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Microsoft Will Announce Blu-ray Xbox on Monday

Twisted | June 08, 2008 | Rumor | Playstation 3 XBOX 360

Kotaku says that the Blu-ray Xbox 360s could be announced on Monday (tomorrow). CrunchGear has a rumor that Microsoft will announce them tomorrow, and have them shipped by Christmas. They would announce it tomorrow to beat Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference which starts tomorrow in San Francisco.

We have no confirmation or sourcing of our own on this, so, we don't vouch for its accuracy. But we will be watching the clock at 10 am Crecente time tomorrow, as CrunchGear is rumormongering that Microsoft will announce Blu-Ray Xboxes will be shipping by Christmas, at that time. Rumor has it they'll cost less than an Elite.

The announcement would apparently be timed to upstage Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference which kicks off an hour later in San Francisco. Here's the full rumor from CrunchGear's tipster:

I’m told MS will upstage Apple with a Monday 9am PDT announcement (1 hour before WWDC) via press release that the Xbox 360 will get Blu-Ray before Christmas. Price was “under the current Elite," but i could get any more details.

We'll be pursuing this tomorrow as our means of pursuit are limited today. Carry on.

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Comments

-1 thumbs!
On Vacation | June 08, 2008

Ha, i totally expected this. Xbox was so staunt about HD-DVD opposing Bluray but as soon it fails they announce that they will jump ship on at the next chance. Do they not have any pride? >>
- 3 thumbs!
  Sixth Gauge | June 08, 2008
  
  Microsoft was far from "staunt" about backing HD-DVD. This is such a common misconception. They were officially "neutral" regarding the next-gen formats. They eventually backed Toshiba (the creators of HDDVD, aka the STAUNT ones), because they had a close working relationship and MS considered the format more consumer friendly.
- 0 thumbs!
  Final Blade | June 09, 2008
  
  _{DO you have any knowledge? Sony actually told MS that they can add it to their system. This is actually good, it means more people will actually buy Blu-ray and add to the success.}
1 thumbs!
Twisted | June 08, 2008

That'd be cool if they did, although if they did then the Playstation 3 wouldn't have as much to say that they are better then the other console about.
1 thumbs!
Armed Rebel | June 08, 2008

Would be a smart move by microsoft. I'd want it.
1 thumbs!
Red 9 | June 08, 2008

Just remember that this is only for movie viewing. Not gaming.
1 thumbs!
VeGiTAX2 | June 09, 2008

Odd of them to say it given that San Francisco Gate got ahold of Robbie Bach with this response.

quote
Q: So no plans for Blu-ray in the next generation Xbox?

A: No. There is nothing to even talk about right now with regard to the next generation. That is so far out that there isn't anything to talk about.
[Sunday, June 8, 2008]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/08/BUPF11383J.DTL

quote
Q: In January, Warner Bros. announced that it was going to support Blu-ray, the high-definition DVD format. Since then, the rival HD DVD format has gone away. Microsoft supported HD DVD with an Xbox HD DVD attachment. What is your plan there?

A: Our plan continues to focus on high-definition experiences. Xbox 360 has a great ability to deliver those through the Xbox Live (online download) service. It's a great way to get the high-definition concept because it's right there. There's no additional media. There is nothing you need to purchase.

If you look at the Blu-ray player market, you haven't seen the acceleration everybody expected (since the demise of HD DVD). It's not as much about whether all the content is in a Blu-ray format or a HD DVD format. You have to look at how fundamentally compelling the difference is between a progressive scan DVD player and the picture that it can produce and what you get on a high-definition player. The reality is there is some difference, but most people look at it and say, "I am not going to pay extra for that."
- 0 thumbs!
  Armed Rebel | June 09, 2008
  
  Granted, they're talking about the next generation Xbox, not necessarily for the 360. He's not saying the next gen xbox won't have blu-ray, just that they haven't even started to talk about it yet.
  - 1 thumbs!
    VeGiTAX2 | June 09, 2008
    
    Should have cited the entire series of quotes ^^: I added it above now so people don't have to click the link and read through the Zune / Windows Mobile Q&A.
    
    Bach addresses HD plans and how they're going to be sticking to their download system for movies as opposed to going back to hard mediums.
    
