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[RUMOR] Microsoft to be Blu in 3 months?

February 18, 2008 in News comments 21

What comes as no surprise to me, may come as quite a shock to some of you. Microsoft is rumored to have a Blu-ray add on already in the works. A stand alone Blu-ray player that can be connected to the XBox 360, like the HD-DVD add on does.

In my opinion this is a great move and a plus for 360 owners that want to experience Blu-ray.

Picture courtesy of Xbox360fanboy

With the expected announcement from Toshiba that the company is going to stop making new HD-DVD players, the whispers that an Xbox 360 Blu-ray player is on the way have become quite loud.

The latest rumor comes by way of the Australian website Smarthouse, which is reporting that Microsoft has already been secretly working on the peripheral which could be released in an astonishingly quick period of time.

"Insiders at Microsoft in the USA have told SmartHouse that Microsoft has already configured a standalone Blu-ray player that can be connected into an Xbox 360 and that subject to internal marketing and sales approvals the model could be on sale within 3 months," reports the website.

The last time the company talked about the subject was when Microsoft Vice President of Global Marketing Jeff Bell was asked about the possibility of going Blu.

"You never say never. I think we'd like to see how things evolve. Our commitment, however, to HD-DVD is profound and consistent, and we have done very, very well in term of our accessory sales," he told 1UP.
SS4Gogeta via s-times.net »
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  • 1
    iLLmatic Feb 19, 08
    Microsoft will have an announcement within the week, denouncing any such rumors. Can't say I'm surprised on either end though.
  • 0
    Pyrazor Feb 19, 08
    Really there's not much they can do. HD-DVD is pretty much out of the fight and they have to adapt.
  • 0
    Play ISDF Feb 19, 08
    I'm all fine for them having a Blu-ray drive to connect to the 360 and such, but they better not start forcing people to get these Blu-Ray drives (if this is in fact true) by making games on Blu-Ray only, that would just annoy me so much, and I'm sure it would annoy others too.
  • 0
    DragoniteBallZ Feb 19, 08
    I'm probably just going to buy a PS3. I might end up getting one anyway. But it's a good thing Microsoft did not fully side with a new format just yet and kept the main console all mainstream hardware.
  • 3
    Storm Feb 19, 08
    I <3 my 360 and all, but Microsoft's really being greedy with their marketing...all these side attachments and extras, with a damn separate price tag. $100 for the wireless adapter, of course more than $60 for the HD-DVD player, so on and so forth.

    This could be pretty pricey as well...so I'll pass. Hell I have a PS3.
    • 2
      iLLmatic Feb 19, 08
      $100 for the wifi adapter is pure rape, period. Its pretty much the only reason I don't use XBL. Well, I don't really use my 360 much at all, but regardless, how can a DS, PSP, cell phones, and even some umbrellas have wifi built in, yet Microsoft thinks its fair to charge a buck for a damn adapter. Ridiculous.
      • 1
        Storm Feb 19, 08
        Yeah that's what pisses me off even more. The fact that cheaper products have Wi-Fi built-in. But it was either this or run a 50 ft ethernet cable from upstairs to downstairs to access XBL, and I had to get the damn $100 adapter.
  • 0
    teodortenchev Feb 19, 08
    Would be a wise move, pathetic but wise
  • -4
    Existenz Feb 19, 08
    Pathetic, i think the Xbox 360 is a very nice system but if this holds true it will be as huge a waste as the the HD-DVD drive, i mean don't they realise people want the option of games too...

    I have seen so many comments on multiple sites saying stuff like;

    "I may just get a PS3, i only want a Blu-Ray player but if it gives me a chance of playing the new Gran Turismo it just sweetened the deal"

    Stuff like that, and what Blu-Ray allows is bigger and more advanced games, all this add-on will be is a movie player and no one cares for that, it has to do more.
    • -3
      Final Blade Feb 19, 08
      You hit the nail on the head Nikki. Lets say they do having it optional instead of standard its going to cost at least 80 bucks extra for the drive more than the HD-DVD. And like iLLmatic pointed out 360 owners are getting rapped by accessories. Like $100 for Wifi adapter add this to the mix your going to end up having a $600 system.

