Microsoft's Xbox could consider Blu-ray support

Nodz86 · January 9, 2008

LAS VEGAS, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's Xbox video gaming unit still fully backs Toshiba Corp's HD-DVD high-definition DVD format but could consider supporting Sony Corp's rival Blu-ray technology should consumers want it, an executive said on Tuesday.

"It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware said when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed.

Microsoft does not believe the surprise decision last week by Time Warner Inc unit Warner Bros, the top seller of home movies, to abandon HD-DVD format in favor of Blu-ray should affect sales of its Xbox 360 video game console, Penello said.

"I fundamentally don't think ... this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus (Sony's) PlayStation 3," Penello told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

"With the PlayStation 2, DVD was a big part in the beginning, but over time, people were not buying it as a DVD player after first year or two," Penello said.

The Xbox 360 supports a plug-in HD-DVD accessory that is bought separately, while Sony, hoping to give its next-generation video format a leg up, built a Blu-ray player into its PlayStation 3 machine.

"You can't say it's not a bummer, not a setback, but I've seen this battle declared over so many times," Penello said of Warner's decision.

"I want consumers to have a voice in this and I think there are a lot of consumers who bought HD-DVD who are going to have a say in how this shakes out."

Warner Bros is the movie division of media conglomerate Time Warner Inc. (Reporting by Scott Hillis, editing by Gerald E. McCormick, Richard Chang)

Source: The Guardian

Eudemon · January 9, 2008

What's funny about this is that Microsoft was going to announce an Xbox Ultimate with a built-in HD-DVD drive but due to Warner Bros move to switch to Blu-ray exclusively and it looks like Paramount and Universal are about to follow suit.

Nodz86 · January 9, 2008

They will probably delay it and when the format war is totally over, which it nearly is, release a blu ray one.

Or they will wait until the next gen xbox.

Nige · January 10, 2008

OH NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blue Ray is like the work of a drunken football hooligan lol

Keep it HD-DVD, Microsoft don't give sony the psychological edge please don't !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really do hate Sony, WOOO HOOO for Microsoft fanboys like me :D:p:D lol.

Pherelas · January 10, 2008

Dunno its a better technology blueray but its Sony, they will charge everyone a fortune to use it probably while I need toshiba would probably do better. Sony do have a knack of making great things and ruiening them with huge prices, k850i, PS3....

Baldy · January 10, 2008

yep i agree with that thank god i got my k850i free on my contract. Although it would be good for blu-ray to come to the 360 i don't think ms should ditch hd-dvd so maybe just add a blu-ray add on for around the same price as the hd-dvd player add on.