Spartan_X Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Microsoft Admits Xbox 360 Blu-Ray Support Possible Although the eventuality has been hinted at before, Xbox UK head Neil Thompson has stated again that if the Blu-ray format becomes significantly more successful than the HD-DVD format then the company will support it with the Xbox 360. Speaking to the BBC, Thompson is quoted as saying: ?Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution. The only debate is if you want to watch Blu-ray movies and pay the extra money for that feature. We prefer to offer the consumer choice." Microsoft is known to greatly favor the HD-DVD format, although most assume that an unwillingness to support a Sony-sponsored format has played a significant part in this decision. As such, the Xbox 360?s HD-DVD drive has become the cheapest way to obtain a HD-DVD movie player. Microsoft has always denied plans to release games on the HD-DVD format and this would presumably also follow for any potential Blu-ray drive. Recent data has suggested that cumulative sales of Blu-ray discs have surpassed those for HD-DVD for the first time, with Blu-ray outselling the HD-DVD format discs by a margin of more than 2-to-1Source: Gamasutra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiddlie Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 This was always going to be the case. Lets face it - MS' hd-dvd drive is simply an external usb drive. With the right software drivers, the xbox can support any drive that comes out as long as its compatible with usb... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Dick Montage Subscriber² Posted March 23, 2007 Subscriber² Share Posted March 23, 2007 I thought they previously said they were hedging their bets with HD-DVD, but in-case Blu-Ray got popular - that's why they went with an external solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noveed Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 which was cleaver ... if somehow HD-DVD does fight back and win the format war then sony are screwed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodrigo Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 which was cleaver ... if somehow HD-DVD does fight back and win the format war then sony are screwed... I hope HD-DVD wins, but I'm glad Microsoft took the smart path. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneKnee Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Microsoft was never exclusive to HD-DVD, I've said this 500 times now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rigby Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I support HD-DVD, but things are not looking good for it. Toshiba just doesn't know how to market things. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplySchizo Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 which was cleaver ... if somehow HD-DVD does fight back and win the format war then sony are screwed... NAh, they'll just do the same and offer a usb HD-DVD player :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeston Veteran Posted March 23, 2007 Veteran Share Posted March 23, 2007 I thought they previously said they were hedging their bets with HD-DVD, but in-case Blu-Ray got popular - that's why they went with an external solution. Yeah, I thought this has always been known. Not news in the least to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisBraid Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 This is actually great news, theres always 1 winner, IF* its Blu-Ray at least microsoft can do something about it :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundayx Veteran Posted March 23, 2007 Veteran Share Posted March 23, 2007 Signs of weakness on Microsofts part, not good for the HDDVD camp as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeR Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I was thinking just today about what MS was going to do with the Xbox 360 were it the case that Blu-Ray becomes the next standard.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riahc3 Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Microsoft was never exclusive to HD-DVD, I've said this 500 times now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD The article says (and I have always known) that MS was on HD DVDs side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightmarE D Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Signs of weakness on Microsofts part, not good for the HDDVD camp as well. No it's not Looks like part of their strategy to me. Why do you think they made HD-DVD an add-on? It was a format they wasn't sure they wanted to use because they knew about Blu-Ray. What's the best thing to do? Give the option of having either one as an add-on in the future. If they wanted HD-DVD to be a default for the 360 they easily could have done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acies Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 This is obviously why they didn't build in HD support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Lyle Global Moderator Posted March 23, 2007 Global Moderator Share Posted March 23, 2007 HA... smart move my microsoft.. not only are you stealing the blu-ray market to sell your system, but you also support HD-DVD, the best of both worlds... so people can buy a 360, with a HD-DVD and/or Blu-Ray add-on. :yes: Great move my microsoft. If Microsoft says they may support blu-ray in the future, it must be technically possible, or they would not release this statement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneKnee Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVDThe article says (and I have always known) that MS was on HD DVDs side. Microsoft never said it was exclusive to HD-DVD, they were originally supporting Blu-ray until a few months before the Xbox360 release. Why does it bother Microsoft so much whoever wins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightmarE D Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Microsoft never said it was exclusive to HD-DVD, they were originally supporting Blu-ray until a few months before the Xbox360 release. Why does it bother Microsoft so much whoever wins? What else is getting old is that soo many people are starting to use Wikipedia to try proving a point. Not everything on that site is fact. Microsoft has never once said they support HD-DVD over Blu-Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rigby Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 They may never have specifically said that, but Microsoft is a member of the HD-DVD forum. They are not a member of the Blu-Ray disc assocation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightmarE D Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Any future poster trying to argue the "Microsoft has always supported HD-DVD" argument just don't even bother. People find the smallest things to claim Microsoft supports them over Blu-Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George P Global Moderator Posted March 24, 2007 Global Moderator Share Posted March 24, 2007 This bit of news shouldn't be new, the 360 can support loads of add-ons like a bluray player if that format wins. But I think it's still early to decide a victor. All Toshiba and the hd-dvd camp have to do is drop the price again. They sell at $500, if they can drop this to $400 or less, it's a whole new ball game. I think first person to start selling a $300 player wins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 I think Blu Ray is winning because, not only does it come with the PS3 and possibly a free movie with the PS3, but because it has a 'cool' name, and is marketed as such, HD-DVD sounds kind of old compared to something as suave as Blu Ray and to the mases, the non-neowin folk, coolness can be a big deciding factor, even if it is subconsciously... IMHO. Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartan_X Posted March 24, 2007 Author Share Posted March 24, 2007 EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!!! According to Wikipedia Microsoft will release a BetaMax add-on for the Xbox 360!!! :rolleyes: :laugh: :rofl: :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Apologies for using online talk, I hate the stuff but ROFLMAO!!! That's a funny post and the second real laugh out loud I've had all night! Richard xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianwoollam Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 NAh, they'll just do the same and offer a usb HD-DVD player :D Personally I can't see that happening, for Sony that would be like admitting defeat and saying Blu-Ray isn't good enough. Does Blu-Ray have the interactive menus like HD-DVD has? I've never seen a Blu-Ray movie but heard that it dosn't have the decent menu system like HD-DVD has... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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