Rumor: Xbox 360 Blu-ray add-on by May

by Xav de Matos { Feb 18th 2008 at 1:30PM }

While haven't seen this much side stepping since our annual Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance tournaments ended, it looks like HD DVD is a few steps from being officially gone and a rehash of an old rumor isn't helping the situation. Reports are coming in from Australia's Smarthouse citing "insiders at Microsoft in the USA," claiming that a Blu-ray add-on is already well in development and could be ready to launch in as little as three months.

Microsoft has yet to comment on the validity of the report but according to a story on Engadget they've said, "we will wait until we hear from Toshiba before announcing any specific plans around the Xbox 360 HD DVD player." Since Microsoft has little to do with this format war it wouldn't be surprising to see a Blu-ray add-on in the mix sometime in the future, they've even said it could happen a few times already.

[via Joystiq]

Tags: blu-ray, format-war, hd-dvd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

EVANGELION NERV @ Feb 18th 2008 1:40PM

HUH?

BigJerm @ Feb 18th 2008 1:46PM

yes please

mike @ Feb 18th 2008 1:51PM

how much is this going to cost?
They are going to have use a cheap player because if they don't you might as well by a PS3 too

Bob @ Feb 18th 2008 1:51PM

Or better yet, how about a Blu-Ray/HD DVD combo drive? They are getting cheaper by the minute. It wouldn't be hard to do.

Mike Staino @ Feb 18th 2008 1:52PM

buy*

Project Ekim @ Feb 18th 2008 1:58PM

I would buy this 100% i was going to get a PS3 for a cheap blueray player but i rather use only my 360 and not have another console just to play blue ray.

pkilla @ Feb 18th 2008 5:22PM

Well looking at current Blue Ray prices it will be better to just get a ps3. Which is what I will do.

Adam @ Feb 18th 2008 2:02PM

Bad Idea

Adam @ Feb 18th 2008 2:04PM

There not gonna release a bluray player when there selling consoles for 450 without one built in.Maybe we will see price cuts.We have to see price cuts altho maybe not as there not using bluray as there game storage which also means i dont think they would even bother.

Anthology @ Feb 18th 2008 2:06PM

It would have to cost 150 to be worth it. If it is true, and is 200 bucks, i would rather just put 200 more down and get a PS3 in addition to the player.

Kizzle @ Feb 18th 2008 2:12PM

"Since Microsoft has little to do with this format war"

...huh?

They were the most noteable backer after the daddy (Toshiba) and two exclusive studios (Universal & Paramount). Fairly reputable rumor says they ponied up the 150 million for the Paramount deal as well.

I'd buy this if it's under 200. Would be damn nice to have a game system, HD DVD player, and Blu-Ray player (essentially) all in one device.

Michael Paul @ Feb 18th 2008 2:14PM

Relying on having a working 360 still seems like a risk. However, if it does come in dual-format and still plays on a PC I'll probably take one.

I'd still prefer a dual-format LG once they include the Blu-Ray 2.0 standard, which hopefully Microsoft's drive will support too even if not dual...

Adam @ Feb 18th 2008 2:27PM

hmm this might be sensible it will stop potential ps3 buyers aka 360 owners without blurays to rethink there ps3 purchase as a bluray player.Question is will sony allow it?

Matt @ Feb 18th 2008 5:29PM

Blu-Ray is not Sony, Sony is a part of Blu-Ray. Read up on it before you go and make up lies.

Robert @ Feb 18th 2008 2:18PM

I am sure MS will release it when all the HD-DVD dust settles, the only problem I see for XBox OS developers, is that the OS will become a little bloated: they have already a HD-DVD player on the system that runs a EcmaScript (name of the standard that is the base of JavaScript and JScript), and now they will need to bundle Java too. Two different runtimes on the same firmware. They can not remove the HD-DVD functionality because the owners of the add-on will be affected.

Do not know much about the internals of the XBox firmware, but firmware space limits are always a factor to consider

Nathan @ Feb 18th 2008 2:21PM

Here is my standpoint on this.
1. It has to be affordable like the HD DVD add on.
2. Blu-Ray needs to have profile 2.0 be the LAST profile.
3. The add on NEEDS to have profile 2.0.
If it does all of those, I will actually jump the wagon.

