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Microsoft says no to Xbox 360 Blu-ray
Confusing the issue even further, Microsoft has now claimed that there will NOT be an external Blu-ray Disc drive for the Xbox 360 after all. Seemingly, the computing giant remains committed to backing the rival HD DVD format instead. There are, apparently, no plans to support any other format.
The company's stance is detailed in an official statement made this week in response to comments earlier this month by Peter Moore, head of Microsoft's entertainment division. Moore indicated that if Microsoft could add an external HD DVD drive to the console, it could just as easily offer an external Blu-ray box.
The word from Microsoft on Moore’s statement is that he was merely describing the flexible nature of the Xbox 360 to support new technologies as an add-on, and that his words should not be taken as indication that a Blu-ray Disc drive will be available.
"As we've said before, we're confident that HD-DVD will bring the excitement of high-definition movies to the consumer faster and at a greater value," the statement add. "We believe that consumers have signalled what format they want to enjoy high-definition DVD and we're going to follow them down that path.
The company's stance is detailed in an official statement made this week in response to comments earlier this month by Peter Moore, head of Microsoft's entertainment division. Moore indicated that if Microsoft could add an external HD DVD drive to the console, it could just as easily offer an external Blu-ray box.
The word from Microsoft on Moore’s statement is that he was merely describing the flexible nature of the Xbox 360 to support new technologies as an add-on, and that his words should not be taken as indication that a Blu-ray Disc drive will be available.
"As we've said before, we're confident that HD-DVD will bring the excitement of high-definition movies to the consumer faster and at a greater value," the statement add. "We believe that consumers have signalled what format they want to enjoy high-definition DVD and we're going to follow them down that path.
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User Comments (12)
Post a comment| PanicX on January 18, 2006 2:25 PM | Microsoft has flip flopped on the HD format war before, I wouldn't be surprised to see it again. What it really comes down to is what format the movie studios are going to choose, and with Sony being the originator of BluRay and a Movie studio, I'd figure Sony Pictures is going to release BluRay disks, and with Warner, Paramount, MGM, 20th Century Fox and many others behind BluRay, I don't see much hope for HD-DVD.
http://www.blu-ray.com/
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| phantasm66 on January 18, 2006 2:29 PM | Microsoft will back whatever format wins, plain and simple.
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| asphix on January 18, 2006 2:35 PM | Just as I said. Moores original comments didnt lead me to believe there would certainly be a blu-ray expansion drive, but only that there was a possibility if blu-ray trounced on hd-dvd. I cant have been the only one who was able to comprehend this.
Sadly, a comment such as that is great PR for blu-ray fueled with rumors spread by those who would support that format. I dont think Microsoft had any choice other than to clarify and now deny the possibility of a blu-ray drive in order to prevent damage to HD-DVD's fragile beginnings.
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| nathanskywalker on January 18, 2006 2:38 PM | Blue ray vs. HD
http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/186/6 http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-8900_7-5600201-1.html http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/129058.html So blue ray costs a little more, but holds alot more? And supposedly they will go down in price...I dunno microsoft, blue-ray, just might be the way to go...The again, microssoft might not want to buy something it is going to have to charge ridiculus prices for. At least for the Xbox, i mean, who really needs 50Gb for a game? Well of course several games would be placed on the disc, but that would be quite expensive.
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| Kreuger on January 18, 2006 3:45 PM | Maybe Microsoft are planning their own HD DVD format?!
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| mentaljedi on January 18, 2006 4:05 PM | Originally posted by Kreuger:
Maybe Microsoft are planning their own HD DVD format?!
they would! Personally, i think that blue-ray will win but i honestly don't care as long as they get a winner soon!
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| paulwuzhere on January 18, 2006 4:59 PM | YES! NO BLUE RAY! WOOT!!!!!
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| crossfire851 on January 18, 2006 7:59 PM | Well it hasn't been really commercialy resleased, so we have yet to know what will win and it may change the view/expressions on Blue-Ray and HD-DVD.
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| gamingmage on January 18, 2006 8:32 PM | Come on Microsoft please make your decisions clearer in the future. Hey at least its HD-DVD, either way I'm never gonna have an XBOX 360.
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| Kaleid on January 18, 2006 10:10 PM | From a business point of view wouldn't it be wiser to keep the door open for both options?
From the looks of how things are going I'm under the impression that bluray is more widely supported by large moviecompanies and therefore it has a better chance of being the chosen format by the public. Software is essential for success and both SACD and DVD-A have proven that, even LPs with a very minor part of the overall sale outsell both of the new formats - combined.
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| phantasm66 on January 19, 2006 1:44 AM | "We believe that consumers have signalled what format they want to enjoy high-definition DVD and we're going to follow them down that path."
Consumers haven't even seen this tech yet, and don't even understand the differences!
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| jassim on January 21, 2006 12:44 PM | There's actually NO use for a disc that can hold upto 50 GB of space. Sure, you can use it as a permanent data backup solution, but seriously, for games? No.
And I've heard that Blu-Ray's much more expensive than HD-DVD, so it makes no sense for me to buy it. And in ANY case, I ain't buyin' anything yet, I still need a DVD drive before shifting to either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. It helps me feel the change, you know.
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