Microsoft may consider Blu-ray if consumers demand it [Update]
by Nick Doerr 
{ Jan 8th 2008 at 10:30PM }
Group Marketing Manager for the Xbox hardware said that "It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider" in regards to the 360 gathering up some Blu-ray support. They'll still defend HD DVD until its demise, should it occur, but at least they're starting to pay attention to the numbers. Numbers don't lie.
Update: Microsoft wanted to update their comment. "Microsoft currently has no plans at this time to consider Blu-ray as an option. We continue to believe that HD DVD is the best optical solution for consumers, since it's the only format today that delivers quality experiences at affordable prices."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kyo @ Jan 28th 2008 8:47PM
jgtpg
Kspraydad @ Jan 8th 2008 10:39PM
I hope SONY gets some nice fees from that and keeps PSN free with the money!
I don't see the point really (I don't see the point of the HD DVD ad on either)...the gaming console itself can't use it for games right?
Flounder @ Jan 9th 2008 9:28AM
Comparing Sony to Microsoft on Blu-ray vs HD-DVD simply doesn't work. Microsoft is not tied to HD-DVD and could easily add a Blu-ray drive to the 360. I think their goal is to go digital and although I love the PS3 I think the download route is definitely the future for both ps3/360.
There is a REASON MS didn't make the HD-DVD an internal drive on the 360 people.
wocyob @ Jan 8th 2008 10:44PM
sony should not let them just to spit in there faces...for draging this darn format war on for so long..
Popfrogs @ Jan 8th 2008 10:48PM
Bah, not many X360 HD-DVD addons were sold. Toshiba just bet on the wrong horse and so did MS, but MS was wise enough not to build the Elite with this drive built in.
JaseH @ Jan 9th 2008 8:20AM
@Popfrogs
This was because no person with money & common sense wanted to jump onto the HD DVD camp, after witnessing what a failure it is, with its very small film selection compared to blu ray.
NATO_Duke @ Jan 9th 2008 11:00AM
Please, Sony kept up the fight for Beta and it lost in that ancient battle, so now another format is tanking and Sony is on the upside.
Nobody spit in anyone's face - this is just evolution in formats being worked out. I think its sad if you believe other formats shouldn't be developed unless Sony is the one doing it. That would make you a dumb consumer.
NATO_Duke @ Jan 9th 2008 11:02AM
Wow! Just read the wiki page on the betamax and it says - "The last Sony Betamax was produced in 2002."
That tells me Sony shouldn't be mad at anyone for fighting to keep their format alive.
knguyen @ Jan 8th 2008 10:52PM
M$ =Flip flop flap. they're pure dirty.
JOtheHOBO @ Jan 8th 2008 10:54PM
That would be cool if they put all three in a new Xbox 360, DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray all in one drive. It will be a little pricey but it will be worth it.
PETEJOZ @ Jan 8th 2008 10:56PM
No, unlike the PS3, the new 360 will not be worth it, especially when it will cost 800 dollars.
Anyway, doesn't Sony own bluray? If yes, then I would never allow Microsoft to put bluray into the xbox.
Popfrogs @ Jan 9th 2008 1:40AM
No, that's a misconception. Sony is a frontrunner for Blu-ray but there's a group of companies dedicated to it.
Truckondo @ Jan 8th 2008 10:57PM
I don't see Sony keeping Blu-ray to themselves but I see Toshiba monopolizing the HD DUD market. Look at all the hardware companies that support Blu. It's 99% of the time a Toshiba brand HD DUD player in someones home. The market has made a choice and it's for the better.
Brett from Atlanta @ Jan 9th 2008 8:27AM
Didn't you hear, blu ray just about won the format war. With warner brothers switching over and paramount soon to follow, there will be no market for toshiba to monopolize. Unless they enjoy heavily investing in dead technology. Warner brothers really hurt HD-DVD, but paramount will definitely kill the format.
