Universal Drops HD DVD Exclusivity

TheGamersThought.com has reported that Universal Studios will no longer support HD DVD exclusively as per EGM's March 2008 issue. Picture of the story covered in EGM's magazine has been scanned by TheGamersThought.com

[NitrogenB]

Trying to get this pesky lid onto this coffin.

[pwnsause]

nah, the nails are already in the HD-DVD coffin, what you're trying say is, where are the shovels? comn guys keep shovlin that HD-DVd coffin into its grave.

[xhi4]

bubbles for you mate! PWNSAUSE craked a funny lol

[Mattearl]

You made me laugh on that one!! 'Anyone got any nails?" hahahaha

I was like, "Why? *confused*.... oh... hahahahah"

Great, that means, Gladiator will hopefully to BD soon. woo whooo!

[cloud360]

if this is true. Watch this it will make u even happier it might be crap at first but its really good. most searched thing on wikipedia. its good for beginners

http://www.veoh.com/videos/...

[IntelligentAj]

You mean does anyone have some extra dirt because the hole just deeper.

[Tarmgar]

Thanks for the laugh man lol!!

[Gaara_724]

dont u mean the vicker (i think thats what there called?) and the vicker is called paramount

[marinelife9]

Universal better release an official statement soon yea or nay. The longer the rumor stays out their the more it hurts their HD-DVD sales.

[sonarus]

toshiba will probably respond with free hd-dvd players. lol I would take one for free as long as i can still get my 10 free movies if not sorry. Common toshiba you can do it free hd-dvd players and free movies. what more do you have to lose.

[f7ss1]

hd dvd = beta max

[Bubble Buddy]

DAGGER !

[MikeGdaGod]

it pours

[TheHater]

So does this mean I am getting Transfromer on Blu-ray? Sweet

Edit: @Kees
Thanks dude.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOO!!!!

[Kees]

uhm nope :P transformers = paramount pictures

be patient...

[pwnsause]

its comming once paramount also abandons the HD-DVD ship

[bootsielon]

Eventually

[Bubble Buddy]

we get JASON BOURNE though.

[moparful99]

Dont forget about fist'n the curious errr I mean fast and the furious.. damn fingers dont work right...

[UnblessedSoul]

If it's true Hd-dvd can die finally

[HD DVD]

I'm already diversifying my bonds!

[Blu-ray]

All your studios are belong to us

[f7ss1]

yes that would be nice

[Joey Gladstone]

When they will be releasing Saving Private Ryan on Blu-Ray?????? I really cant wait for this great movie in high Defenition...
....
..
....."The JOEY has Spoken"

[Relcom]

I want that and band of brother and i will be in Blu-ray bliss

[Joey Gladstone]

I swear I was just watching the Whole War movie day they had on Television last night (Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers lol).........any of these movies in high def and playing on my 5.1 system will make me a very happy person ..
...
...
...."The JOEY has Spoken"

[Arkham]

Read the article, and the scan linked within. This blogger is just making assumptions based on the news we've already heard in January.

This isn't an announcement from Universal about going Blu-ray. This story really shouldn't be approved.

I'm sure Universal will make the announcement soon, but this blog post is just jumping the gun.

[Mattearl]

Well... Damn it!

[iiprotocolii]

@ Joey
Saving Private Ryan is a Paramount/Dreamworks film. So, for the time being, we can hold our breath on that title (I'm waiting for that one too! :) )

@ Arkham
Nowhere in the headlines on either N4G or the site it is linked from does it say anything about Universal going to Blu-ray. Title reads Universal dropping HD DVD exclusivity. What is being said is that the studio may now be supporting both. Again, assumptions were made and Universal clarified it's position in January. We're in February. To have a mag like EGM state that says a lot. If that was a typo on their part, then they really need to clarify that. EGM is not the only source stating that Universal has dropped HD DVD. When a studio drops a format, it usually means one thing: It will either go exclusively to the winning format (i.e. Blu-ray in this case) or support both. ;)

[GodsHand]

Saving Pvt. Ryan = Steven Spielberg and he don't support HD DVD.

[Arkham]

No, no, no. The blog post is a mis-read of the actual statements which have been posted to death here and elsewhere. The title is currently flat-out wrong. There have been no announcements or confirmations.

Magazine lead times are at least a month if not 2, so the blog post is based on old old old news. This should not have been approved.

Not that I'm disagreeing with the inherent suggestions, but seriously, this piece is not newsworthy. It's not even a rumour, it's a blogitorial.

