Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Blu-Ray Xbox 360 Drive Possible if HD-DVD Loses Format War
Posted by Jason Dunn in "NEWS" @ 01:45 PM
"Xbox marketing chief says Microsoft could release peripheral for the Sony-backed disc if HD-DVD loses format war. At Microsoft's big CES keynote address last week, Bill Gates announced that the company will release an add-on peripheral to read HD-DVD discs on the Xbox 360. Considering that console rival Sony is a primary backer of the competing Blu-ray format of high capacity discs, it came as little surprise that Microsoft would side with Toshiba's HD-DVD standard. The company's support for the HD-DVD camp has been apparently strong, with reports from late last year suggesting the company is offering cash incentives to PC makers that adopt HD-DVD drives into their systems. However, despite the obvious preference for HD-DVD, it seems Microsoft isn't willing to completely tie its fate to the format just yet. During CES 2006, Microsoft's Xbox corporate VP of worldwide marketing and publishing Peter Moore told Japanese site ITmedia that a Blu-ray Xbox 360 peripheral could appear for the system if the need arises. Moore admitted that Microsoft isn't sure of the next-generation format war's outcome, with the worst-case scenario being a repeat of the Beta vs. VHS war of the '80s."
Not at all surprising, given that no one really knows what the next 24 months will bring in the realm of high-definition DVD content. The Xbox team is simply saying "Hey, we want to remain viable, we're not willing to sacrifice our platform just to prove a point with HD-DVD."
Not at all surprising, given that no one really knows what the next 24 months will bring in the realm of high-definition DVD content. The Xbox team is simply saying "Hey, we want to remain viable, we're not willing to sacrifice our platform just to prove a point with HD-DVD."
