With Blu-Ray Support by Toshiba, Xbox 360 Blu-Ray Add-On with Is Only a Matter of Time

After Toshiba Corp., the developer of the HD DVD format, releases its Blu-ray disc player by the end of the year, Microsoft Corp. will have to follow and launch Blu-ray add-on for its Xbox 360 game console. The support of Blu-ray disc (BD) by Toshiba means that the format is finally becoming a de-facto standard for high-definition home video. Toshiba is the last major consumer electronics maker to support BD.

Microsoft has publicly stated that high-definition video downloads and streaming is the future of video delivering to homes. However, it also had HD DVD add-on for Xbox 360, hence, the company admits that physical media is still popular. Moreover, with all the consumer electronics making BD players, Microsoft also needs to provide such an option to its consumer electronics video-game platform: it is clear that there will be much higher demand towards Blu-ray hardware in the coming years.

[PirateThom]

I didn't even know Toshiba was making a Blu-ray player, I thought they'd gone the "upscaled DVD" route.

My TV is Toshiba, they always made awesome things (my next TV will probably be one of the Toshiba w/Cell Processor efforts), so a stand alone Toshiba Blu-ray would be nice.

[GWAVE]

The more Blu Ray support, the better, yet somehow I doubt Microsoft would make a Blu-Ray add-on for the 360, especially with all the work they've been doing to convince their fanbase "you don't NEED Blu-Ray! Here's Netflix! Here's Hulu!"

[FamilyGuy]

When was Hulu announced for the 360?

Other than that I agree, M$ is not going to make a blu-ray player, they're a software company. That would mean they'd have to pay royalties to whoever made the add-on for them as well as paying royalties to sony for incorporating their technology. The won't do it and are fully backing digital distribution as a way to avoid that outcome (among other reasons).

[Bnet343]

Microsoft won't adopt Blu-Ray this gen on the 360 side. They'll push digital downloads with Netflix and their upcoming Games On Demand service. I seriously doubt this.

[MAR-TYR-DOM]

Microsoft WILL adapt a blu ray add on for this generation for the 360. HOWEVER, it will NOT be for GAMING RELATED PURPOSES. It will simply function as a MOVIE/MEDIA player just like the HD DVD add on and it wont cost $200 more like $100. They understand there is some profit to selling an add on because the blu ray industry is just getting bigger and bigger and they are missing out.

[darthv72]

MS doesnt NEED to follow with a BD add-on. I have started seeing stand alone players under $100 so the need is negated. There are some out there that just want to see it happen so they can say "I told you so" and claim MS as a follower.

360 is a game machine first and movie/media player second. PS3 was targeted as a movie player that played games even though we all know it is the opposite. I am basing that last statement on the marketing strategy when it was first released. The giving away of free blu movies and the unknown number of people who bought it to just play movies.

People seem to forget that for every PS3 sold is not an automatic addition to the install base for "gaming". For every 360 sold (as well as wii) however...is. MS will continue to pursue their efforts with their media formats of choice. Sony will obviously do the same with theirs. No harm..no foul.

[GWAVE]

@ darthv72

Your logic applies to the 360 as well. The PS3 is a gaming system, even if it is purchased for the Blu Ray initially. On the same note, I know several "older" couples who bought an Arcade 360 simply for the Netflix playback. The only games in their house are the ones their grandchildren bring over.

So, quit with your one-sided logic and think for a moment, mkay?

[likedamaster]

Credit where credit's due. Microsoft did an amazing job promoting THEIR download service and other features(netflix, etc), they would never promote bluray in that way. On the other hand, I do think Microsoft will have bluray(or they should) integrated but on their next console. Games are getting bigger, thats a fact. And with technology out now that can eliminate the need for multiple discs(and bigger issues with multi-discs) why not adapt it?

Not to mention Bluray has won the format war and is now making its way into homes more and more, it makes sense to integrate. By next gen bluray will be cheap enough to actually be considered by Microsoft to include in their next console and still be profitable.

But no add-ons, I could find a $99 bluray player easy. http://cgi.ebay.com/Memorex...

[a_squirrel]

Microsoft said themselves, "We are looking into the future by not going Blu-Ray"

And I thought that Bluray was Sony's....

[darthv72]

I can respect your statements but you need to realize that nobody buys a 360 to play upscale dvd movies. Netflix is somewhat a moot point as it is an after thought of the system added later. It isnt a selling point like bluray is to the ps3.

