Microsoft Halts the Blu-ray Speculation
by Pravin on March 13th, 2008 in news.
Just because Brad Pitt hugs Eva Longoria, it doesn’t mean she’s going to have his baby. Along similar lines, people have been wildly speculating that the Xbox 360 is going to be sporting a Blu-ray drive of some kind. Afterall, the 360’s relationship with HD DVD is over, and the Xbox needs a new partner to fool around with.
Some people say the Blu-ray drive will be built-in and others have the more realistic speculation that it’ll be an add-on just like the HD DVD drive was.
These rumors got their start with some statements by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at the MIX08 conference, that Microsoft would “support Blu-ray in ways that make sense” and something about Blu-ray device drivers. That’s basically all he said. Ballmer didn’t even announce any hardware or software products. A reasonable interpretation of Ballmer words is that Microsoft will probably have better Blu-ray support in Windows Vista and Windows Media Center. The more sensational interpretation is that the 360 is getting a Blu-ray drive.
Just as with Hollywood stars, it seems like this 360/Blu-ray speculation is based on wishful thinking and wanting to create news based on assumptions. Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, came forth to halt all of this 360/Blu-ray crazy talk. In a Reuters interview, Greenberg plainly states, “Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience. … We’re the only console offering digital distribution of entertainment content.”
If you’ve followed this blog for the last few months, then you know I never believed the rumors about Microsoft building an HD DVD drive into the Xbox 360 either. Their business model has been to make sure that the game console gets into as many hands as possible. This allows customers the option to use it as a media device should they choose to.
Unlike Sony, Microsoft is not a consumer electronics company. The majority of their energy is focused on developing new software and software standards, not inventing a better LCD panel or electric blanket. Microsoft makes their big money on software, and their hardware efforts are actually pretty small. Whatever hardware standard is popular, Microsoft will be interested in getting their software into that device or system, or into a competing device or system.
The Zune and 360 are Microsoft’s only significant consumer electronics products where the company offers its own hardware standard, but in the overall strategy, these products are ultimately related to extending the reach of Windows into more places.
While a Blu-ray drive is possible future peripheral for the 360, all this talk about Microsoft dumping HD DVD and immediately going Blu-ray is really more like talking about some handsome actor serially dating starlets. That gossip doesn’t always make sense with the movie stars, nor in the world of consumer electronics.
- Microsoft says no Blu-ray for Xbox 360 - Reuters article
March 13th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Aww, I don’t want to have go out and buy another game system to have the only worthwhile Blu-Ray player to date.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Microsoft, the AIDS of the computer industry. Best not they infect bluray.
Its called Linux people, its free, it works, its more secure and its getting more user friendly by the day.
Its why all the engineering R&D companies I have worked at have used either it or solaris.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I wish it was in the works for a blu-ray player on 360. I have the HD DVD drive and between that and the digital content it’s a great media machine.(And great games of course.) I want to keep my 360 as my all-in-one “Media Center.” And until Sony lets Microsoft add the movie studios that Sony owns to the digital content, blu-ray is the only way to get those movies in Hi-Def.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:13 am
@rwarner174
I love hating on MS, it’s so trendy! Also Apple can do no wrong, Blu is the best and Google with ads on everything is superior to all!
Seriously, grow up and keep your propaganda to yourself.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Did you guys also know that Microsoft spent a BILLION dollars to fix Xbox 360s that had RroD? Monsters! While angel like Sony told me to buy another PS2 after my FOURTH one broke.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Let me get this right, Dan… Are you saying that Microsoft extended their warranty period to accomodate your out-of-warranty 360, whereas Sony said that you should suck it up and buy a new machine? That can’t possibly be!
March 13th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
You know, I was hoping that one possible benefit of HD-DVD’s demise was that people like rwarner that don’t actually have anything to contibute but rather nay-say and belittle would get bored and move on. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to have happened yet.
Yes, while MS isn’t always a saint, to pretend that any for-profit corporation is only after our own happiness and health is clearly delusional.
March 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Poor PS3 fans with their favorite console still in last place, and they still have no great PS3 games so they continue to rant about 360 RROD which is over a year old. All new Xbox 360 consoles are based on new lower power and heat chipsets, but PS3 fans can’t let it go. As Pravin states above Microsoft extended all warranties to 3 years to cover RROD; as opposed to the average consumer electronics warranty of 90 days. Sony would never sell a half baked product. Oh wait, Sony laptop batteries that blow up, PS2 drives that fail, and early BD players which will never be fully functional so yeah I guess they do.
The Blu-Ray in 360 is just another fantasy. The 360 has all the top rated games so it doesn’t need a BD player. 360 is a great game console which also has the best online system which allows you to download HD movies too. There is no benefit to the average Xbox 360 owner for MS to add BD.
BD is directly responsible for PS3’s last place showing in this generation’s console race. Add the lack of compelling exclusive games and PS3 will be last in the end. PS3 won’t sell enough to make BD the standard for movies either. A recession the USA isn’t going to move a lot of $399 BD players. Long live DVD is the result.
March 13th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
You’re over the top in your 360 support, Randy.
I think it’s really important for Sony to make everybody think that the 360 is somehow inferior because it doesn’t have a Blu-ray drive in it. It’s a smear tactic.
