Xbox 360 Blu-ray Add-on as Soon as May ‘08?
by Patrick Steen on February 18, 2008 at 6:30 am
With the proposed demise of HD-DVD, the Xbox 360’s add-on is in a worrying place. Ignoring a high-definition disc format all together and concentrating on downloadable HD content might be the most preferable direction for Microsoft, but Smart House reports that a Blu-ray add-on could already be on the way.
In fact, what Smart House actually says is that a “Blu-ray Xbox 360″ is on the way, but we’ll put that down to a misconception. Even though their Microsoft insiders claim that there is one in the works, such a move is highly unlikely at this stage.
The publication goes on to reveal that Microsoft has already configured a standalone Blu-ray player, which subject to internal marketing and sales approval, could be on sale within three months. This is unsurprising since the company has been very open with the Xbox 360’s ability to pick either format.
Michael Ephraim the Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment said:
We would welcome Microsoft to the Blu-ray stable. In fact it is quite logical for them as the PS3 has been very succesful in driving consumers to Blu-ray. In fact we believe that it has done more to win the format war than traditional Blu-ray player.
When asked whether Sony would grant Microsoft a Blu-ray licence he said: “That is up to Sony Corporate but I see no reason why they would not do it”.
This is a point. With Blu-ray supposedly being victorious, would Sony be willing to remove the advantage the Playstation 3 has against the Xbox 360? Or do they see the potential blu-ray disc sales an Xbox 360 blu-ray add-on would afford as a too tempting to ignore?
 |
|
- Gamer’s Paradise: Live From EiEiO & E3 2007 in Santa Monica CA
- No Blu-Ray for Xbox 360 After All
- Even PS3 Owners Rate Xbox Live Best
- Peter Hines Talks Xbox and Fallout 4
- Limited Edition GTA IV Xbox Tightens Trousers
- Microsoft Responds to Xbox LIVE Issues - Free XBLA Game For Your Troubles
- Xbox 360 Cheaper than Wii in UK? At a Cost
- Grand Theft Auto IV DLC to Arrive in Fall ‘08
on February 18, 2008 6:45 am
Well so much for the “We dont need bigger than DVD9″ from Bill Gates.
Anyway the BDA and SONY should NOT allow them to have nor build a BD player for the XBOX 3fixme nor the next one (the 720)… this would reduce sales of BD movies BUT it would kill of the xbox console as they would be left in the dark ages with DVD9 LOL.
on February 18, 2008 7:31 am
Microsoft aren’t going back on their word. They won’t be using Blu-ray for their Xbox 360 games.
on February 18, 2008 8:05 am
Silly fanboyism aside, the BDA will allow anyone willing to pay the money to have a blu-ray player. It’s called business.
on February 18, 2008 8:24 am
So what was the point in me buying my PS3? :-P
on February 18, 2008 8:26 am
That’s a very good question. If microsoft DOES intend on releasing a blu-ray add on, I’d just rather wait for that. I’ll probably get a PS3 eventually, but I don’t want one just to watch movies.
on February 18, 2008 10:04 am
David. Is playing Blu-ray the only reason you’d buy a PS3? Is it even at the top of your list? Are you saying Sony made the right decision of putting blu-ray into their machine, even though they’ve made “so many mistakes”?
on February 18, 2008 10:18 am
I don’t know why you put “so many mistakes” in quotes, I didn’t say it. As to whether sony made the right decision, I don’t know. They’ve got a fine movie player but had to launch at $600 because of it and the games part is still yet to come, imo.
Right now, yeah, that’s the only reason I might buy one. But as I said, I’m not much of a movie person so even that’s a long way off.
on February 18, 2008 10:44 am
Ah Dave, I think that was a Krispy quotation, still relevant in the discussion as “blu-ray” was seen to be a mistake for the console.
If you think the games part is still to come, I expect by the time this peripheral releases the games you may be waiting for might be out. What games are you thinking of? Any that are of interest?
on February 18, 2008 10:52 am
Right now I’m really interested in MGS4 and FF13/versus. Once those are out I’ll probably buy one if I have the $$$.
on February 18, 2008 11:06 am
Fair enough. MGS4 promises much. And we’ll find out more about FFXIII this week. Versus wont be out until late 2009.
on February 18, 2008 3:26 pm
yeah right
on February 18, 2008 7:17 pm
You know, guys, we have a forum.
on February 18, 2008 7:26 pm
Once those are out I’ll probably buy one if I have the
on February 22, 2008 2:09 pm
I dono… i’d rather they make an add on. otherwise i’ll be forced to buy a ps3 and use it as my other media that is not videogames machine. I mean… I can’t honestly see myself playing anything else on a ps3 other than music and movies.