    On top of that WWDC already started and yet again an Xbox rumor dies and burns in flames.
    - -1 thumbs!
      Armed Rebel | June 09, 2008
      
      I guess it's a moot point now, but I'm still obliged to say that those quotes do little to dispel the rumor about a possible blu-ray Xbox 360. It's not as though, in the event they did plan to announce it today, he'd spill the beans prematurely.
      
      And I did read the article before replying. The blu-ray related questions anyway.
2 thumbs!
Sixth Gauge | June 09, 2008

From gizmodo who wrote the same story:

From tipster:

"I‘ve got a close friend who works at Microsoft, previously with the HD-DVD division and now in the E&D division (Xbox, zune). I’m told MS will upstage Apple with a Monday 9am PDT announcement (1 hour before WWDC) via press release that the Xbox 360 will get Blu-Ray before Christmas. Price was “under the current Elite”, but i could get any more details."

And a blu-ray adapter isn't going to upstage Apple's entire event.
4 thumbs!
iLLmatic | June 09, 2008

[Rumor] It will rain before the end of the year.
2 thumbs!
skatcat31 | June 09, 2008

iLL has the right idea. Watch it, but don't put to much faith in it. It coudl very well be bunko. After all, good friend in the industry can be code for "I'm pulling this out of my ass". So keep an eye out for the announcemnt, and keep a head hanged in humility.

also, @ first comment, toshiba is the "staunt" one. Microsoft has a huge relationship with toshiba, and since toshiba is a manufacturer of MANY of the DVD drives out today, they thoguht it would be more agreeable ot try adn get toshibas HD-DVD going, a technology that is cheaper then BD, and oddily enough only holds a few less gigs(BD dropped hte ball, since it doesn't acutally hold 50 GB, just 35 GB. I used to sell BD-RW, disks that are available. BD-DL held 35, whilst BD-RW held 20. And odd gain, but could be due to fledgling tech., as the original DVD-RW didn't hold 4.7 GB, nor did a CD-R hold 700 MB.) So really it's not microsoft jumping ship, toshiba MAJORLY dropped the ball. Majorly.
-2 thumbs!
Livewire_19 | June 09, 2008

If the 360 has blu-ray why would you buy a ps3 except for Metal Gear 4. HaHa upstaging Apple.
- 0 thumbs!
  On Vacation | June 09, 2008
  
  Maybe You'd like to buy it all in one go, rather then buy a xbox and the add-on which will no doubt be a few more hundred bucks spent too
0 thumbs!
Guugley | June 09, 2008

It's about time, to be honest. Microsoft needed to work on this as soon as they seen how popular it was, because HD-DVD was never a bit hit.
0 thumbs!
Storm | June 09, 2008

Meh, if it's true and they do implement this on the current Xbox console, I hope it doesn't drag us into purchasing another 360. What I mean by this is...will the future games of the 360 be on blu-ray only? Depends on if they make the 360's Blu-Ray built-in, I suppose.
- 0 thumbs!
  On Vacation | June 09, 2008
  
  The Blu-ray will not be for games, Just movies
  - -1 thumbs!
    Supernouva | June 09, 2008
    
    Makes no difference. There's many people who have bought a PS3 mainly because it's the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market. If this rumor ends up becoming reality, we could see a major shift in sales in favor of Microsoft.
    - 0 thumbs!
      iLLmatic | June 09, 2008
      
      Its not like a remodeled 360 or a 360 add-on would be cheap. Blu-Ray itself is still expensive, so price wouldn't be much of a deterrent it regards to competitive sales. The games are now coming for PS3, so I think that the gamers, not the movie heads, are the ones who are driving most of the [PS3] sales now.
-3 thumbs!
anatomyofme | June 09, 2008

Funny thing is this is Sonys hardware .... so every bluray MS sold a piece of that $$$ goes 2 Sony.. so even if MS sells more bluray consoles then Sony, Sony still profits.. lol so now the console war is about not how many sold but biggest profit...
- 0 thumbs!
  Xenctuary | June 09, 2008
  
  The "console war" is for "fanboys". Business has always been about making money.
- 1 thumbs!
  Slumpy monkey | June 09, 2008
  
  Actually sony isnt the only one with "blue-ray" technology.
  
