Microsoft: "No plans to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox 360"

Jari K · 10-10-2008, 04:26 PM

I guess we can pretty much forget this topic now...

Microsoft's Greenberg lays into Blu-ray News // PS3 /// Eurogamer - Games Reviews, News and More

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(Xbox 360 group product manager Aaron Greenberg / in "Tokyo Game Show 08")
"We have no plans to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience"
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Furthermore, there´s no love for Blu-ray from MS. Like stated before, their focus is "digital":

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"We believe that we shouldn't force consumers to pay for things they don't want. We also believe that the future's digital, and that's why we've invested in a massive library of entertainment content."

""No one knows," he said, "no one knows what Blu-ray will be. It's pretty clear it is not the next DVD, right? The days of one physical format being the standard are gone.

"Let's say right now we're not sure if it's the next UMD or the next DVD," added Greenberg, suggesting "it got Blu-rayed" will be the expression for future products in this perceived grey area.

"I went to Sony's [TGS] booth, and their Blu-ray presence...It used to be like their whole booth was Blu-ray. It just keeps shrinking down. Now it's just this little corner and there's no one there," he said. We can think of a couple of counterpoints, but we're not touching this one with a bargepole."
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Something also here:
MS tramples external Blu-ray drive talk News // Xbox 360 /// Eurogamer - Games Reviews, News and More

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I personally don´t have any use for external Blu-ray with my Xbox 360 (PS3 already does the job very well), but of course more choices for consumers would´ve been nice (=Xbox 360-users could get also Blu-ray). Not sure why MS uses the word "force" (since I guess they could´ve brought the "external" Blu-ray add-on to the markets - like with HD DVD back then).

Gary Shipley · 10-10-2008, 04:51 PM

Funny. SoundandVision.com has a completely different article on this very subject. I guess time will tell.

Jari K · 10-10-2008, 05:08 PM

Was that the recent rumor (e.g. X-bit labs - Microsoft Preps External Blu-Ray Disc Optical Drive for Xbox 360. )?

I guess it was just that, a rumor. But yes, in this business, eventually time´ll tell..

Nicholas Martin · 10-10-2008, 05:29 PM

Forcing something on customers that they don't want...what?

This Greenberg comes off as an arrogant P.O.S. just looking to put BD down.

I wonder what he had to say to all those HD-DVD drive owners?

TravisR · 10-10-2008, 05:36 PM

If HD DVD had won the war, he'd be saying that HD DVD and digital downloads are going to walk hand in hand into the future. However, HD DVD didn't win so Blu-ray is a dinosaur and digital is the only thing people want.

**HTF Ads**

Arild · 10-11-2008, 02:24 AM

Quote:

"Let's say right now we're not sure if it's the next UMD or the next DVD," added Greenberg, suggesting "it got Blu-rayed" will be the expression for future products in this perceived grey area.

Wow, that's pathetic.

Jari K · 10-11-2008, 03:45 AM

I guess we can read from the lines, that MS has chosen digital downloads, and therefore "BD is no good".. Well, time will tell of course, but IMO this is just unnecessary bashing from MS. They should just keep all the options open. Blu-ray still has a long road for sure, but things are not that bad at the moment.

Bob_L · 10-11-2008, 01:11 PM

Actually, I think it's pretty clever of him to try to start the phrase, "It got Blu-rayed." Although we might just as well start using, "It got HD DVDed" to describe a great product that got killed by corporate manipulation and backroom politics rather than competition in the marketplace.

However, like all executive comments these days, none of this can be regarded as truth, just more smokescreen and spin to serve whatever purpose Greenberg has at the moment.

If MS smells money to be had by creating a Blu-ray add-on for the 360, they'll do it.

Jari K · 10-16-2008, 01:46 AM

There was some rumors, that perhaps Blu-ray would be included to the new MacBooks, but I guess it was just that - a rumor at this point...

Live from Apple's "spotlight turns to notebooks" event - Engadget

"10:56AM Phil: "We have the best HD movie and TV options in iTunes."

10:56AM "Blu-ray?"

Steve: "Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt. It's great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we're waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace."

10:55AM Q: No Blu-ray, and display port -- why no HDMI?
A: Steve: HDMI is limited in resolution. Phil: for typical computer use, display port is the connector of the future."