To generalize, the percentage of people who purchase the 360 to play games is significantly greater than the percentage of those who bought it for the netflix service. You just can't say the same about the ps3.

I use both of my systems for games first and movies second (both blu/hddvd). Don't hold that against me. When the price of a blu player with netflix support drops to $100 I will be first in line to get one. Then I will have both features of hd movie playback as well as netflix streaming in one convenient package. I have my eye on the Samsung BDP-1590 but if Toshiba comes out with one just as nice for under $100 then I am sold.

It will save on the wear and tear of my game consoles.

Actually, let me rephrase my first post. When the ps3 was first released it was considered the cheapest blu player on the market. So you have to wonder what percentage of units sold were for gaming/movies or just movies. We don't know, that is the point. I am not sure when it started becoming more apparent that ps3's sold NOW are counting towards the gaming install base. I can only assume that units sold NOW are to those who want to game on them simply because cheaper stand alone players are available.

It isnt cost effect to purchase a ps3 simply to play movies anymore. It was when it came out but not anymore. The 360 sold to gamers which is obvious. Like i mentioned above, nobody buys a 360 to play movies be it netflix or upscaled dvd. It isnt cost effective either. stand alone players with netflix support are far cheaper than buying the 360 (arcade as you put it) and then paying for live service to simply be able to use netflix.

To summerize: someone purchasing a 360 has a pretty clear agenda in regards to gaming. A ps3 sold (then) was not so clear.

@below: drive strain. Using a cheaper dedicated player is more expendable than using a console which can be costly to fix when/if the drive goes bad.

[SnuggleBandit]

why do you need to save on "Wear and Tear"

[dragunrising]

If a blu-ray add on is released for the 360...good. Choice is never a bad thing.

[Strikepackage Bravo]

like this statement give the author away as biased, at least somewhat.

"Even though Microsoft managed to push its VC-1 codec onto both Blu-ray and HD DVD"

They failed to mention that before VC-1 bluray looked like CRAP compared to HDDVD, which had been using VC-1 extensively from the start. VC-1 was a good thing for both formats, I hardly think MS had to do much pushing.

[Maddens Raiders]

LOL

[El Botto]

Uh no.

Its been stated time and time again. But MS nor Toshiba can make that decision. Only Sony/ Blu Ray Association can make that decision.

[SaberEdge]

This article is a stretch. I don't think Microsoft would release another add-on for the 360 after the last add-on. Plus I think they want to push digital downloads and streaming and stuff like that. Anyway it would only be for movies and wouldn't really be able to be used for games. I do think they will put a Bluray drive in their next console.

[Greywulf]

The BD players may be cheap, but the movies are still more expensive, and they do require you to actually care about not seeing chunks of compression everywhere and having surround sound. These people are still in a minority of video/techphiles.

Much Like MS using old technology like DVD, they have created their own audience that listens to what they say. You don't need Bluray, you need digital downloads. Because digital is the future, just like motion controls.

[n4gno]

"People seem to forget that for every PS3 sold is not an automatic addition to the install base for "gaming". For every 360 sold (as well as wii) however...is"

360 : multiple 360 for same player, and piracy.
WII : only for game...but one game :)

it does'nt matter if some people don't play with their ps3, the others buy games (not all the same, like halo phenomenon or others...but each AAA are selling well...not each time like hot cake, but well, concurrence of good games is not good for enormous sells)

[InFAMOUS1]

Didn't Toshiba or some other company create some DVD that has so many layers it can hold like 250GB of data, and play on a standard DVD player?? Last time the MS adopting BD came up, people were talking about that.. Personally if MS actually decided to go ahead and offer a blu ray add on and I was sony, I would tell them to take a hike.. MS has pulled so many stupid 1up stunts on sony since the launch this gen, that they deserve to be shut down. Having said that, I highly doubt MS will go this route. They have been saying forever that they are looking into the future without blu ray... ONLINE downloads is where its at.. HD content, ANY file size u want it to be. I guess the only real downfall to that would be for the people who have bandwidth restrictions per month..

[Syronicus]

BD is the "current" format for movies and games (to come). DVD is on the way out and BD is the new guy. Now, can we stop with the Wednesday BD doom and gloom articles? Let's kick another horse for a while.

[Rowsdower]

just a test

[-MD-]

Wonder how much it'll cut into PS3 sales if a bluray addon is available for 360. Bluray was half the reason I bought one so I'm sure it would push a lot of people away.