  There are many other companies MS can go to. Sony just played a part in creating it. Along with hundreds of other companies.
0 thumbs!
Xenctuary | June 09, 2008

We'll see how this pans out over the rest of the day. Again, this sounds like an interesting idea. The difference this time is that it's backed by supposed reliable sources.
-2 thumbs!
anatomyofme | June 09, 2008

got me there .. damn your good.. are you like a spy?? Hey if your a mets "fan" do you not root 4 them 2 win?? when you cant afford both consoles and i had 2 choose 1. what magical yellow brick road do you think i went down?? Sorry for rooting 4 the only console I own.. Welcome 2 the "REAL WORLD" dipsh*t..
- 2 thumbs!
  VeGiTAX2 | June 09, 2008
  
  No need to get nasty. Your facts were incorrect simply.
  
  You decided to say that Sony was the sole producer of Blu-Ray diodes but in reality there are many companies around doing such things. It's like the common misconception that Sony is the sole force behind the Cell when Toshiba and IBM have been initial partners since day 1 with IBM doing a huge amount of technical work in piecing the chip together.
  
  Don't get angry because you started rambling about some great console war and everyone signed and rolled their eyes at you. You brought that upon yourself.
- -1 thumbs!
  Slumpy monkey | June 09, 2008
  
  No sorry, I have a life and dont lick the ass of any company I buy from.
  
  YOU:
0 thumbs!
Auctoria | June 09, 2008

Metal Gear Solid 4 360?

AMRITE?
2 thumbs!
RKRigney | June 09, 2008

Can people get banned from this site? Slumpy Monkey is asking for it. That's ridiculous.
- 0 thumbs!
  Slumpy monkey | June 09, 2008
  
  Oh please. Dont be such a fool. Just because I posted an image showing what a douche anatomyofme is your going all "OMFG GET TEH BAN HAMMARZE"
  
  I proved him wrong and then he comes out with some crap saying its the real world and then calls me a dipshit.
  
  Stop being an idiot.
  - -1 thumbs!
    Final Blade | June 09, 2008
    
    _{Slumpy why don't you think before posting a stupid picture. There's nothing wrong for cheering or rooting for a company, especially if your want them to do well. Which I assume Anatomyofme was doing. That doesn't mean your a fanboy, just you want a particular company to do well, since Sony and its PS3 is sucking wind atm.}
    - 0 thumbs!
      Slumpy monkey | June 09, 2008
      
      Yeah, How about he thinks before saying being a fanboy is the real world and starts calling people dipshits.
      
      There's nothing wrong in supporting a product you like.
      Just being an idiot about it is what I dont like.
    - -2 thumbs!
      Final Blade | June 09, 2008
      
      _{Funny thing is though he never stated anything about being a fanboy. That was Xenc and he was in fact talking to HIM not YOU. Maybe if you read you wouldn't get confused at who he was directing it to.
      
      The only thing he mention about the real world was the fact not everyone has the capability to buy all three systems, and that he's rooting for the system he owns. Nothing to do at all about what your saying.}
    - 0 thumbs!
      Slumpy monkey | June 09, 2008
      
      He doesnt have to say he's a fanboy to be one.
      
      So by your thinking he could go "OH TEH XBOX IS CRP LOL RROD LOLOLOLOL, I R NOT FANBOY DIS IS REAL WORLD DURRRR"
      
      And he will not be a fanboy?? Please...
      
      You used to be a sony boy too final, So dont go acting all peacefull like, maybe you see a little bit of yourself in him, I dont know.
    - -2 thumbs!
      Final Blade | June 09, 2008
      
      _{NO I never was a fanboy Slumpy I liked the PS3 and was also rooting for them to do better. Also who doesn't want to support a system to do good since after all you invested $600 into it.}
-3 thumbs!
anatomyofme | June 09, 2008

lol slumpy monkey nice work but my post wasnt directed 2 u lol it was for Xenct.. lol like the pic tho.. do u have a 360 one lol...
0 thumbs!
Gutter_Tech | June 09, 2008

well im in san francisco, its monday. still have nt heard anything. i think this was just a rumor to get peoples hopes up
0 thumbs!
On Vacation | June 10, 2008

I'm all for hoping that the console you paid good money for does well in the market, thats not fanboyism, But i draw the line when i get abused for hoping my PS3 does well and people who ridicule me just because their mommy brought them a xbox for chistmas And Can't accept any truths that reveal faults about their console and blindly praise it.
1 thumbs!
Twisted | June 10, 2008

Denied