Darayz @ Jan 8th 2008 11:04PM
Release a Blu Ray ad-on for the 360 for the same price as the HD DVD ad-on (under $200) and you've got yourself millions of 360 owners joining team Blu. Release it around the time the summer blockbusters come out on Blu Ray and you've got a hit.
ABACAB72 @ Jan 8th 2008 11:17PM
This is actually nothing new. Peter Moore did say back in '06 that they would consider making Blu-Ray drives if BD won the format war. Even though MS supports HD-DVD, it doesn't mean that they suffer if it fails. It's not their format. Never was. MS is only behind it because it uses their codec HDi.
Having said that, I did see an interview on X3F (sister site of this one) with Jeff Bell, saying that they are still trying to get Blu-Ray to use the HDi codec, which is a lot easier to use than the BD Java that's in the Blu Ray format. They kinda do the same thing, but HDi was implemented in HD-DVD first, and so those features were in HD-DVDs as opposed to Blu-Ray.
It's also believed that if BR was to use HDi from the word go, then MS would have supported that format, and there would have been a very short format war. But, oh well. So to all you haters out there, Microsoft is not really hurting because HD-DVD is failing. Toshiba is. It's their format.
Noshino @ Jan 8th 2008 11:25PM
ABACAB72,
its not about being a hater, Microsoft is backing the HD-DVD camp, you think Toshiba could be able to afford all of this? I mean, paying for the few exclusivities they have, plus the really low prices of the players, Toshiba was in no position to afford this, Microsoft is...and its just naive to think otherwise...
you REALLY believe that Microsoft would have supported Blu-ray despite the fact that they knew that it was going to be the default drive of the PS3? I mean, really? are you THAT naive?
TheEnd187 @ Jan 9th 2008 1:25AM
I believe you are referring to VC-1 not HDi, since HDi is not a codec. M$ collects royalties from VC-1,which is why BD uses High Profile AVC. HDi/BDj have nothing to do with Sony prolongin the War, and Besides its not Sony VS Toshiba/M$
its BDA vs HDDVD group. if only HDDVD would've gave up in the first place we wouldn't have had a war, with their inferior specs.
Imbro @ Jan 9th 2008 5:06AM
TheEnd187 is almost correct. MS has two reasons for supporting HD-DVD. 1 is VC-1 which is the codec. After a lot of pressure, the BR group adopted VC-1 as a mandatory codec along with h264 (or mpeg 4 part 10, avc high profile if you want). HDi is as mentioned not a codec, but the dynamic content engine. It is a MS technology which they collects royalties for, and it's usually (always so far I believe) running on top of Windows CE OS, which they allso collect licenses for. Thank god we didn't fell into another MS lockin game.
Carlton @ Jan 9th 2008 6:06AM
Despite saying codec, he was referring to HDi not VC-1. VC-1 is probably the best compression format supported by HD-DVD and Blu-Ray; BD was always going to support VC-1, but not HDi. MS would only support a format that used their own interactivity layer; Sony refused, Toshiba agreed and a format war was born.
Robert @ Jan 9th 2008 7:50AM
MS prefer HD-DVD only because interactivity is done using a version of EcmaScript (JavaScript) and not Java like Blu-ray, so if Blu-ray wins the final battle MS will need to license Java again from Sun, something they may not like too much after they lost millions in a suit for creating a non standard version of Java for Windows
B @ Jan 8th 2008 11:20PM
Why would Sony let them? the PS3 is, after all, trying to be the premiere blu-ray player, and they are having a somewhat hard time moving them as-is, so why would they risk competing with MS?
Sony is trying to sell PS3's and Blu-ray players, not get MS on their side, especially since they won the battle already...
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 8th 2008 11:54PM
Well BD's may become the next DVD in terms of popularity. Xbox used DVD-ROM and so did PS2. Sony would probably let them use it after this gen of consoles.
You know what's funny? If MS does use Blu-ray in the future, they'd be directly funding their competitors. I'm sorry, but talk about coincidence.
