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Microsoft CEO Talks Blu-ray For Xbox 360

Tom Ivan's picture

By Tom Ivan

October 22, 2009

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Update: Microsoft Has “No Plans For Blu-ray On Xbox 360”

Blu-ray could yet play a role in Microsot's Xbox 360 strategy, according to comments made by company CEO Steve Ballmer.

Asked whether Microsoft has plans for an Xbox 360 with an internal Blu-ray drive, Ballmer told Gizmodo: “Well I don't know that we need to put Blu-ray in there - you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives, you can get Blu-ray drives as accessories.

"I think probably the future of movies is mostly on-demand actually as opposed to via distribution on physical media,” he added, “so we're just going to keep driving forward and try to make it the best entertainment - overall entertainment, not just gaming but overall entertainment - experience we can."

While numerous online reports have taken Ballmer’s comments as confirmation of Microsoft's Xbox 360 Blu-ray plans, the executive could merely have been pointing out that consumers are free to buy standalone Blu-ray players.

Microsoft PR later told the site: “Our immediate solution for Blu-ray-quality video on an Xbox 360 is coming this fall with Zune Video and 1080p instant-on HD streaming. As far as our future plans are concerned, we're not ready to comment.”

Earlier this year Ballmer had to clarify comments he made about Microsoft launching a new Xbox in 2010, admitting that his “poorly chosen words” had confused a lot of people.

hasan's picture
On October 25th hasan said:

more than a than the PS3 needed a revision i.e. Slim. The 360 needs it more badly maybe Microsoft is incapable of doing one. Imagine with one sweep they can get rid of the heating problems noisy fans, disc drives add Wi-Fi use standardised harddrive [sata 2.5] and if they want add blu-ray functionality. You got to give props to Sony in technology they are untouchable…..

grognard66's picture
On October 23rd grognard66 said:

FYI - Major Nelson's blog has another post (it seems like he has to put these up at least once a year) clarifying that Ballmer was referring to BD add-ons for PC's - not 360 - and that MS has no plans to support BD. Much ado about nothing.

SH4RKY's picture
On October 23rd SH4RKY said:

MS has already said they dont see a future in disc based systems. they didn't particularly help the HD Disc out by not including it internally. and shortly after its demise they slated the bluray and said its all about digital distribution... which it probably is.

Its just Balmer mincing his words again.

zerobob's picture
On October 23rd zerobob said:

Yeah with respect to this article and his comments, I think you're spot on.

zerobob's picture
On October 23rd zerobob said:

I personally don't trust downloaded / non-physical media too much, as it could corrupt, accidently be deleted easily, takes a while to download in the first place, wouldn't be available due to connection problems.

It just seems like a backwards step in a lot of respects, but also a forward step in may other respects, so don't get me wrong. I can just envision a future of dodgey connections and frustrated users trying to download HD movies on demand, or swaering they downloaded something last week and its vanished.

I kind of like the thought of having a physical disc still that I can instantly play at my convenience and it will 99.9% definitely work. I prefer getting *something* for my money too I guess, as convenient as downloaded content can be.

I doubt a player will come out for the 360 though. If they made external PC Blu-Ray drives compatible with the 360 (no reason why not) that would be a bit special.

mentor07825's picture
On October 22nd mentor07825 said:

I don't see this happening, as Blu-Ray technology is prodominately owned by Sony, so a partnership with a rivalling corporation sounds pretty doubtful, at best.

ArronC07's picture
On October 22nd ArronC07 said:

Yeah it'd be like Sony making laptops that ship with Windows or something.....

mentor07825's picture
On October 22nd mentor07825 said:

Ha! Yeah, they have a weird relationship! I just can't see them becoming partners in a the video game market just yet.

StealthBadger's picture
On October 23rd StealthBadger said:

playbox? X-Station? It'd be massively outsold by the i-Wii anyway. Amirite?

ArronC07's picture
On October 23rd ArronC07 said:

This isn't video games though, it's storage used for movies and it's looking like Bluray is on the cusp of becoming mainstream. If it takes off and if it's looking like it's a factor in the decision making process for people buying a PS3 over an XBOX or worse for MS trading in their XBOX's for a PS3 you can bet an add on will be rushed out before you can say "me too".

Rider_on_the_Storm's picture
On October 22nd Rider_on_the_Storm said:

I can't see this happening, it makes no sense for them. MS are more interested in downloads and see physical media as a dinosaur.

nolim's picture
On October 22nd nolim said:

I really can't see this happening, M$ don't do anything without it being a revenue based move and Blu-ray is a loser for them at every turn, why give the user the choice to buy blu-rays when you want to charge them a premium for downloading movies instead? Also the cost of the drive itself will just underline the already superior value of the PS3.

Limanima's picture
On October 22nd Limanima said:

I can't see the advantage of a Xbox having a BluRay drive.
I don't think this will ever happen.

Ben_Lathwell's picture
On October 22nd Ben_Lathwell said:

i agree, you can pick up a blu-ray player for £150 now, a 360 specific player would prob cost about that anyway (based on the price of the HD DVD drive)