March 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Randy,
While the PS3 may be in last place, it is not solely do to the BD drive standard. While that has driven up the price of the console, one of the biggest reasons that it is behind in the next generation consoles is due to it being released over a year after Xbox 360. The Wii isn’t really comparable to these systems, as it is really geared more towards people who don’t play video games much. I’m currently in an engagement/marriage class, and the lead couple who are in their 50s can’t wait to get their hands on a Wii, and they haven’t played a video game since Pong.
I agree with Pravin, it does sound like your Xbox 360 support is over the top.
March 13th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Well the RROD comments always get me going.
I don’t know if it is all about smearing 360 this is mostly done by PS3 fans in places like this. In general Sony never acknowledges they have strong competition.
Sony is just trying to press their win over HD DVD into an advantage in other areas. It would be a major development if Sony could sell BD to Microsoft for the 360. As you stated it would make millions of 360 owners feel like they had “inferior” outdated technology and were betrayed by Microsoft. Microsoft talks about adding BD drivers for Windows Vista gets twisted into Xbox 360 is going BD. PS3 fans rejoice, but it never really happened.
March 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Wii is easily blowing away the competition. You get no argument there.
The 360 does have the strongest game lineup. It is easy to develop for. The developers know how to make great games for 360. 360 outsells the PS3 on every cross platform game. Xbox Live is easily the best online service. There is nothing over the top about it.
March 13th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Hey Bret, nice to see you again. If that engagement/marriage class is for people who are about to married, then congratulations.
2008 is going to be a big year for the PS3, and it’s also going to be interesting to see how all of the game consoles do this year. This will be the first year that all three systems get to go head-to-head against each other without any first-year issues plaguing them.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
geesh. who cares. wii is awesome. hd dvd is awesome. blu ray is going to have to become awesome and everyone is going to buy them. ps3 has games i like. ps2 has games i like. atari rules. mario galaxy is the best game out there and there isn’t a drop of blood or a machine gun, or crazy aliens…just star bits…crazy. devil may cry kicks ass though. i’ve never played xbox 360, but I’m sure its pretty cool. everyone calm down and go watch a good movie, its almost friday.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I’m just waiting for June for the MGS4 PS3 Dualshock 3 MGS Online Beta bundle for $499. THAT’S a deal worth waiting for.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I’m a fan of games in general. As stated before I have a 360. It was the first next gen. system I bought. I just ordered a Wii, and I owned a PS1 and PS2 (along with a Genesis, Saturn, N64, Dreamcast, and Org. Xbox.) but I have to agree with Randy, on the games part. PS3 just isn’t worth the price tag, even if it is the best BD player. I have had some hands on with a PS3 and I own a PSP. The interaction between them is neat, and the PS3 has some neat features to it, and if I was really hard up for a BD player I would have to say it be the one I buy, even now that the new BD players that support 2.0 discs are coming out. Just more you can do with a PS3 then a normal BD player. Anyway this site is about HD DVD and I do have a question…. is I am legend still looking like it’s going to be released for HD DVD. Still see lots of pre-orders, but there was for bee movie too.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I think Warner is going to release I Am Legend as planned. They might even stick it out the whole way to May/June as they originally stated, although with the departure of Universal and Paramount, it’s a lot easier for Warner to also throw in their towel.
March 14th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Blue-ray is just an upconverted DVD player with lots of grain and noise filtered to give the illusion that it’s sharp. It will never be in a 360, at the most it will be an add-on, however more likely it’ll just have driver support for Windows. Besides, Microsoft doesn’t want to pay royalties to BD anyway.
March 14th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Cal, a Blu-ray player is not much different than an HD DVD player, except in a much higher price. I do agree that MS has little incentive to include it on the 360.
March 16th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Okay u guys sicken me, what do u have against the ps3? if anything, the ps3 does 200times as much as the 360! i like both consoles, but how can you say games are bad? when Sony makes a game system gameplay is up to the designers of the games, not sony. and there ar plenty of games for ps3 than MGS4. just because the 360 came out a year earlier doesn’t mean that the ps3 is bad! and so the ps3 not only focuses on games, but music, video, graphics, online service. e.t.c. that doesn’t mean that the gmaes are bad! have u even played a ps3? do you a have one? everyone i know, which is alotta people, who have played a ps3 love it. what’s so wrong about it? sheesh why can’t the consoles just live in peace? why cant you just shut your a#$ and go play a ps3? if you played one youd love it! I think the only reason you give it a bad rating is because theyre so “expensice” a.k.a 350$ due to price drop, and you can’t afford one. anyone who is not being brainwashed by their geejy little friends, would love a ps3! admit it, you’ve got nothing against it. has it done something bad to you? you act as though it’s poisoned ur water supply, burned youre crops and delivered a plague unto your houses! think about it! what has it done to you?
March 16th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Isn’t it true that the blue rays emanating from inside the PS3 are contributing to global warming?
All kidding aside, it’s just the nature of video game consoles that people become insanely committed to a side and become fanboys. Maybe game playing brings out one’s competitive nature, and that ends up getting expressed when people talk about their machines.
I have all of the systems from the last go-around, and some of the machines from the generation before that. It’s inevitable that I’ll have a PS3 as well.
But I’ll keep it in a protective lead box in case it turns out that those blue laser and global warming rumors were true.