Draco @ Jan 9th 2008 12:12AM
Hashbrown_Hunter
Microsoft is already paying Sony money for use of DVD, this isn't any different. hell Sony may see less cash because of this and the BD group.
nobody528 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:15AM
@Hashbrown
I think you mean irony, not coincidence. Not sure though
emaxximus @ Jan 9th 2008 12:19AM
Boy oh boy, can you just imagine the reaction this story would get if it were posted on 360 fanboy?? Flames would consume us all
KingOfGods @ Jan 9th 2008 1:27PM
Here you go....
http://xbox.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/ms-open-to-the-possibilty-of-a-360-blu-ray-peripheral/
No flames at all
I own both a 360 and a PS3 but I don't visit this site as much as 360 fanboy because of the shit that is thrown around here in the comments section.
Back on topic...I really have no preference between HD DVD and Blu-Ray. I own the 360 add-on and own a few movies on both formats but nothing has really blown me away as the switch from VHS did.
Maybe it's because I have a 37" 1080p tv and upscaled DVDs through the 360 still look good.
emaxximus @ Jan 9th 2008 11:47PM
Yeah I guess they are getting all the flames out in the comment section for "Warner drops HD dvd, goes Blu-Ray only" over there. Thers is more shit being thrown around there than at a monkey farm.Does us a favor and sell your PS3 to somebody cool so you wont have a reason to come back here.
rockstar @ Jan 9th 2008 12:23AM
IT BURNS..
dartmerc @ Jan 9th 2008 12:46AM
@10.
Yes you fool, they would have.
MS wanted to use Blu-ray with HDi instead of java, there would have been no format war if that was the case. Sony wouldnt fold and insisted on java, so here we are. I'm glad though, I don't really want any more money going to M$, it just means they could afford an even worse failure rate next gen.
Andy @ Jan 9th 2008 12:50AM
Sony was the primary devoloper of Blu-Ray and they get the majority of the royalty fees.
Toshiba was the ... of HD DVD ...
By the way, last time around with DVD Toshiba got the majority of the royalties. Sony got a much smaller share.
In the end Microsoft wants to make money too. By selling a Blu-ray add-on they could potentially make more money. But considering the lack of sales for the HD DVD one they probably won't do that. Yes they would have to pay a portion of that to Sony. You do realize the Microsoft doesn't have a lot to lose if HD DVD fails.
And to be honest, they don't have much to gain if Blu-Ray wins.
Think Adrian @ Jan 9th 2008 3:12AM
Isn't it crazy that 360 games still come on DVDs? (dual-layer perhaps, but still not HD-DVD nor Blu-ray as the PS3)
dartmerc @ Jan 9th 2008 4:34AM
@ Think Adrian
Yeah, wow that feels weird. All this talk about Blu ray and HD DVD are making me feel like DVD 9 is already an old, out of date format. God, imagine 09 and after when Blu ray is really picked up.
finelicker @ Jan 9th 2008 4:54AM
I was in game the other day and was stood behind a woman who was buying a HD-DVD add on for a 360. I didn't have the heart to tell her, "excuse me love, do you realise you're pissing money up the wall buying that?"
sammy @ Jan 9th 2008 4:58AM
The PS3 does actually use Bluray in its software as well, which for all the negative opinions will I imagine in the long run benefit gamers. It may be a Trojan approach but they are a business and it is still not a bad standard feature to have. I don't think it is really much different how most companies behave particularly when you compare it to how Microsoft monopolises the PC market. When you install what is the standard operating system you given their messenger...browser...their suggested antivirus...the media player. Which means they already have a headstart in every field. Paticularly when linking their own applications into function with these.
Oprah are challenging ms instant inclusion if IE in Windows.
I don't blame MS for doing this they have actually created many great features within the Windows environment.
Sony have struggled this generation many people have taken a great deal of pleasure from this in a way they never have towards Nintendo's or Segas weak moments. Despite them making very similar mistakes. I don't pick sides of the sake of it...nobody should. The best games will win it for me...but I will wait and see what happens in future. Largely until I see where the Japanese support ends up. It will be the deciding factor as most Western games currently seem best suited to PC.