[Bill Gates]

Good night.

[Bill Gates]

Hey look BABOONS, your shiety format is dead just like you 360.....AAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHHA

[whoelse]

Stop approving a story that needs correcting!

[bohemian 23]

Hey Bill glad to see you have time to get out still.

[You bought an Xbox]

But i have to DISAGREE Bohomo

[Mr PS3]

Bohomo AHAAHHAAHAHHAHA

Yeah he sure is

AHAAHHAHAAHHAAH

[bohemian 23]

Wow Bat 69 Dave did you come with that all by yourself little guy ? Taking a word and adding homo or gay to the end of it is so clever I wish i'd thought of that first. It's a good thing people like you are the future that must be why the world is becoming a cesspool because of idiots like you. If you guys would all just set up a time and a place to meet we could just have a free Blink 182 concert and drop the nuke. Peace and harmony forever.

[resistance100]

I Suspect they will drop HD DVD for good by the end of the year.

Now all paramount have to do is go mulit-format and then there will be no reason not so ever to even consider buying a HD DVD player

[Jandre02]

Its not confirmation, just speculation. Can we remove this?
Not that I dont want it to happen, but spam like this helps no one. It just removes credibility from N4G

[Reccoshai]

Bout time

[Eamon]

Just recently got a PS3. Now I think I made the right choice. Man, HD DVD could have won easily but I think Toshiba didn't play the game right.

Well, Blu-Ray has more space so I now think a disc format that contains more is the better. Although Direct Downloads could replace Blu-Ray?

But maybe it won't since people are used to discs (DVD) and not downloading.

[cmrbe]

people not use to downloading stuff. The fastest ISP download in my country is 56kbps. I am sure alot of other countries are in the same boat.

[heyheyhey]

56kbps??

man that sucks- what country are you in?

sadly the UK has feeble broadband too- i have to wait ages for downloads although i heard that Virgin Broadband uses their own optical cables instead of the phone lines which is good

anyway yeah digital downloads will replace disks- but not for a long, long time (10 or so years)

[Robocod]

I think it will happen and the sooner the better but i await confirmation from more reliable sources. I would love Hero's and the Bourne Trilogy on BluRay.

[Black_Jack]

lol! sauce, that made me smile.

[DarkSniper]

This is great news for those who own Blu-Ray players. All Blu-Ray owners will be able to enjoy the best high definition entertainment from one of the premiere movie studios known worldwide.

Here's hopes that HD-DVD and XBOX 360 both meet a simultaneous termination as both platforms continue to decline rapidly as PLAYSTATION® 3 continues to increase.

$niper

[Gaara_724]

when the ps3 beats 360 overall sales u just c the thing sayin i'll be back.. with a 720 lol

[Lagbox plzfixme]

@3.1

Make sure you buy the warranty. You may have to buy a few of them otherwise.

[MK_Red]

The war was over when Warner went blue. Now it seems that Universal has finished the fight.

Still, I'll wait for official announcement or something because I don't think such a huge move would have been posted in a small EGM article or something.

[kingboy]

Well,that`s just about it now,no coming back from this

[romaink]

I can't believe this was approved! Where are the moderators?

[Mr PS3]

And this is fantastic news and very much news worthy
So stop moaning

P.S
Man Utd 0
Man City 2

Ha

[bootsielon]

When?

[resistance100]

Please tell me American Gangster is coming to Blu-ray now =D

[Mr PS3]

American Gangster is coming to Blu ray

Soon ?

[vloeistof]

yeaah now indy 4 = blu 2

[Kain81]

lol

[vloeistof]

no Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a paramount
movie :(

[Kain81]

are supporters of BLU-RAY and they are told last year that they will support Blu-ray (ITs official) and they have no contract with Paramount
They are free from the Format war

[vloeistof]

o thats thats better so its blu :)

[ITR]

Kain I really doubt GL went pro BD way back then. GL tends to wait on things like this. Look how long it took him to make the SW trilogy available on DVD. The only reason Indy would go blu would be because of SS...since it's more or less his baby.

All I know it'll probably be 3 yrs from now before we see a SW trilogy in HD.....

[iiprotocolii]

Thegamersthought.com is not as large of a publication as IGN.com or 1UP.com; but being that it was clearly cited on EGM's article (a reliable source), I think we can call it even. These guys just posted something no one else clearly read/acknowledged. But it CAN be speculation. This is all derived from a magazine that EGM just released. I too am waiting on updates on this and will keep everyone updated on this.