[36T]

Agreed! Honestly, i doubt it will happen. Even if it does, i'm not buying it. For the price Blurays sell at, the difference in quality between a bluray disc and a dvd is not exactly forcing me to upgrade anytime soon. Sure the quality is much better but it's still too expensive considering i can get dvd's at half the cost or less.

*** What exactly are you people disagreeing with? My name or what i wrote? The N4G pu$$y parade is passing through i guess.

[user858621]

doesn't really matter since sony will still make money off the blu-ray drives, and blu-ray movies :)

p.s after braggin so much that digital distribution is "the future" a doubt microsoft would adopt blu-ray

[36T]

"doesn't really matter since sony will still make money off the blu-ray drives, and blu-ray movies"

You say that like as if you'll be making money off of it. Do you work for Sony or do you just like the taste of their ass?

[lloyd_sr1]

It won't cut into PS3 sales because it's integrated into the PS3 and will always be cheaper.

MS is scared sh*tless at the thought of supporting Blu-Ray. They'll have to pay Sony big fat royalty checks and possibly have a say in pushing Blu-Ray into 30mil homes. perpetuating Blu-Ray and the only console that gets all the Blu-Ray marketing and has it's name all over Blu-Ray retail boxes.... The PS3. "HIGH DEFINITION MOVIE plays on BLU-RAY PLAYERS and on PLAYSTATION 3."

Which is why MS is still stuck on DD.

[user858621]

@36T wow clearly u daint get fed off their mums breast 2day

p.s daint really no a company can hav an ass :S wow evolutions really fcked up nowadays

[Major_Tom]

Lol murderdoll you're such a tool.

[lokiroo420]

AN integrated player will be cut into by an addon,lmao, back to the coloring books fool.

[fuckoffodion]

LOL, you're so funny. Look on the bright side you prepubescent liar, if the 360 do have a blu-ray add on, you don't have to lie about owning blu-ray movies. Everyone knows you don't own a PS3.

[user3915800]

Stupid journalist making comments on crap that they dont have a clue about.

MS has bought 30% share on investment to pioneers new format of 500 GB disk red lasers (shipper than blu g@y) and the main reason why MS will not have a new console until 2011 when the format its available to the main public.

This deal was conducted 2 years ago, and MS platform are introducing 3d and 4D capabilities only capable with a media storage of 300GB and above with a resolution of 1880 X 1600, yeah, you should be able to see blackheads out of your filthy faces in them resolutions. Blu g@y its only for them yahoo's that only see and play with the futuristic vision of a pink vibrating device.

[user858621]

@nlvwithgms (noob)

the former ur on about is a BLU-RAY!! lol daint u no pioneer where 1 of the companies that helped develope the Blu-Ray, but yh ur ryt their developing a 500gb disc compatible with current n future bluray players :D

[-MD-]

@1.8 - That's probably why there's a picture of my name and my ps3 in my profile.

Denial is a powerful thing.

[fuckoffodion]

the same pic you use all the time when you want to prove that you have one. Yea, keep playing that card. It's a wonderful shtick you like to use. Makes me smile. see --------------? :)

pre-teen lying is what you must be riding on until you're an 'adult' right?

Oh I also the multiple accounts you use to bubble yourself up.

[-MD-]

I actually have never bubbled myself up. why would I always be at 6 if I did? Sorry big fella but your theory is flawed.

And I'll take some new pictures of my setup if you really want them. Heck I'll even sign in and show you the only profile on the PS3 is mine.

You're such a joke "it's his cousins" ROFL I haven't seen my cousins in years. And what's with the pre-teen bull? I'll be 19 in 2 months big fella.

[Mo0eY]

It doesn't really matter what it cuts into. Regardless, M$ will be paying Sony royalties for all those blu-ray attachments.

While I'm here, let me just re-evaluate for those who are undecided this gen:

PS3: $400 with 80 GB(can swap out HDD), wifi, blu-ray, bluetooth, usb ports, HDMI slot
Total: $400
Xbox 360 Elite: $400 with 120GB (pay for proprietary HDD), no wifi, no blu-ray, no bluetooth, usb ports, HDMI slot
Wifi dongle: $78
Blu-ray: probably $150 or so
Xbox live: $50 a year
Total: $678 (with chance of RRoD/e74)

No brainer.

[The_Beast]

dont they have to go through sony?

i got this from diff website

Sony owns the logo, but, like CD and SACD, it was developed with Philips.
Contributing to the development of the format were/are Matsushita, Pioneer, Thomson, LG Electronics, Hitachi, Sharp and Samsung.
The current Board of Directors is comprised of:

Apple and sony dont get along with microsoft.

