Microsoft: No blu-ray for 360

**Mael Duin** · 03-13-2008

http://www.reuters.com/article/reute...BrandChannel=0

I was expecting this one so no surprise.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) is not in talks to include Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) Blu-ray high-definition DVD technology in its Xbox 360 video game console, an executive said on Wednesday.

The comments by Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, poured cold water on recent speculation that Microsoft could support Blu-ray after Toshiba Corp (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research), backer of the rival HD DVD format, gave up when key movie studios and retailers abandoned the technology.

"Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience," Greenberg told Reuters in an interview.

Microsoft, which has stopped making an HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360, would continue to invest in its Xbox Live online service that already lets users rent hundreds of movies, including ones in high-definition.

"We're the only console offering digital distribution of entertainment content," Greenberg said.

The software giant also expected that supply problems for the Xbox 360 meant the machine was outsold in the U.S. market by Sony's PlayStation 3 console in February for the second month in a row.

"We definitely expect we will trail in February as a result of our supply constraints," Greenberg said, adding: "By April, we will be in a very healthy inventory situation."

That would be in time for the April 29 launch of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc's (TTWO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) "Grand Theft Auto 4" game, which is widely expected to be one of the best-selling titles of 2008 and could drive purchases of the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Greenberg spoke a day ahead of the planned release of U.S. video game sales data for February by market research firm NPD, whose monthly reports are pored over by game companies eager for bragging rights.

The PS3 struggled last year due to its high price and lack of must-have games, but sales have picked up in recent months thanks to price cuts in late 2008 and a slate of anticipated upcoming games.

"We still think we have a great value, that we have significantly better value than Sony. Every month we've actually been in stock we've outsold them by a 2 to 1 margin," Greenberg said.

**Carsonal** · 03-13-2008

Thats not what I was told.........by a fat gypsie.
Very surprising

**IWAO** · 03-13-2008

So it was a lie? Anyway DVD9 and the HD-DVD is so good,so MS don't need Blu-ray!! lol Anyway that's their problem,and it's good that we got an confirmation on this

**Silver&black_Attack** · 03-13-2008

Originally Posted by IWAO

So it was a lie? Anyway DVD9 and the HD-DVD is so good,so MS don't need Blu-ray!! lol Anyway that's their problem,and it's good that we got an confirmation on this

DVD9 has worked fine for games on the 360, a Blu-ray add-on would be for movies, and with Blu-ray stand alone players becoming cheaper in the coming months a add-on for the 360 doesn't make sense.

**LeisureSuitLarry** · 03-13-2008

Kinda flies in the face of Microsoft's claim about offering "choice" to their customer. I'll say it again: Microsoft has no interest in promoting Sony's media format. Why should they? And how are they going to market an expensive blu-ray add-on? All that would do is make the PS3 a more attractive buy.

**carocat** · 03-13-2008

I think it's the right decision, but then again I don't really care about HD and Blu Ray much. But there's no reason at the moment for MS to jump ship and support Blu Ray.

**PS3JT** · 03-13-2008

That article mentioned nothing about blu ray. I mean, the headline said it but you would think they would have elaborated why in the article.

**LeisureSuitLarry** · 03-13-2008

Originally Posted by PS3JT

That article mentioned nothing about blu ray. I mean, the headline said it but you would think they would have elaborated why in the article.

Go to page 1 of the article: link

**EncoreEncore** · 03-13-2008

No big surprise here as anything about a blu-ray and the 360 was pure internet rumors...

Oh and just in case people are wondering here is the link to the actual bit that states this threads title.......The OP's link does not take you to the full article....

(Hope thats ok OP)

"Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience," Greenberg told Reuters in an interview.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsO...24707720080313

**Chemo** · 03-13-2008

hey??? what happen to their precious choices?

**Mael Duin** · 03-13-2008

Originally Posted by PS3JT

That article mentioned nothing about blu ray. I mean, the headline said it but you would think they would have elaborated why in the article.

Aaaah sorry, I didnt quote the whole article. Fixed :]

**kryton101** · 03-13-2008

I dont see the loss, I probably wouldn't buy a BD drive for the 360 and neither would a lot of people. In less than a year BD players will become very affordable. More so than a BD add on for the 360 would be. So it makes good business sense.

Anyway, it could never be used for the games so it's all redundant. They would only be getting the thing to market in say 6-8 months and then 2 years later the next Xbox is likley released.

justintheman99 · 03-13-2008

Not a big surprise as an add-on would be fairly expensive I am sure which would then make the PS3 even more attractive to consumers.

**TwitchingMcgee** · 03-13-2008

And its a sony product it just woundnt justify the ps3 then

**overthirtygamernj** · 03-13-2008

Originally Posted by Chemo

hey??? what happen to their precious choices?

