MS lays into Blu-ray, dispells latest rumors
by Dustin Burg 
{ Oct 10th 2008 at 3:00PM }
Another month and another Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumor. Though, this time we don't really have to talk about its validity, because Microsoft has already debunked it and gone on record as saying the latest round of 360 Blu-ray rumors are false.
Edge Online received a "Microsoft has no plans to introduce an Xbox 360 Blu-ray add-on" comment from the MS folks, which puts it ever so bluntly that, again, no Blu-ray Xbox plans are in the works. Even more juicier is Microsoft product manager Aaron Greenberg's Blu-ray dissing, telling Major Nelson in an interview that "no one knows what Blu-ray will be. It's pretty clear it is not the next DVD, right? The days of one physical format being the standard are gone." Burn!
[Via Eurogamer]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
deejaymoogz @ Oct 10th 2008 3:09PM
Interesting to hear that, because I read something different on this.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10061729-1.html
sarge @ Oct 10th 2008 4:21PM
Two or three months ago it was some factory in China that was contracted to build Xbox consoles with internal Blu-Ray drives. Now its somebody else. Xbit is the only source of this rumor and they don't have anything to back it up.
Hotaru Tomoe @ Oct 10th 2008 3:09PM
"no one knows what Blu-ray will be. It's pretty clear it is not the next DVD, right?"
Not untill everyone has an HD-TV anyway.
enewtabie @ Oct 10th 2008 4:58PM
That's asinine.Physical media will continue to be around for quite some time until major areas like the US get widespread high speed broadband and no caps on bandwidth. It's at least 5-10 or more years away easy.Sometimes,Greenberg waves the company flag way too hard.
JCarpio @ Oct 10th 2008 5:29PM
Actually, he wasn't talking about digital downloads there.. He was talking about there not being a physical format that will dominate like the DVD did.
Let's face it, Blu-ray is going against DVD at this moment in time and losing.
Eventually I'll get a Blu-ray, but I can get most of my HD entertainment from cable and be content.
Alex @ Oct 10th 2008 5:52PM
I think the only reason to get a full HD compatible system is to play games. TV and movies do have a difference, but the only thing that has benefitted from the new HD-iness is the games industry. I also think that CRT is a good enough picture for what I need on my Xbox and TV watching needs.
joeybeast @ Oct 10th 2008 3:24PM
I'll take Netflix over Blu-ray.
Mik @ Oct 10th 2008 3:40PM
Netflix looks crap compared to proper HD.
I'l be enjoying proper BD copy of The Dark Knight this season on PS3.
enjoy your upscaled DVD version losers....
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/1212127-post280.html
D dogg @ Oct 10th 2008 4:44PM
While there is a difference between HD discs and DVD (I'm a HD DVD kinda guy), I akin people who post picture comparisons to the marketing people who post video game screenshots.
It's quite amazing what simple motion can do to pictures. "That games LOOKS amazing from the screenshots!"... then once it gets moving that difference it's much less significant.
Now back to your cave Blu-Boy!! SHOO!
Truckondo @ Oct 10th 2008 8:11PM
Netflix rents blu-rays too!
joeybeast @ Oct 11th 2008 12:24AM
I'm not arguing there isn't a difference between DVD and Blu-ray. I just like to watch movie any time I want, stream to my TV. However you want to justify your $400 Blu-ray player is up to you.
Simbelmyne @ Oct 10th 2008 3:25PM
I can understand Microsoft not wanting to splinter their user base by switching to Blu-ray, however I don't see why they wouldn't create an optional peripheral blu-ray player.
Wouldn't they rather me buy a blu-ray player from for my 360 from them than buy a PS3?
Trogdor @ Oct 10th 2008 3:30PM
We can safely expect to see Blu Ray players cheaper than PS3s this holiday, so when that happens only people who are interested in games will be buying a PS3. I wouldn't be surprised to see a $199 Blu Ray player on Black Friday. If they want the format to take off, it has to break $200 soon.