Dell
HP
Hitachi
LG
Mitsubishi Electric
Panasonic
Pioneer
Philips
Samsung
Sharp
Sony
Sun Microsystems
TDK
Thomson
Toshiba
Twentieth Century Fox
Walt Disney
Warner Bros.

Sony does not "own" Blu-ray.

[dirthurts]

But I don't see this one getting it.

[ShabzS]

that would mean to play those upcoming games you need that 50$ (?) blu ray add on.... if that happens then developers would be very cautious in making those expensive, time consuming, huge as* games coz the people that havent upgraded yet will not be able to play the said game... so its a no buy from that audience

that means that 30 mil install base for 360... goes down the toilet doesnt it ... developers lose money and ms loses the developers... it would be a stupid move from microsofts part to release an extra blu ray add on to play games... multi disc is the only way to go ... and it makes a huge diffrence ... look at forza 3...

360 has a lot of horse power but the medium to utilize that power is limited... they should adjust with what they have and let multi disc games push that console harder... ofcourse i'm talking for gaming but movies is a diff story

[lloyd_sr1]

By now, both the console companies have made it clear that they are pushing to not only dominate the gaming space, but the living room aswell with Netflix, Blu-Ray, 1080p streaming etc.

[ShabzS]

well thats what i'm trying to say ... if they plan on doing it for movies then sure go ahead... but pls not for gaming !

[n4gno]

horse power, not really...or not others than we already know.

I don't know if that rumor is true, but people seems to forget that if they want to use it also for games, they probably could propose two versions of games multi dvd and br (no matter what, it would be very funny to see bluray on 360)

[mrv321]

I highly doubt Microsoft will do it after all how annoyed would you be if you bought a HD-DVD player for the 360.... then it went the way of the BetaMax so you went and bought the download service... and now the blu-ray add-n it would cost quite a bit. Like who ever bought the vision camera will probably have to buy Natal.

[Guitardr85]

Won't they have to pay Sony royalties for every Blu ray produced AND sold??? Correct me if I'm wrong I really would like to know the answer to this!!!!!

[ShabzS]

i think so... but it wont be only to sony... its a group of companies that strated blu ray... i think they're called the blu ray disc organization... which include 20 companies with the likes of apple, panasonic, dell, samsung, sony, warner bros etc... no microsoft though

[Guitardr85]

Awesome! Thanks a lot, I've always been curious about that!!!

[Pootangpie]

sony already got profit of comeing up with the technlogy by the patent office they don't get royalties of bluray player the same way Microsoft doesn't get royalties on games for the PC just because it requires windows unless of course it has the games for windows Logo on the box

[Guitardr85]

Yeah, but that would imply that Blu ray is free realm now. I didn't think that it was seeing as how Sony pushed it so hard for a reason! Windows is a different story as games can be played on any OS depending on different third party programs (wine etc...) whereas a physical disk cannot be changed. I don't know...just seems to make sense to me!

[Blackcanary]

Origins

Sony started two projects applying the new diodes: UDO (Ultra Density Optical), and DVR Blue (together with Pioneer), a format of rewritable discs that would eventually become Blu-ray Disc (more specifically, BD-RE).[9] The core technologies of the formats are essentially similar.

The first DVR Blue prototypes were unveiled at the CEATEC exhibition in October 2000.[10] Because the Blu-ray Disc standard places the data recording layer close to the surface of the disc, early discs were susceptible to contamination and scratches and had to be enclosed in plastic cartridges for protection.[11] On February 19, 2002, the project was officially announced as Blu-ray,[12][13] and Blu-ray Disc Founders was founded by the nine initial members.

The first consumer device was in stores on April 10, 2003. This device was the Sony BDZ-S77, a BD-RE recorder that was made available only in Japan. The recommended price was US$3800;[14] however, there was no standard for prerecorded video, and no movies were released for this player. The Blu-ray Disc standard was still years away, as a newer, more secure DRM system was needed before Hollywood studios would accept it—not wanting to repeat the failure of the Content Scramble System used on standard DVDs. On October 4, 2004, the Blu-ray Disc Founders was officially changed to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), and 20th Century Fox joined the BDA's Board of Directors.[15]

[NotSoSilentBob]

I thought Blu-ray Required 1080p output? I know the 360 does output at that but it is only upscaled I thought? The 360 couldn't be certified blu-ray without having Native 1080p.