Rususeruru @ Feb 18th 2008 6:56PM

The drive will be just that, a drive. The 360 matches the specs required for any profile update (just as the PS3 does) as long as they can optimize the code to run the system. Think of a BD-ROM in a PC, the BD-ROM will always be able to access all content on the disc it's whether or not the PC has the software to utilize the profile that becomes the issue.

DaStuph @ Feb 18th 2008 2:21PM

I'd totally buy one. I bought the HD-DVD add-on and I've got several movies as well. I just couldn't wait it out and wanted to enjoy HD movies now (deleting content on my drive blows so I don't have room for HD marketplace content).

It'd be nice to see them dropped in the same case as the HD-DVD players where. For those of us who have the HD-DVDs too they'd fit together nicely and look sweet in the entertainment center.

I'd imagine they'll be just like everything else M$/Sony are doing right now and there'll end up being several versions by the times its all said and done. 1) standalone BD 2) standalone BD/HD-DVD 3) internal BD/HD-DVD in the Elites or whatever the future equivalent to the Elite will be.

I'd love to get an Elite with a combo drive and a fat HD. I always thought eventually M$ would have one of the HD formats included in the systems and you'd end up seeing games shipped on both DVD and BD just like you've seen PC games on both CD/DVDs for the past several years.

Just my two cents.

Rususeruru @ Feb 18th 2008 6:57PM

Xbox360 Games would remain on the DVD9 standard, regardless any plans to incorporate a BD-ROM in the console. They can't afford disenfranchising the current install base by switching game formats.

Anticrawl @ Feb 18th 2008 2:24PM

As long as we never have these pointless formats bundled in and forced onto gamers I'm cool with whatever add-ons they want to release. Game consoles are unique in that they are designed to play games for relatively cheap because that is all they are intended to do. You add in all these bullshit extra features and we might as well buy a PC. I like my consoles to do what they were designed to, and that is to game, nothing more if the costs are passed onto me.

Anticrawl @ Feb 18th 2008 2:26PM

This was my biggest issue with the PS3. Sony was abusing it's gamer consumer loyalty to back a new format for the movie industry. Sony fans footed the bill for Sony to make a killing with their proprietary format in the movie industry.

Digital Limit @ Feb 18th 2008 2:25PM

I'd buy one, if only because it'd inevitably work with my PC as well.

Adam @ Feb 18th 2008 2:29PM

AntiCrawl i couldnt agree more.Anything more and its a expensive pc with features you wont use.

TiltedCircle @ Feb 18th 2008 2:30PM

Ya know, I bought the HD-DVD drive and currently, my heart feels broken. I got at least 8 + titles currently in HDDVD and if, ha, when the format switches over, shouldn't we get an apology or something? Maybe even a discount on a possible Blu-Ray Drive? Having an obsolete piece of hardware sux. Oh and Netflix? Cmon man, Im tempted to cancel my service with them. The people need to vote with their money. Im starting there.

OrionnoirO @ Feb 18th 2008 2:40PM

To those saying you should get a discount on BluRay or whatever, that is silly. Microsoft did it via the addon route to begin with because EVERYONE knew BluRay and HD-DVD were competing and one would (likely) lose. You went into it knowing that, no one lied to you or said HD-DVD WOULD win the war. Not to mention, that in any other format or standard war, the people who bought into the side the lost, did they get rebates/refunds/discounts/etc? No. Why would this be any different?

Further - Microsoft did NOT have a vested interest like Sony does with BluRay. Yes, they participated in and support HD-DVD, but if it loses, it wont hurt them in the least - oter than having to pay Sony for licenses to use BluRay on the 360 - something they CAN do - and Sony CANNOT stop.

Robert @ Feb 18th 2008 2:57PM

They have a big interest on HD-DVD, it is simple, they do not want to implement Java again that is required for Blu-ray (that is the reason HD-DVD uses HDi) after they settled of of court with Sun after breaching the Java license, and after creating a Java like thing called .Net. It is the MS pride that was at stake in this format war

pennywise969 @ Feb 18th 2008 2:44PM

If they are going to do this, they need to announce something fast. I am planning on buying a PS3 for the bluray player some time in the next 2 months. I will buy this instead if the price is right and they announce it soon enough. I'm willing to bet now that the format war if over, a lot of people are going to pull the trigger and get a bluray player. MS needs to hurry and get on the market.