Mik @ Oct 10th 2008 3:42PM
You mean you are still holding out on buying the best Blu-Ray player on that market, that's got the best selection of games thing coming season?
How long are you planning on carying on missing out?
Midlife Crysis @ Oct 10th 2008 5:41PM
Mik's comparison is lopsided b/c it omits Left 4 Dead and other 2008 exclusives and b/c it mentions 2009 PS exclusives without mentioning 2009 Xbox games.
I have both platforms and I love my PS3 (and blu-ray) but if I could only keep one I'd keep the 360. Others may have different tastes.
Simbelmyne @ Oct 10th 2008 3:53PM
Mik, the PS3 may very well be the best blu-ray player available, but come on, how can you honestly say that it has the best selection of games, upcoming or otherwise?
I have great affection for Sony and the PS3 but it's hard to read such a claim without laughing.
Mik @ Oct 10th 2008 4:08PM
It's easy, because it does indeed have the best selection of upcoming games.
I would put Resistance2, Killzone2, LittleBigPlanet Motorstorm PacificRift, HeavyRain
Above Gears2, and Fable2 anyday...
Sure both systems have many more exclusives, but these are the biggies, and both systems share the multi-platforms, but even then the multi-plats are tending to be better on PS3 these days, now developers have moved to PS3 as primary dev platform.
Simbelmyne @ Oct 10th 2008 4:22PM
I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree on that point.
I'm quite excited about Fallout 3 and Tomb Raider: Underworld, both of which I'll be buying on the 360 due to exclusive DLC. I'm also very much enjoying Tales of Vesperia and Lost Oddysey at the moment. As a longtime fan of JRPG's I was also thrilled to hear that Final Fantasy XIII will be coming to the 360.
As for the titles you mentioned, the only one that really interests me is Little Big Planet which looks amazing. You also forgot Wipeout HD, another gem.
I'm not seeing any indication that the PS3 is now the primary platform of development. Even among multiplatform titles, it seems quite the opposite when noting the common delay of mutliplatform titles reaching the PS3 or the lack of DLC/trophy support.
Regardless, my initial point remains. It is foolish for Microsoft to disregard the blu-ray medium. Not offering a peripheral player for the 360 seems like a missed opportunity.
Alex @ Oct 10th 2008 4:35PM
@ Mik,
LittleBigPlanet is a game I couldn't see myself getting into even if I had a PS3. Same with Viva Pinata. If it were an Xbox exclusive it would have been getting as much attention as something like Chrome hounds. I feel the same way about Ratchet and Clank.
Heavy Rain would be the _only_ (and I don't mean to be a dick) game I would want for PS3 in the foreseeable future. all others I'd buy for the Xbox.
sgt_quackers @ Oct 10th 2008 4:06PM
I want a Blu-Ray player but i'm not paying $400 for one. I would like it if Microsoft would release a $100-150 Blu-Ray add on for the Xbox 360 but i guess they are not going to. So like many people i'm waiting until Blu-Ray players break $200.
hplcman @ Oct 10th 2008 4:21PM
Shucks. I was really hoping this rumor would be true. Though it's too bad MS bit it with the HD-DVD add-on debacle, I don't see why they couldn't make a blu-ray add-on, now that it's starting to take off as a format (especially if what the previous poster said is true about the stand alone players dropping in price this holiday season...)
xboxrulez1985 @ Oct 10th 2008 4:22PM
Aaron Greenberg is a tool. How bout another cheeseburger you sloth!
Whingnut @ Oct 10th 2008 5:02PM
Yup...don't much care. I'm a renter. Buy only a select few titles I really like. By the time my PS3 dies, I'm sure stand alones will be a dime a dozen and the new format will be on the horizon - or the next Xbox with internal blu-ray . No big investment made on the media...that's the way to do it.