      This is only going to hurt them then help. So while im not going to be surprised that its going to happen, for 360 fans sake i hope not. Its not like everyone got the add-on HD-DVD drive whats makes you think any of the 15 million 360 fans will get this for movies.
      • 0
        SS4Gogeta Feb 20, 08
        Sorry mate. I don't see how this hurts Microsoft at all. Of 15 million or so 360 owners, some of them will elect to buy a Blu-ray add on. This allows them to upgrade without having to purchase a Blu-ray player. How can this hurt them?
        • 0
          Final Blade Feb 20, 08
          Cause what if out of 15 million 360 owners only 50,000 people upgrade thats like what 3% how will that benefit MS or consumers, especially since the Blu-ray add on drive will be more expensive then the HD-DVD drive. Who will buy that? If they have for standard alot. Not optional since HD-DVD drive as Cdemon put it was a waste. 3% isn't a great number. Although thats not official number, i don't see this benefiting anyone other than Sony, since it was the PS3 that made Blu-ray win against HD-DVD.

          Not to mention as an earlier article stated, not every owner of consoles watches movies on the console.
    • 2
      Cdemon Feb 19, 08
      Isn't the HD-DVD drive a waste already, seeing as how the format is uh, dead?
  • -1
    Jaseyboy12 Feb 19, 08
    I bet they will start to make gamees on blu-ray

    then that will be just a total and complete copy of ps3
    • 0
      Slumpy monkey Feb 19, 08
      Not exactly.

      Just because they use the same format does not make them exact copy.

      I could say teh same about trophies and achivements.
      I could say the same about the friendlist and In-game XBM if it ever comes.
      • 0
        The Slayer Feb 19, 08
        The first Xbox and the PS2 both used DVD's AND had wired controllers!! That dosnt make them an exact copy does it? How does adding a blu-ray player make it a total and complete copy of the PS3?
  • -1
    redneonfish Feb 19, 08
    Well done Slumpy, it's not an exact copy. I've got a PS3 and I know PSN is trying to be like live and trophies achievements etc. But Microsoft have to adapt, other wise they're screwed.
  • 1
    Shadow of Death* Feb 20, 08
    Yeesh, what is with the people who thinks the drive will be used to make games? It just isn't feasible, not in a practical sense. Few people really get these Add-Ons (as evidenced with the HD-DVD add-on)....Making games that only run on the 360 Blu-Ray Add-on would be utterly moronic decision no self respecting developer will make. Not enough people would be able to get said game, and there would be massive outcry from the gaming community...

    What is with people missing that entirely obvious point?

    Blu-Ray Add-on isn't surprising....I'm sure it'll happen at some point....
  • 1
    Dance Floor Killah Feb 20, 08
    I wouldn't spend more money on an add-on for movies. I play games on my 360, and regular DVDs.
    • 0
      Final Blade Feb 20, 08
      Exactly my point, its probably going to cost more than the HD-DVD drive and what if they add this and in a year or so they stop making 360's and makes the 720 or whatever the next console name will be, they will virtually added it for nothing.

      Not to mention not every console owner buys it, like another article stated. And since regular DVD's are still available i doubt anyone is going to upgrade to HD right now.
      • 0
        SS4Gogeta Feb 21, 08
        The cost speculation is just that, speculation. Blu-ray dev. cost is shrinking. The beauty of the 360 is that those that want a Blu-ray add on can get it, those that don't want it don't have to have it. To assume people will not buy it or a small number will buy it is not based on facts. 360 owners like DFK are like PS3 owners that choose not to buy BD and just play games. It's about the ones that will. And bear in mind that Blu-ray will only get more popular so expect demand to increase.

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