Time Warner heading exclusively over to Blu-ray has allowed Sony’s format to take control of 70% of the high definition market. The move, by many people considers this the beginning of the end for HD DVD if not the end already. However, Microsoft is still remaining optimistic.
"I fundamentally don’t think…this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus PlayStation 3," said Albert Penello, Xbox hardware group marketing manager, "With the PlayStation 2, DVD was a big part in the beginning, but over time, people were not buying it as a DVD player after [the] first year or two."
Despite these comments, we should remind our readers that 87% of owners watch Blu-rays on PS3. So no matter what, increasing interest and support in Blu-ray will bring more light on the PlayStation 3, even if it is short term – and that short-term rush might just be all Sony needs for the PS3 to take over the Xbox 360.
More interestingly, however, Penello did mention that if it came to it, the company would consider creating a Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360:
"It should be consumer choice, and if that’s the way they vote, that’s something we’ll have to consider."
He also believes that these Hollywood studios are not being fair to the consumer and taking in their consideration by saying:
"I want consumers to have a voice in this and I think there are a lot of consumers who bought HD DVD who are going to have a say in how this shakes out."
All that can be said to that statement is that there must be a winner and there must be a loser. No matter which way you slice it, the consumer has clearly already decided how this “shakes out” by investing in their format of choice, which is Blu-ray. With that in mind, the studios ultimately make their decisions based on what the consumer invests in. So in essence, Hollywood has taken in the voice and even action of the consumer.
Source: GI.biz