Flame @ Oct 10th 2008 5:04PM
I think microsoft doesn't want to pay sony any amount of money really. If they did decide to do that, Sony could make the add-on as high as $250. Being that Sony and Phillips are the "Top Dogs" in the BDA and the founders of it. Also, Microsoft is full of pride, i doubt they'd want to pay sony for it let alone think about making the contract.
cesar @ Oct 10th 2008 5:54PM
michael bay was right
petrosky @ Oct 10th 2008 7:17PM
Blu Ray isnt 100% noticeable unless you got a big lcd. My ps3 is a paper weight right now and probably always will be....
sumdude @ Oct 10th 2008 9:04PM
well. Sux to be you. Just got me a brand new 65'' 1080p TV. Off to watch some Iron Man in Blu-Ray! Oh ya!
I am also you are to poor to shell out a few games for your PS3. I pitty you :*(.
VOTE MCCAIN!
petrosky @ Oct 11th 2008 12:16AM
Actually I may sell my ps3 movies or blu ray mean anything to me
Holden @ Oct 10th 2008 11:19PM
Blu-Ray DOES make a difference, because normal DVD is in 480, so even on a 32" 720P Blu-ray looks heaps better. I definitely noticed the difference on people's faces and action shots.
ps Flame is correct in MS not wanting to pay anything to Sony because they 'own' Blu-Ray and definitely won't make it easy for xbox.
The Blu-Ray HD-DVD war may be over, but the console war is still on! If you could get a blu-ray player with xbox, PS3 loses its biggest point of difference.
Str8jackit @ Oct 11th 2008 6:13AM
To be honest I'm totally indifferent on this subject. If Microsoft really wanted to kill off Blu-Ray all they need to do is make the 360 MKV compatible. As it is I have over 40 Blu-Ray movies that I watch freely on my 360 anyway. I simply download Blu-Ray movies, convert them to WMV-HD and stream them from my PC to my 360. It's all too easy, so even if MS decided to release a Blu-Ray player for the 360, do you really think I would buy one?
boo yakka @ Oct 11th 2008 6:40AM
Sold my PS3 'cause the games sucked. Mostly 3rd party crap you can get on any system ( exclusives like Motorstorm looked ok but played like a dog...Resistance was shite - total shite)
Blu Ray discs are too expensive in the UK. Why pay £24.99 for the latest release when DVD is £10? MS wont release a Blu ray add on as they feel theres not enough want for it...once bitten etc.
My PS3 was a dust magnet hence the sale.
As for Michael Bay - we'll see what he says in a few years when the major studios realise that streaming their films directly to the console or whathaveyou makes the most cash.
Blu Ray = Dead Ray
H@CK3R @ Oct 12th 2008 3:20AM
What microsoft needs to do it have all owners of a 360, modded or not, broke or not. They need to make a new 360, put a new chipset, add 4 fans with heat sink fans, and some extra crap to prevent RROD permanently, then stop making for versions, make 1 360, with all the upgrades, and only make new products like games, HD's, and stop updating DVD rom drives, chips, etc. And only make new Firmware, and everyone needs to leave the damn thing alone, no mod chips, or firmware hacks, if u want to run linux buy a dam pc, if u want to run nes games buy a dam nes, u dont need a modchip to play backups, cause we all know ur stealing games, if u have a problem where u can't keep from scratching ur cd's the u need to buy multiple copies. and offer this 360 to all who send in there 360's and extra's refund all the money then crate this and release it.
Theking!!!!! @ Oct 14th 2008 8:02AM
I do not own a ps3, but if I said I will not be in the market for one this upcoming holiday, I would be lying to myself. I have had a 360 since almost launch and I have bought a hd-dvd player (not the add-0n). Downloaded hd movies (mkv,avi,wmv ect) can not compare to true hd wether its on a hd-dvd player (r.i.p) or a blu-ray player. Anyone that thinks that is truly fooling themselves. OR just doesn't know any better. Microsoft made a mistake, by not having the hd-dvd come as a standard internally...not a add-on. They are not fooling anyone but themselves by dissing blu-ray. They just don't want to bow down and pay sony. I love my 360, but regardless of what anyone says, the Ps3 is a powerfull machine. And blu-ray is not the future it is the present. The only people who don't have it is those that can't afford it.