110°

In Blu-ray Coup, Sony Has Opening But Hurdles, Too

Sony Corp.'s Blu-ray technology for high-definition DVDs has given the Japanese electronics giant an opportunity it hasn't had in 25 years: the chance to win a high-stakes format war and reap the benefits across its sprawling empire. However, its victory comes at a high cost and may be fleeting.

Sony on Friday scored a key win by luring Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. to its Blu-ray technology, putting itself in a position to triumph over Toshiba Corp.'s HD DVD after a years-long fight to become the standard for the next generation of DVDs.

However, Sony's push for Blu-ray -- which analysts estimate as an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars -- has cost the company in areas such as the key videogame market.

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online.wsj.com
PirateThom5966d ago

The video game market is nothing compared to the money they stand to make from Blu-ray licencing.

The Killer5966d ago

i quote "However, Sony's push for Blu-ray -- which analysts estimate as an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars -- has cost the company in areas such as the key videogame market."

at the dude who wrote this, because of this move ps3 will be selling like crazy in the coming years, it cost some trouble and maybe hard ones also but now they are all drifting away!! so they r not loosing any key!!

Tsalagi5966d ago

If Blu-ray is adopted as the default storage medium next gen (most likely will be) then Sony stands to make money not only on their PS4 but on the competitors consoles as well. Overall Blu-ray did turn out to be a good investment for Sony.

eagle215966d ago

But that was just another hurdle.

DJ5966d ago

Sony is spearheading the Blu-ray format, but it isn't "their format". They're just one of two dozen board members, though they do have a lot of power within the BDA.

It would be pretty humorous to see a Sony-related format in future game consoles from their competitors. Already, the format war is a bit convoluted since the BDA's direct rival is part of STI, makers of the Cell chip for PS3.

dude_uk5966d ago

actually sorry to disappoint you but sony does own the rights of the format...

so its their format...

DJ5966d ago

Where can I find this out? As far as I know, they're licensing Blu-ray technology from the BDA.

danarc5966d ago

The end part, something about them never wanting the Xbox to have a built in HDDVD player was an obvious dig at Sony, and a lousy one at that.

"We didnt want people to pay for somrthing they may never use"...
Obvious what its trying to get at but... EVERY PS3 game uses it :P

OC_MurphysLaw5966d ago

You said it was an obvious dig at Sony... "We didnt want people to pay for somrthing they may never use"...

I think rather its a pretty relevant statement from MS saying...they really werent sure if HD-DVD could win out and be the format of choice based on previous format wars and how they went. They have supported HD-DVD but not fully...more like a limited partnership rather than "full" support. I think MS did the right thing based on where they were and what their objective was...first to market. They just had no way of knowing if HD-DVD or Blu Ray would be the way to go at the time...so they keep it on the sideline...add HD-DVD on as an option but they are not going to be hurt by it long term if the format loses....

just a smart move by MS if you ask me.

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With the Perfect Dark reboot set to launch later this year, it's time to look back at Perfect Dark Zero, nearly 20 years later.

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"Unlock the Force: Get the Cantina Band Jam Track in Fortnite's Star Wars Event

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