[FamilyGuy]

I never thought about this before but you might be right.
I have seen 720p and 1080i HD-Dvd players but i have NEVER seen a blu-ray player that wasn't 1080p...

Anyways, didn't M$ enable REAL 1080p once they started incorporating HDMI output ports on their consoles? Or was there something in the processing that limited it to only upscaled 1080p?

[Elven6]

The Xbox 360 is capable of doing 1080p on both component and HDMI,

[coolirisGB]

What the hell?

Upscaling games that are not 1080p native to 1080p and being able to output 1080p signals are two different things lol. How did a console being able to do a wonderful job upscaling end up being a bad thing Sony fans bash the console for?

360 outputs 1080p through HDMI and Component Cable if the HDTV allows.

This article is stupid Microsoft has so many ways of delivering movies they don't need Blu-ray the only reason they would ever add Blu-ray is if they knew not having it was hurting their sales badly.

[Blades08]

Why does MS have to follow Toshiba? MS is not a manufacture, if MS wanted a player all they have to do is go to a bluray partner. So this article is a stretch, since they were partners for HD-DVD.

It would be crazy for MS to release a bluray add-on since the install base is 30 million now and use it for games. If they did that they would have to bump up Hard drives for caching data and piss off a lot of people. So if they ever did release a add on it would be for movies this gen. If they did it would have to be really cheap stand alone players are getting to $199 US now or under (on sale).

[MGOelite]

i thought sony own the highest percentage of the blu-ray brand out of all 8 compaines, so microsoft will have to go though sony at one point?

[ArcticWolfUK]

yeah sony earn money off every blu-ray player/disk sold

[Godmars290]

Toshiba is not owned by MS, so can someone please explain to me why people think they are?

[Grandreaper9999]

Internet service providers and their chokehold on bandwidth won't be allowing Microsoft's HD digital streaming future to arrive anytime soon. Having full hd BD quaity stream without delay or skipping will take a lot more power than what is available when you think of it being used wide-scale, as the norm. I think they'll try to usher in a new format so people will forget about blu-ray. I think they'll just hold out until the profit they miss out of is far too great and they cave. I think another format will arrive before that happens though, and MS will heavily back said format and promote the hell out of it. It would be their way of arriving early again, riding on the wave of a new format.

[tristanmike]

The *ONLY* reason, I believe, that Microsoft supported the HD-DVD drive was not because it thought it could win, but rather to stall the victory of Blu-Ray (which I'm sure didn't work out quite the way they wanted it to).

Microsoft understood that if Blu-Ray took hold immediately, then there would be throngs of consumers going to the PS3, consumers that would otherwise be 360 owners. However, if MS countered that by offering their own "Next Gen-High-Def" product, it could avoid the saturation that Blu-Ray would have likely had and help secure Microsofts' place as Supreme Leader. People could "buy in" at a cheaper price and when they felt comfortable, they could "upgrade".

Unfortunately, I don't think anyone realized that Warner Bros. would go Blu-Ray exclusive as quick as they did and furthermore how quickly the "war" would end due to it. We all had our opinions, but damn it happened fast. It even forced HD-DVD to pull from CES with very short notice. We all knew then and there it was over.

Now that HD-DVD is dead and Blu-Ray the clear victor, I don't think that MS has any reason to support Blu-Ray, even if it's to try and save those customers who now buy a PS3 over a 360 because of Blu-Ray.

Personally, I tell people to avoid the PS3 and just buy a cheap Blu-Ray player (they're pretty cheap now) and a 360 (some of my friends just bought the high def pack, TV, Blu-Ray Player and surround system and with the money they saved on the package deal, bought a 360). You'll get your high def fix and you'll also get a console that outputs almost every game in 1080p (upscaled or not) for their 1080p TV. I don't want other people to feel the burn I felt after buying a 1080p TV for my PS3 only to find out a handful of games actually display in 1080 and still having this issue nearly 3 years after the Behemoths' release...not impressed to say the least.

[Godmars290]

Yes, they can say they can if they make an add-on or a new model with BR built in, but they could only support movies. If they try to put games on it, they'd still be DVD based/limited, otherwise they'd alienate "regular" 360 owners.

[AuToFiRE]

Microsoft will never budge and choose bluray, they don want to pay royalties to Sony

[DuneBuggy]

If MS thinks theres a market for a add on BR player,they will do it.I dont think they care about paying Sony.Every Sony PC has Windows in it right???
As mentioned though,with $100 BR players at retail stores,might not be worth it.