[davez82]

this article is misleading no where does it cite universal saying they are dropping hd-dvd. This will happen but i just dont see anything in the article that says that.

[iiprotocolii]

Read the EGM article that was scanned clearly stating "Meanwhile, Universal declared it was no longer exclusively supporting HD-DVD."

Says it in, uh, white and black? Don't know how to put that. -_-

[hunter21]

lets just wait for the universal to say it in public that they no longer supporting HD DVD.

[Arkham]

That's the whole point. Universal did *not* say that. Google it. Half of the articles that suggest they did say it have updates saying "Well, apparently they didn't..."

There were misinterpretations of a Variety report that suggested Universal might drop exclusivity, but Universal's only official word as of yet has been "we will continue to support HD DVD").

Apparently they were under obligation to not say anything about any other format until at least February. So, hopefully we'll hear something from them soon enough.

[LocustGR]

Where's confirmation? I can't see nothing.

However HD-DVD is a dead format.
Time to buy a PS3. :P

[Kaz Hirai]

And you Xbot PIGS doubted my ingenious decision to include a Blu-Ray drive in the PerfectionStation 3! Now who has the last laugh, you bloated HOGS?

MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!

[LightningPS3]

Is it?

[Kaz Hirai]

It is I, Kaz Hirai!

MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!

[Kain81]

at the Madhouse or what

[fenderputty]

I'll wait for something a little more set in stone.

[DrPirate]

Game-Set-Match.

[powerslide]

This is huge. Does this mean that we will get Transformers too?

What can i say....jump out and play b3yond

[bosels11]

I dont know about Universal because EGMS info is probably from speculation from a month ago, but Best Buy beginning in March will promote Blu ray as the better Hi def choice.

[bym051d]

Hopefully Paramount will be next and I'll be able to buy Stardust on Blu-ray.

[LightningPS3]

also netflix is dropping HD DVD

[cr33ping_death]

(whispers)" I see a dead format" and i shall gladly escort you to hell LOL.

[whengeeksgobad]

it's known that the contract for exclusivity has expired, but they have made no announcements that they plan to put anything out on BD. This is not news.

[SuperSaiyan4]

Has Universal said this officially? No.

[whengeeksgobad]

wow man. Shame on you for reading the news! I cant believe you actually got disagrees for this one. You are 100% correct. The only thing that can be completely confirmed here is that the exclusivity contract has expired. thats it. end of story.

[Mikelarry]

we already knew this was gonna happen it was just a matter of time. no company is in the business of losing money.hd dvds were so cheap that it wasnt about offering consumers a good bargain it was just a desperate reaction to stall, make as much as as they could and call it quits. i hope paramount isnt being stupid and still thinking hd dvds is the way forward new flash its over, done, dead, finito, THE END

[pwnsause]

I dont know how this got approved, I mean I want this to happen, but until we get an official response, we cant just party yet.

[niall77]

even if this story is bogus.

[DethWish]

Finally!! Lets hope the format war can end now so we consumers can feel safe

[meepmoopmeep]

to me buying the Heroes season... happy happy happy
hd-dvd takes the dirt nap

[ben806]

Thunk........

somebody drop something?

[TheD_R_E]

All I need now are the BR versions of Transformers, Hot Fuzz, and The Bourne Supremacy.

[ScottEFresh]

IT's over.

[ClickClank]

Blu-ray wins by KO in the 4th round.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

LOL...I could careless that the format is dying. All this means to me is now I am going to see fire sales on HD-DVD movies and I am going to reap the short term rewards by getting a bunch of titles for cheap on HD-DVD...

And since i have waited to get Blu Ray, the prices on that have begun to drop dramatically, not to mention the sweet Blu Ray / PS3 incentive bundles keep getting better & better so I will be the better off for that too! I figure by the time I pick up a PS3 this coming Septemberish... they should be down to the $350 mark easily and bundled nicely...heck maybe even with the rumble six-axis.

[Bull5hifT]

SCARFACE in 1080p, aint this world great, i cant wait

and where's The Matrix Trilogy Blu-Ray?

and did Saving Private Ryan...come to Blu-Ray yet?

id pick up Toy Story 1,2 on blu-ray...if its out yet , i dunno

is The God Father Blu-Ray?

is the GoodFellas Blu-ray worth it to buy on blu ray or is it like blurred cause of the upconversion or whatever its called

film is recorded in 16 Megapixels , pulling out 5 megapixel's outta that for blu-ray, the picture should come out clear

i dont really need shreck, it was funny.. but i dunno
ive never seen a bourne movie, are they really that good?