I will be glad when this format war is over...maybe a richer Sony will create better games...who would complain about that?
anon @ Jan 9th 2008 5:06AM
Wasn't somebody at M$ that bashed Sony for using Blu-ray on PS3 saying it was overkill?
Heh... The irony...
RangerPrimeX @ Jan 9th 2008 5:27AM
Blu-ray is overkill for GAMES and has a slow read rate which is why the PS3 installs all or part of games to the hard drive or devs do filler data by putting duplicate data on the disc to help with the access rate. Sony mainly put it in to play movies so they could repeat the success of PS2 where consumers bought it because it was a DVD player too. The problem is average consumers are cold on the whole market as regular DVDs look good enough upscaled and are a heck of a lot cheaper.
M$ always said a Blu-ray add on was possible. It was always a choice for them. They would rather you would rent the HD movie from Marketplace which I am finding more appealing these days. I have a ton of DVDs that I never re-watch beyond the first time. My attitude to owning movies is changing with the advent of VOD.
Carlton @ Jan 9th 2008 6:37AM
The 360 DVD uses constant angular velocity to read data, while the BD drive uses constant linear velocity. That means the PS3 reads at the same speed throughout the disc, while the 360 reads some parts of the disc faster and some slower. It also reads the second layer more slowly than the first.
Read speeds are therefore about the same overall, but BD can transfer data at 53.95 Mbit/s, while DVD can only transfer at 11.08 Mbit/s.
And VOD is years away from being able to compete with optical media.
Christian @ Jan 9th 2008 6:11AM
Looking at the PS3 with its sleek design it is obvious that Sony wanted to make something that even non-hardcore gamers would be willing to have on permanent display in their living room. Next to their tv and hifi systems. And they suceeded. There is no more ugly controllers hanging from the system and it is quiet enough to not be an irritation point (which is more than I can say for my V+ set-top box from the cable company).
Sony also realized, probably partly due to the ĺack of consumer interest in the PS2 hard drive add-on that people do not want clunky and ugly looking add-ons to their systems. In addition to looking bad it increases the already significant cable clutter and demands yet another power socket.
So if Microsoft decides to do a Blu-Ray add-on (and they would be fine to do so as the specs are licensed out by a vendor neutral body) I doubt it would be very popular. The Xbox360 looks ugly enough (why did Microsoft come to believe that mimicking how Dell PC's looked in the late 90's would be a great look for the living room?) as it is and adding another little clunky box next to it under the TV would make things even worse.
I think the only thing keeping Sony from shouting from the roof tops about how the PS3 is a media convergence device which can replace your DVD player, your game console and your CD music player is the fact that it might turn their relationship with other Blu-Ray player manufacturers a little sour.
Myself I have only 3 boxes under my TV now, the PS3, the surround amplifier and my cable set-top box. Which gives me everything I need, only downside being that my PS3 doesn't let me play my old US DVD's, due to zone problems. All my Blu-Rays are zone free however so those play fine.
Extinction @ Jan 9th 2008 6:14AM
"Blu-ray is overkill for GAMES and has a slow read rate "
It's not overkill for games. Launch titles such as Resistance took up more space than what DVD carries. Devs have been granted an extraordinary amount of freedom. For example Devil May Cry on PS3 will have far superior audio quality compared to the 360 version.
Bluray is also faster than DVD. 360's DVD drive is only faster for 15% of the outer edge of SINGLE layered discs only. Almost all 360 games come on double layered discs. Bluray loads at the same speed everywhere on the disc, and on any layer. DVD gets slower the closer the data is to the center, and slower on multi-layered discs.
"which is why the PS3 installs all or part of games to the hard drive or devs do filler data by putting duplicate data on the disc to help with the access rate"
Devs install to the harddrive because they can, and it reduces load times far more than any optical drive is capable of, and lets them upgrade/patch the data a lot easier. They can't on 360. And they DONT duplicate data across this disc. Some idiot started a rumor about Oblivion doing that and the developers personally denied that.
