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Microsoft Again Denies 360 Blu-ray
Rumors of an Xbox 360 Blu-ray add-on once again surfaced this week, but Microsoft in typical fashion swatted down reports that the peripheral is on its way.
"As we’ve said before, Microsoft has no plans to introduce an Xbox 360 Blu-ray add-on," the firm told Edge. "Games are what drive consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available."
A report this week said Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology Corp picked up a contract to manufacture external Blu-ray disc drives for Xbox 360, the latest of a series of similar rumors.
Although Microsoft dabbled with a failed HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360, the company's position on high-definition movies and TV content now revolves around digital distribution.
The company recently signed a deal with Netflix that would bring streaming movies to Xbox 360 Gold owners who also have Netflix accounts.
Microsoft also has numerous deals with movie studios and television networks that allow for digital movie rentals or storage of full programs on Xbox 360 hard drives.
I have to agree with marcryan71 on this one. Not releasing a Blu-Ray drive for the 360 is a big mistake by M$. It remains the only reason i'm considering the purchase of a PS3.
What M$ should realise, but somehow haven't, is that they are fighting a battle of consumer perception and Blu-ray is still the PS3s biggest draw, even if they don't think many consumers will want one they should still be given the option in order to take the last trump card away from Sony.
Come on M$, you've managed to steal away almost all of the Playstations big hitters (even Tekken) so why leave them with Blu-Ray.
Toshiba mentioned a contract a few days ago, so I think it could well be true.
Developers have a tendancy to deny rumours, shortly before announcing them themselves.
I'd be suprised if we didn't hear some sort of confirmation before Christmas..... I hope!
I feel like this is a mistake. One of the VERY FEW reasons for me to buy a PS3 this year is the ability to see Iron Man in HD at home. I would LOVE to have the Blu-ray add-on sitting next to my HD-DVD drive so I can watch my HD movies. Yes, I will be downloading movies, but there's still nothing like OWNING a physical disc. If Microsoft continues to ignore this format, I will HAVE to buy the PS3. (Maybe play some games from time to time on it.)
Marcy,
Totally agree.
Your last comment, hilarious.
As cool as a Blu-Ray add-on would be, especially if it was sub £100, this is probably the right way to go. Console add-ons have a potted history at best, and at the end of the day, it's true what they're saying - games sell games machines, not additional bells and whistles, interesting though they may be.
Am I the only one thinking that Blu-Ray won the HD disc war just in time to be made obsolete by digital downloads?
Nope. I agree with you, to a certain extent. I don't think it'll be made obsolete anytime soon, as there will always be people that want a physical item in their hands, but i think it's overall life and time as "the standard" will be much less the previous media formats. It will become obsolete much faster.
Blu Ray would be a big step for 360 and would no way suggest that Sony won gaming. Bluray is now the standard for HD video and you can rent bluray video's at no extra charge from netflix.
I havent yet bought a console this gen mainly because I don't like nintendo or Sonys games, I like the 360 but don't think most video games are worth $60 so I'd probably buy maybe 5 a year. The minute Xbox 360 bluray comes out I'll get one and a HDTV. Hoping they will release one in Feb just in time for when TV goes digital and a lot of people upgrade their TV's to 720p or 1080p HDTV,
Otherwise I'll just stick to my ageing PC, which still gets most of the 360 games I like eventually :)
You don't need to buy a new TV in February, to go with the Cable companies Digital Transfer. They are just changing their video to Digital to get a better picture and sound. And if you want a Blu-Ray that bad, just buy a Blu-Ray player. MUCH better than an Xbox 360 add-on anyways.
That's correct.
If you've purchased your tv in the last 10-15 years you're fine. You have to have a REALLY old TV to have to get a converter box. People here digital and they start to think HDTV and that's not right at all. Basically, if you have to use bunny ears, you have to get a converter.
But how could you know in advance that an XBOX BluRay add-on wouldn't be as good as a standalone? Its not even out yet (if it ever comes out).
I can definately see Blu-ray add-on coming out for the 360 at some point. As far as Netflix goes I don't believe any of that will be in HD. And on Live, none of the downloadable movies have any interactive content or extras. I'd still much rather pick up a Blu-ray disc to watch on my PS3 than download a HD film over Live on my 360.
I hope your wrong, I'd be pissed if there were no HD netflix offerings. If there is, I'll get it, if there's not, no way. I was told by a BestBuy representative (yeah, that totally means its true, I know ^^) that Voodoo (the standalone movie download box that hooks directly up to your tv and it purchases SD movies for keep, but HD movies are rent-only to its HDD) would by this Christmas allow HD movie purchases in addition to rentals, that's one thing the 360 and PS3 lack is the ability to buy your online HD movies instead of just rent. If that's true, screw my xbox when it comes to movie downloads, I'm getting Voodoo. (I may be spelling voodoo wrong).
If X-Box goes blu-ray in any form they might as well admit defeat to Sony because all that is saying is "you're better than us"
Lets take a look at some statistics, Shall we?
To date , In North America, The Xbox 360 has sold 12.75 Million units.
How many has PS3 sold you ask? Well. Only a mere 6.01 Million. Thats not even HALF of the total sales of Xbox.
Now you say Xbox would be admitting defeat?
Then why doesn't everyone admit defeat to Nintendo? They have over 14.5 Million Units sold in North America.
So, Who REALLY should admit defeat? You tell me. Although Xbox has sold 2 Million less Units, After game sales and Xbox Live memberships, Xbox has won the market. Plain and Simple.
You're right, it just depends on what you define as "winning". In some catergories like software attach rate, total revenue, software revenue the 360 is winning so far. If by console sales, that would of course be the Wii. If you count the 360's marketplace, XBLA, movie and tv show downloads, shoot, from what I've gathered, the marketplace point cards are some of the best selling accessories the 360 is well ahead in total revenue and software market share. Ask the 3rd party companies who's winning...it won't be the Wii.
Fanboys say the funniest things.
Nintendo was the first to use rumble technology in their controllers. Does that mean, since Sony uses it now that Sony is telling Nintendo, "you're better than us"?
How exactly does it say that? Because the ps3 has blu-ray? Please, for the longest time and some still say now, that the only reason to get a ps3 is because it had a blu-ray player. HD DVD I believe was still a better format in my opinion, but thats a mute point.
Companies use each others technology all the time. So now that Macs have pentiums does that mean that Apple has to bow down to intel, windows, and dell. Get a life dude.