[pwnsause]

The Matrix Tilogy is confirmed to come out this year on BLu-Ray and also Batman Begins, its not being released immediately because Warner Brothers is learning on Blu-Ray Java, Profile 1.1, and 1.2 capabilities, that way they can port the special Features those movies had to Blu-Ray, Any HD-DVD movie that had HD-DVD HDi Capabilities is going to have a delay time for them to get ported to Blu-Ray.

[Bull5hifT]

ohh i didnt really enjoy batman begins' it was very differnt than the tim burton ones

but batman the dark knight, is at the top of my list next to ironman and a few others,

the joker is my favorite villan, its pretty much me,...my style the way i act, well like the old batman cartoons from the 90's i think, they were awesome

[degroob]

glad i have blu-ray LMAO!!

[LevDog]

Wow whats MS to do.. I think this could mean 360 will be dead soon too.. Now they cant put HD DVD drives in the 360 and that means 360 will continue to develop games on standard dvd.. MS will now have to kiss sonys feet to put blu ray in xbox 720 next year.. HMM Interesting..

[OC_MurphysLaw]

What is MS to do? Seriously? You act as though the 360 is dependent on HD-DVD in some way? News flash its not....never has been. MS is not tied to HD-DVD...they can develop their next console w/ Blu Ray and they dont need Sony's permission to do it either. They can license any number of companies to manufacture drives for them besides Sony.

The true reality is that Sony would get a small royalty from every Blu Ray disc/drive made, that is where Sony would gain benefit. No different than had HD-DVD won and Toshiba would be getting a small royalty off every HD-DVD disc.

[GameHero]

If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck...IT'S A DUCK! Sorry folks get it through yours heads****HD DVD IS DEAD****

[akaFullMetal]

awesome for blu-ray buyers, not so much for hd-dvd, sorry

[jackdoe]

This article should be called a rumor. There is no evidence supporting it and the EGM article was probably poor research. You know, EGM is known for that a lot.

[whengeeksgobad]

I already tried to report it, as well as replied with a post suggesting this isn't news but hey, give a fanboy a cup of gasoline and just step away I guess.

The only thing that is known and confirmed is that Universals exclusivity contract has expired. They have **NOT** engaged into any contracts with the BD group which would allow them to release BD titles, at least not yet. The contract expiration is OLD NEWS too, it ended at the end of January. They are still releasing titles on HD-DVD.
N4g wins with the misinformation again.

[rawd]

SHOW ME SOME PIE CHARTS NOW, MOFO'S
PLAY B3YOND

[SKUD]

We all knew this was coming. No one should be surprised.

[whengeeksgobad]

I'm surprised so many people are believing this because EGM says its so. thats the surprising thing here. Please read my above post, this article is out of context. in a nutshell, their exclusivity contract expired at the end of january. they are still releasing titles on HD-DVD and they have yet to enter into any contracts with the BD group allowing them to release BD titles. All this simply means is, their old contract expired. Thats it. Anything else is pure speculation, but that seems to be the bread and butter of this site lately.

[Lagbox plzfixme]

If this were a game, we would be hearing a voice say "FINISH HIM".

[TruthBTold]

*smoke clears* "Did I hit it? Is it dead yet? *reloads shot gun*....

[BardockS30Z]

Now ppl will stop b!tching that the war isnt over yet cause now it officially is

[iiprotocolii]

Did you seriously bother to read the blog post? Nowhere in that post does the writer state anything about Universal signing contracts with the BD group. This has nothing to do with fanboyism posting. It is a post that was read and thought eligible to post: plain and simple. I, the poster, or the author of the original posting, have stated nothing that would promote any kind of fanboyism on either format. Something was caught on EGM's magazine, someone read it, I posted. Speculation usually is what the journalism industry revolves around. You need to read a little more about the posting before concluding anything ludicrous.

What this is, maybe, is probable mis-printing from EGM's side. But what the author is stating the obvious. It shows how much people usually glance at headlines for conclusions rather than reading articles in their entirety. Again, Universal has not denied or approved any of this. So until they do, on a public note, we can continue to believe that EGM's article is true/false. But hey, what does EGM and Variety know... they're only high-paid journalists.

[leon76]

That's the final blow... RIP hddvd.