[n4gno]

not only for royalties...they don't make things for gamers if that doesn't bring them more $$$$ than investment.

[ShadowCK]

I don't care about BlueRay.

I go on consoles to play games, not to watch high definition movies.

[MGOelite]

blu-ray is used for games as well dumbass

[ArcticWolfUK]

wait till FFXIII is released n you'll relise why you need Blu-Ray.

have fun swapping disks xD

[Man_of_the_year]

I have no prob swapping disc's...its the damn mandatory installs that piss me off. Taking up valuable harddrive space.

LO for the 360 is 4 discs, SO4 is 3 discs and i had no problem at all...however with MGS4 i had many many many mandatory installs that would put me too sleep between chapters.

Total amount of time swapping discs...2 minutes
watching Sony Fanboys make up excuses about what they can easily do while waiting for the mandatory install to install....priceless.

[ArcticWolfUK]

only reason most xbox games dont have mandatory installs is cause microsoft sold people half built consoles without HDD, meaning developer wont put them in cause alot of 360 owners wont be able to play.

[jag_stilvecchio]

So what if Toshiba is reluctantly rolling out a Blu-Ray disc player? How is that going to force MS to enter a market they have no desire to support? It's pretty clear MS is betting the farm on digital downloads not on Blu-Ray.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

There is no need for it. Not the 360... sure games are getting bigger but to be honest MS is doing fine with DVD9 and downloaded games and movies is the route MS will take for the rest of the 360 life. The "next" xbox I think has a high probability of being a cloud computing set up with an Onlive type service. physical media may be obsolete. They may include a blu ray so you can play your collection...but honestly it could just as well come with no drive.

[JJFNIGHTS80]

I'm very suprised that Toshiba took them 2 years to make a Blu-Ray Player. I thought they weren't going back into the High Def player business. And stick to their up convert High Definition DVD player. Now I'm wondering if M$ going to join Blu-Ray Camp which I doubt cause M$ don't want their Xbox 360 turn to a built in blu-ray cause it's too hard for them to program and takes longer to make a game.

[Flare149]

Even if they did make one, it wouldn't have a large impact as no games would be made with Blu-Ray discs since people without the add-on wouldn't be able to get the games. Additionally adding on Blu-Ray support will only make HD downloads from XBL decrease so it's highly doubtful they will actually support the format

[tordavis]

Opinion or fact?

[Socomer 1979]

does microsoft think people are made out of money? must be alot of stupid people in the world to fall for that again.

then somebody like shadowc0ck will think they finnaly can have a game like killzone 2 or MGS4 except its. . . not.

[Tr10wn]

This is a rumor MS said that they will not add blue-ray in the 360 maybe for another console. They will probably use mandatory install like the PS3, forza 3 will feature that.

[tehReaper]

They would NOT use mandatory installs because of improved drive speed. The thing about technology is that it changes, and 2x isn't going to cut it next gen.

[Strikepackage Bravo]

is not coming out with a BD add on, the only reason they did the HD DVD add on is because they were asked to by Toshiba and were paid to do so.
Toshiba was attempting to use the 360 to get HDDVD out there the same way Sony used PS3 to get booray out there.

MS just announced a even higher resolution digital download option, they have ZERO to gain from adding another disk add on to the console, this was a foolish article.

[maniacmayhem]

MS is going the whole digital download route. That is the next step in the evolution of everthing. Even Sony some time in the future (PS4) will abandon Blu-ray for this.

[Pootangpie]

or better yet A 4TB HDD standard with every xbox 720 that can be upgradable that way developers can use it to have mandatory installs for bigger games if needed trust me bluray was a lost cause ever since launch

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

this is another case of things you should have made available in the box day 1 really whose going to buy a Blu Ray add on unlike PS3 owners ppl who bought a 360 use it for 1 thing play games and if a add on Blu Ray player isn't going to affect game developing on 360 than why buy 1, Sony made Blu Ray available and built into PS3's day 1 and has been good for em but a Blu Ray add on for 360 will be a waste of time and money .if MS wants Blu Ray in Xbox wait until the next Xbox to have a built in Blu Ray player.

[RUF1]

It'll be interesting to see what MS does. Toshiba has been a partner of theirs for a long time, so for them a Blu-ray drive from Toshiba is probably more palatable than one from Sony, "co-optition" be darned!