I had the choice not to pay to be an early adopter of a format that may have lost the war when I purchased my console. I had a choice to not have to pay for built in Wifi and card readers that I wouldn't have needed or used. And most importantly I had a choice of a ton of great games in 2007. Why do people on this board incesantly feel the need to attack at every opportunity. Its childish.

When it comes down to it, MS wouldn't make much money off it and people wouldn't buy it. Sony will probably drop the PS3 down to $350 soon, why would I buy an add on Blu-Ray for the 360 if I could get a PS3 for $150 more?

**Wufei** · 03-13-2008

Microsoft, which has stopped making an HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360, would continue to invest in its Xbox Live online service that already lets users rent hundreds of movies, including ones in high-definition.

Too bad those HD-movies take forever to download and are super-compressed. Until bandwidth improves... HD-movies will still be better on disc. I still see potential for a Blu-ray add-on for the 360. An add-on could be made for cheaper than a stand alone Blu-ray player because the add-on would require less materials to make as it would be using some of the existing hardware of the 360 for playback. At least I think that would be the case...

**zeon9881** · 03-13-2008

they said they wont have the blu-ray in the console, but than again i only read the first 3 lines

**LeisureSuitLarry** · 03-13-2008

Originally Posted by overthirtygamernj

I had the choice not to pay to be an early adopter of a format that may have lost the war when I purchased my console. I had a choice to not have to pay for built in Wifi and card readers that I wouldn't have needed or used. And most importantly I had a choice of a ton of great games in 2007. Why do people on this board incesantly feel the need to attack at every opportunity. Its childish.

When it comes down to it, MS wouldn't make much money off it and people wouldn't buy it. Sony will probably drop the PS3 down to $350 soon, why would I buy an add on Blu-Ray for the 360 if I could get a PS3 for $150 more?

I read more than a few posts by some praising Microsoft for offering an HD drive as a "choice" on this board. Why should Microsoft be immune from criticism when they taken that "choice" away? It is really a no-win situation for Microsoft. For the reasons you stated, it doesn't make sense from a business standpoint to offer a blu-ray drive, but again, what about giving the customer a choice? In the end, it doesn't really matter. There still isn't a huge demand for HD movies and even less demand from 360 owners. That, and their push for digital downloads, are Microsoft's saving grace.

**Need0fOne** · 03-13-2008

I'm not surprised at all. In fact given the HD-DVD's defeat, the criticism they got for not having a standard HDD, not wanting to help Sony and their digital download ambition, I fully expect their next console to have NO optical drive.

**Eddian!** · 03-13-2008

Originally Posted by overthirtygamernj

I had the choice not to pay to be an early adopter of a format that may have lost the war when I purchased my console. I had a choice to not have to pay for built in Wifi and card readers that I wouldn't have needed or used. And most importantly I had a choice of a ton of great games in 2007. Why do people on this board incesantly feel the need to attack at every opportunity. Its childish.

When it comes down to it, MS wouldn't make much money off it and people wouldn't buy it. Sony will probably drop the PS3 down to $350 soon, why would I buy an add on Blu-Ray for the 360 if I could get a PS3 for $150 more?

I dont see nobody here attacking nothing, but I see you getting defensive about an unexisting threat, and I wonder why.... Blu-Ray won the format war, I love the WiFi I have a baby boy and I wouldn't like to have a cable laying on the floor and 2008 is shaping up as a great year for PS3 owners... So I'm pretty sure there is no reason for PS3 owners to regret their decision either... Actually, I feel it has been a real smart one...

**Nuvian** · 03-13-2008

well with the price cuts it seems like they are going the nintendo route,ither way im sure a version will blu-ray will eventually come out,unless MS releases a new console within 2 years.

**tmacfan4321** · 03-14-2008

Okay, what type of "news" is this?

Microsoft has been denying Blu-Ray talks from the get-go. Why are they so much more convincing now than they were before?

**Carsonal** · 03-14-2008

Originally Posted by LeisureSuitLarry

Kinda flies in the face of Microsoft's claim about offering "choice" to their customer. I'll say it again: Microsoft has no interest in promoting Sony's media format. Why should they? And how are they going to market an expensive blu-ray add-on? All that would do is make the PS3 a more attractive buy.

You and I know that choices stuff was just PR bull****.
Especially since it was Peter Moore who enjoyed saying it most

**admartian** · 03-14-2008

What happened to giving choice to consumers? Never mind.

**coolguy** · 03-14-2008

I knew that this was never going to happen...
next time i go to best buy i will find that worker and tell them that the 360 will not have a blu-ray player.
he told every body it will lol.........