting that the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive is on sale for $50 at Best Buy... if you still really, really want one.

Related: Microsoft pulls plug on HD DVD [AP, via Yahoo! News]

Comments on Microsoft Ejects Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

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  • 1 Posted by matt_archbold2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    I dont think i'd buy an add-on player, but if they released a new 3609 with a built in player i'd probably sell my current one and but the new one. I hate having the extra bulk that the add on player adds.

  • 2 Posted by giovanna3637 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with matt, I would not buy the add on but would upgrade to a new player with Blu-Ray. I was actually considering buying a PS3 for the blue ray payer (and games of course) when the war was decided last week. If no Blue-Ray Xbox is available within the next 10 months I will be a PS3 owner

  • 3 Posted by ali_syed345 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    there has been research that PS3 would out sell BOTH wii n 360 by end of 2009.

  • 4 Posted by y_92404 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well, at least you admit you own one of those now dead add-ons. Why buy an add-on? You get a Blu-Ray player in the PS3, one that is update-proof. I guess it would be the cheaper route for the few people out there who only have a 360 and HD-DVD players. Hopefully your add-on would be update-proof as well. It would be smart to release an XBOX 360 with built in Blu Ray, purely for the massive games that could be put in all of that space. Plus Blu Ray has a higher data transfer rate than DVD and HD-DVD so that would help with games as well. PS3 sales are just going to keep outnumbering 360 sales until they release a Blu Ray add-on or internal version. Plus MGS4 is almost here, w00t.

  • 5 Posted by brian_k_park on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    XBOX 360 with built in Blu-Ray would be great. I wouldn't buy it as an add on though.

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