If MS was going ahead with the Xbox 720 (or whatever it is that they're going to call it when they finally get going on it), then I would have thought that an internal Blu-ray drive would have been the way to go. Now that it looks like MS isn't going to forge ahead with that just yet (one could argue that they don't need to anyway), they just might decide to release an add-on drive for movies. I still don't see them doing any games on Blu-ray, but it will be another option for them on the entertainment and media hub front.

[PirateThom]

Toshiba fabricates Cell Processors for PS3 (and their own hardware).

Toshiba aren't really partnered with anyone, they do what makes sense from a business perspective.

[Karum]

lol isn't it already the standard?

And I don't think MS will release a Blu-Ray add onlike they did with HD-DVD. They'll concentrate on this instant 1080p streaming service they announced at E3. I'd be surprised if see a BR player for the 360.

[KingKionic]

LAME...

This isn't a fact .

And im pretty sure Microsoft want do it with there xbox 360 .

[cryymoar]

If Microsoft couldn't win the format war with advertising for HD-DVD the first time, what makes you think they can win another format war a second time after Bluray has already become established?

[darthv72]

Actually...there really wasnt much advertising for hddvd from MS (that I can recall). Pretty much all advertising was done via Toshiba. It was them who had the most at stake as pretty much they were the only ones making players.

Had MS done the marketing for the drive then it could have done better. How much...we will never know.

[ShadowCK]

"blu-ray is used for games as well dumbass"

There is no bonus feature for Blue Ray regarding games. Retard.

Apart from the downloading for games like Metal Gear Solid 4. 'Loading Next Chapter' - Which is a complete drawback considering you could simply switch disks if it was HD DVDs. Prove me wrong if you can.

"then somebody like shadowc0ck will think they finnaly can have a game like killzone 2 or MGS4 except its. . . not."

When you learn how to spell and actually play a good game Socomy we'll talk. And please stop talking about my ****, GayLord. It’s such a pathetic comeback.

Yes, MGS4 and Killzone 2. That's all your console has going for it. Don't bother giving me another title because your amount of fail is too much.

[badbond1]

All the PS3 has going for it is MGS4 and Killzone 2? Are u serious little botty boy? LET ME BREAK THIS DOWN TO YOU - InFamous, Uncharted 1 & 2, Ratchet and Clank, Resistance 1 & 2 , Gran Turismo 5, and God of War III... etc.... You are pathetic. Blu Ray - Microsofts back is against the wall on this topic!

[saimcheeda]

dumbass!!

[gamerzBEreal17]

the format wars isn't just between HD DVD in blue-ray its between every format so uh NETFLIX!!!! u cant have netflix in blu-ray b/c thar revals

[darthv72]

Funny you say that because on the netflix site there is a section about players that are netflix watch instantly supported. Samsung BDP-1590 is a good player.

[cmrbe]

don't want it. They only want the x360 to play games but they love to watch movies from ntefilx on it though which i find ironic.

[pippoppow]

Yeah Blu-Ray not needed but here is an inferior way to watch HD movies through Netflix TADA (even though you can access Netflix plus the rest of the interent through the PS3 browser). Sub HD quality due to low bitrate and no HD sound with Netflix is supposed to be somehow as good. I'd think most MS fans would want the best represntation of true HD visuals and sound which only Blu-ray could provide.

[Blow Out Your Brains]

Blu ftw!

[keysy420]

because add ons dont work

[keysy420]

the blu ray has advantages its just only being used on ps3 exclusives. id rather have downloads as long as the games look like mgs4

[XLiveGamer]

well... i am not interested in Blu Ray Movies yet... so?
I either go to the theater or just rent it using Xbox live.

But apparently for some "people" (fanatics) if you don't buy it... you suck!!!! So buy a Blu Ray Player and Blu Ray Movies or you will go to hell you pity creatures!!!!! AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[dcbronco]

Mainly the need or advantages for either Microsoft or Toshiba entering the Blu-ray market. Toshiba is the main patent holder for DVD. Why would they support Blu-ray and compete directly with themselves and degrade their own products user base. With well over 100 million in DVDs sold each week in the US alone Toshiba is fine on that front.

For Microsoft, the future is Silverlight. Their recent demo proved it was a viable format and it has been rumored to be headed to Netflix. Silverlight also might be the reason Hulu has started to block other services from using it's video. It would supplement Netflix nicely on Live. I think the author is also confused about MSs motive for the HD DVD add-on. I believe it was more about slowing down Blu-ray than anything else. On that front it worked well. It gave them time to get Silverlight ready.