NukeAssault @ Feb 18th 2008 2:53PM

Still waiting for a built in player. =\

HazyCloud @ Feb 18th 2008 2:55PM

@ TiltedCircle:

That's what happens to early adopters. Sometimes we get screwed.

DaStuph @ Feb 18th 2008 2:56PM

Several good points being made here. I've been leaning towards getting a PS3 when the new 80 Gb replacement SKU hits for the Blu-Ray drive only. I'd MUCH rather get an add-on for my 360 any day of the week.

Taking cues from other posts, I'd like to see maybe some sort of mail in rebate for current HD-DVD add-on owners where maybe they can get 2 free Blu-ray movies when you upgrade to the new drive. Doubtful anything like this will happen but you can absolutely count on PS3s being bought by 360 owners within the next year if they don't drop an add-on soon.

Adam @ Feb 18th 2008 2:59PM

Built in player is a bad idea movies equal drive failures.And how does sony not have any say in who creates a bluray player they have every right to deny the hardware licensing to microsoft.Altho sony is a publicly traded company i doubt stockholders hold say in the matter more ceo's.

well see what happens i guess.

Riot @ Feb 18th 2008 4:50PM

You guys who say "sony will deny the rights for blu-ray or microsoft will have to pay a lot to sony", just shutup because sony doesn't own blu-ray!! Just because a company uses a certain technology in there products doesnt mean they own it.

SadisticHam @ Feb 18th 2008 4:05PM

Sony doesn't own Blu-Ray as far as i know they have no say as to who can use Blu-Ray players.

This wont affect me in anyway, don't care about HD.

thadwhit @ Feb 18th 2008 6:44PM

Looks like a pretty solid rumor. I bet Microsoft started working on the Blu-Ray add-on right before the first price cut on their HD-DVD player. It didn't take a genius to realize blu-ray would win. So I'm sure Microsoft has realized it for a long time now, and planned accordingly.

George Arauz @ Feb 18th 2008 10:44PM

That was inevitable

Si @ Feb 18th 2008 10:56PM

Why are people answer saying that they would rather buy a PS3... get a grip just for Blu-Ray player that will cost you $400, when the add on for the $360 may not be more than $249 the most. You get a console worth having/keeping and a Blu-Ray player at $150 cheaper than a useless console that plays Blu-Rays. Th PS3 will still be a lacking videogame powerhouse... developers are not warming up to it, there are no exclusives on the horizon worth going out to get a PS3, need I say more? Get real, everyone is trying to justify the once king of console's comeback... it has been out over a year and has not come close to the worthiness the 360 has accomplished after one year of its launch. How long will the Spny loyalists make an excuse that they are still learning how to code to the PS3... u PS3 famboys are ridiculous. And no I am not 360 fanboy by loyalty to MS. I am loyal to myself and what product gives me more for my money... and PS3 doesn't come close.

Alwyn @ Feb 19th 2008 12:48AM

With the ever present fear/possibility of my Xbox RROD'ing I'm not sure I want to boot that baby up and have a 4 hour movie watching session on it.

Considering I'm not big on watching movies anyway I'm reserving my Xbox purely for gaming action

pennywise969 @ Feb 19th 2008 8:57AM

Si, we have no idea how much this will cost, but I think it would have to be less than $200 for me to be able to justify it. Why would you pay $249 for a Bluray player when you can get a Bluray player and a game system for $400? I am not a big Sony fan and the PS3 doesnt have a lot of great games yet, but for $150 price difference I'd say its worth it. I would still use the 360 as my primary game machine, but the PS3 has Metal Gear coming up and a few other exclusives.

Oh well, we will see what happens.

Ciaran Gallagher @ Feb 19th 2008 10:57AM

Hmm... it's a bit crap for Xbox then isn't it? Because they can't have the Blu-ray drive as internal drive...
By the time I'll ever actually need Blu-ray, the internet speed will be fast enough to be able to stream high definition movies hopefully anyway!