Microsoft Already Prepping Blu-ray Move: Xbox Blu in the Works?
Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:46PM EST
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Once one of the major holdouts supporting the beleaguered HD DVD platform, Microsoft appears to be planning already to make the move to Blu-ray as the high-definition format of choice for its Xbox 360 console. Rumors today say that Microsoft could have a Blu-ray 360 out by May, allowing it to go "head to head" with the PS3 and picking up all the Blu-ray mojo that's currently going around.
Microsoft's HD DVD player, an add-on to the Xbox 360, has long been one of the most popular HD DVD products on the market, letting any Xbox owner upgrade his console for high-definition output, and for less than $200. But now Microsoft's connection to the HD world is looking mighty tenuous.
Good for MSFT: Sources say that Microsoft has already built a Blu-ray version of its HD DVD player and could hit store shelves with it by May of this year. Even more tantalizing: The possibility of a 360 with built-in Blu-ray is also apparently on the docket.
On the record, Microsoft is mum on its HD plans but did say in a statement that "We will wait until we hear from Toshiba before announcing any specific plans around the Xbox 360 HD DVD player." According to most rumors, that announcement from Toshiba could come as early as this week.
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2 Posted by azheelshock on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm reminded of that movie, Singles, where the mayer of the city explains why a commuter rail wouldn't work: "People love their cars." I said the same thing when MP3's started surfacing. How could a digital version of an album take the place of a CD? People love their CD's, right? Well, here we are in the iPod world where Wal-mart sells music downloads and what used to take up an entire wall in my home fits nicely on a paperback size external hard drive. Maybe people, like myself, really love shelving our HD-DVD's and Blu-ray discs now, but in a few years we'll be perfectly happy with a media download system.
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3 Posted by agustin2489 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse
This seems a tad bit too sudden. Then again, this is only a rumor. I'm still on the fence regarding this.
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4 Posted by nolo_8 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:40PM EDT Report Abuse
And why not? Might as well make a quick buck using prevailing technology.
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5 Posted by molloy18 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:24PM EDT Report Abuse
Toshiba gave up. This is now looking to be more than just rumor, to me.
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6 Posted by mfvarallo@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse
Toshiba had no choice but to give up. With the announcements from Best Buy, Netflix, Walmart and Warner Brothers, they are doomed. It is best to get out now not only for themselves but for the sake of their customers. Before anyone bashes Toshiba, please take these facts into consideration first.
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7 Posted by apinkel on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse
Of course they will do Blu-ray... they have too to keep up with the PS3. It's perfect timing too, the 360 had a ton of momentum intially, it's waning a bit right now... adding a BD drive would bring it back to life... that is if they put in a quiet drive and and improve the playback quality.
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8 Posted by rick_brisco on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse
So, does that mean a trade in for the suckers who bought a regular xbox and all of the expensive games?
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9 Posted by the_mizz_006 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse
my main concern is that MS will start now developing games on the bluray format and therefore forcing me to upgrade my 360 yet again. I am so freakin sick of this new console or add on ----- every year. I paid for the "elite" 360 and now they are making an even more elite version?? What a joke, its bad enough they make us pay for a wireless adapter, recharge packs for controllers, and now how about we all sheck out another $200 for a bluray player?
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10 Posted by goucho727 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse
The battle for next gen was lost when microsoft failed to fully back HD DVD by not integrating the HD player with the console. 360 has outsold PS3 by far but when it comes to sheer numbers you cant look past the fact that every PS3 has a blu-ray player and only 1 in 100,000 people who bought a 360 also bout the hd attachment. this was a huge oversight from microsft who could have tipped the war but now have given the ultimate prize on a platter to sony. toshiba should be unhappy with themselves for not selling microsoft totally on their product. this all could have turned out differntly but in the end I guess i will just have both and remember that this could be the last format we use before everything goes downloadable. -out
1 Posted by spambait67 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse
I can't imagine Microsoft would risk being perceived as making a "me too" move by adopting the same HD format as Sony. I think they're more likely to try to rush their media download system to market.