While Blu-ray licensing fees have come down, it's still higher than DVD and I'm sure it would be higher than Silverlight. MS could have low licensing fees just to under cut Sony who have to pay fees themselves since M-peg 2 didn't work well for Blu-ray. The fact that the author doesn't even realize that Microsoft has already demoed 1080p streaming is kinda funny. He should do a little more fact checking.

The last thing is MSs support of Blu-ray disc burning. The author has to realize that the majority of Microsoft's business is from companies. Companies need large storage. Right now Blu-ray is the best option there. That though will only last the next five years or so if that. Companies will move to Holographic disc or flash will become so cheap they will be disposable. 25 pk. of 4GB cards for $25 anyone. Ready to pop into your phone, MP3 player, camera or netbook.

[CobraKai]

It can't be used for gaming cuz it'll isolate those who don't have BR add on. And stand alone players are getting cheaper.

[deshon09]

it funny you say Toshiba because thay are not one of the companies currently on with blu ray so they just cant bring out a player just like that they will need to go though the blu ray association the ones who own the rights to it and yeah after all the hype of hdvd i don't think Toshiba will be get in that easily and ms has said time and time again thay don't want blu ray

[BrianC6234]

Please just go away Blu-ray add-on for 360. This idea makes no sense. Enough already. It won't be used for games so it's stupid to even talk about.

[kraze07]

I don't think the 360 needs a blu-ray add-on. Maybe the next xbox should have a built in blu-ray player or something better, but I just don't see people giving it a chance on the 360.

[Big Boss Extreme]

THE BLURAY ADD-ON WILL HAVE THE RROD

[Jack-Pyro]

Wouldn't it be the Blu Ring of Death! XD!

In all seriousness I seriously don't see this as a big deal, MS will never implement a Blu-Ray attachment, and even if they did it would only be for movies!

I also don't get the whole DVD>Blu-Rays when it comes to gaming! So you have to install stuff, it still looks better, and guess what...you don't have to watch the loading screen, you can go....and do somthing different....like say....get a snack.....or get some fresh air....what a revolutionary thought!

[TheTruth89]

you mean BROD

@Jack Pyro

Ouch, didn't notice you xD

[donnie-2105]

WHY the wii has no blu ray or dvd and its the biggest money maker this gen and the ps3 has both but it is last.GAMERS casual or hardcore DONT care if the console has a hd drive or not.plus the busget standalone br players are that cheap now how would ms make any money off an add on.in the big game markets ie us etc download is the way fward

[saimcheeda]

will be fun if M$ Starts paying SONY!:p

[Blackcanary]

Happens it happens and if Microsoft decide to put games on Blu-Ray then they have to pay Sony since Sony own Blu-Ray.

[Rowsdower]

people just make sh_t up and we sit here and talk about it.

[maniacf50]

blu-ray is sony's, toshiba can sell blu-ray in contract agreement with sony. toshiba can't just go around and sell a product thats not theres. *****shakes head*****

[Henry Cain]

M$ will have to something. Games are getting bigger and they are already using multiple disc for games now. Forza 3 and FF13 are just a few games of the games that will require more than one disc. I can imagine how much space will be needed for next gen games.

[artsaber]

* Bluray plays 1080p max and every acceptable television resolution below it though HDMI cable or other means.

* Microsoft had a chance to PARTNER with Sony and others on Bluray, but instead dumbassedly SOLD the VC-1 rights instead of making infinite amounts of residual income from a partnership product sales, etc.

* If Microsoft decides to use Bluray, Sony will be selling them their OWN VC-1 technology back to them at a premium price!!!
Since Bluray as a whole product is the sum of several technologies, and the whole product has to be sold at a profitable margin to maintain a healthy business, then Microsoft will be paying a percentage of Bluray costs to use their own VC-1 codec. (Uhhh, they should've partnered)

* Microsoft's decision to back HD-DVD while KNOWING that Disney had already partnered with Bluray, will go down as one of the WORST business decisions in the history of consumer electronics. (Personally, I would've been more focused on making money than war-ing with Sony)

Guaranteed Bluray Revenue > Console War = good business (Especially since this would've probably ENHANCED the 360's image tremendously, avoiding the "dated technology" stamp that many has already placed upon it.)

Happy gaming!

[JJFNIGHTS80]

For the last time M$ will not join blu-ray. Nuff said.