"The problem is average consumers are cold on the whole market as regular DVDs look good enough upscaled and are a heck of a lot cheaper"
Actually the DVD market is shrinking, and the Bluray market is growing. This is the reason Warner Bros. said they switched to Bluray.
In short, nothing you said was accurate.
Jeff @ Jan 9th 2008 7:39AM
I say bring it on... If they make a Blu add on drive for the 360 and it works just like the HD-DVD drive... well then there is a cheap way to add the ability to play Blu on my computers!!! I would pick one up just for that and then I would have two Blu players in the house!!! ROCK ON!!!
FinalArrow @ Jan 9th 2008 7:51AM
This just reassures all Ps3 owners that their purchase was a good investment... Although it wasn't necessary... ^^
DEMAN @ Jan 9th 2008 8:13AM
Okay. First of all Sony should get some nice money for this.
Second of all What is the point thay will not be able to get games on it right?
Third of all won't this be killing Sony by letting them use their technology to make their system better? Even though Sony will still get a share of the money on every blu-ray disc right?
anon @ Jan 9th 2008 9:13AM
So, ive spent $300 on a xbox360 and then $200 on a HD-DVD addon and now i may have the opportunity to buy a blu-ray addon for what? $200 too? Hell yeah!!! Bring it on M$!!
We xbots sure know how to spend our money =)
Oh yeah and lets not forget the $250 on that revolution of a system called Nintendo Wii. Its a world of fun! I lost the track of time playing cooking momma and wii sports, sooooooooooo cool!!11111
Wii60 revolution ftw!
You can all die with your big black box of d00m!
Brandon @ Jan 9th 2008 9:17AM
Now there are rumors buzzing around of Paramount's support of HD-DVD being shaky and Target selling Blu-Ray exclusively. The Blu-Ray group just needs to keep snatching up as much of the market as possible and let HD-DVD starve. These wars have always been wars of attrition.
Either that or get Chuck Norris to roundhouse kick Jody Sally and force Toshiba to finally surrender.
PSPDog @ Jan 9th 2008 9:19AM
I think that there is little doubt that MS will develop a blu-ray addon for the x360 once HD-DVD is dead and gone. The ps3 is still a pretty cheap (if not the cheapest) blu-ray player on the market, and if they develop the addon, those x360 users who are interested in HD movies wouldn't have to by a separate player (or worse, a ps3). If they can keep people from buying a ps3, then they will receive more money from x360 games and not have to split it with ps3 games.
As for VOD, I like the idea, but not a lot. One thing that I would miss would be the ability to transport or share a movie. I'd rather not have to carry around or lend out a portable hard drive just so a friend of mine could watch a movie I own. Transportable media will have a market for a long time. Also, for those of you with kids, you know how many movies you collect over time and how often your children will watch movies over and over. I'd rather have a cabinet full of blu-rays than a hard drive filled up with that (and nothing that I'd like to watch).
For a TV show that I missed, VOD would be great, but for something a bit more social like movies with the ability to easily transport and share, give me my blu-ray.
EvilWalksWithMe @ Jan 9th 2008 12:10PM
This is SOOO awesome! Can you imagine how cheap the xbox360 HD-DVD addons and HD-DVD movies are going to become as stores try to get rid of them?
Yeah I already own a Blu-Ray player (all the ps3 is good for really), but hell, I'm all for cheap as hell movies. Bring it on...
KushielsScion007 @ Jan 9th 2008 10:41AM
WOW...just when I thought ps3fanboy could NOT sink any lower....
How about you stick to umm I dunno news about the ps3 and continue spouting the FUD you spew on a daily basis about your beloved system.
Really I see no reason why this article is even here except to get more traffic.
chris.westermann @ Jan 9th 2008 11:05AM
May as well eat crow too.
Kyo @ Jan 15th 2008 12:06AM
@PopFrogs,
Actually Sony and Toshiba did team up and designed Blue ray so if MS ever teams up with them they will literally own them lol :]