Blu-ray on Xbox 360? Microsoft hasn't heard about it
by Richard Lawler 
posted Mar 12th 2008 at 11:09PM
Those hot/cold "Blu-ray coming to Xbox 360" rumors just cooled off a bit again, with product manager Aaron Greenberg telling Reuters "Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience". Clear enough? He also dropped the nugget that Microsoft expects to trail the PS3 in sales again in February, but should have things turned around by April, just in time for the GTA IV launch, which should also be right around the time this rumor rears its head again. In the meantime, digital distribution anyone?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
WebDev511 @ Mar 12th 2008 11:47PM
Probably so many moving parts to this kind of agreement that it won't be any secret it's coming, or a complete surprise.
Jove @ Mar 13th 2008 12:30AM
...dont see this happenin untill the smaller diodes become the norm and the over all bluray's drop in price...
peace
hey alex @ Mar 13th 2008 12:40AM
While I'm sure it's technically possible to do, right now I think it would be too costly to sell as an add-on, unless someone wants to subsidize the cost for the end user. Chances are, those involved would want to sell such an option at a level that is profitable. If you look at other external blu-ray drives on the market, they're somewhat costly. If it's too costly, you risk losing consumer interest. And it would have to be priced less than a 360 console.
A consideration has to be made that you're selling to a limited base, and of that base, only a small percentage would even be interested in an add-on.
The other odd thing here, is that Blu-Ray-- someone correct me if I'm wrong, uses JAVA technology, which is competitor to Microsoft's technologies. I can't see Microsoft going there, unless there was an overwhelming need to do so.
My feeling is that in the short term, Microsoft does nothing. I'm sure the option has at least been discussed and it never hurts to explore further or maybe even go as far as a trial. But I think pricing will be the initial hurdle, and that technology will another hurdle. Microsoft can afford to wait and see, looking at how the market evolves and how their own content on demand system evolves.
andy @ Mar 13th 2008 10:40AM
They could easily sell a reader only for 199 at a profit based off the other PC drives out there.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Mar 13th 2008 12:49AM
Not surprising. Last I read (a day or so ago) MS was only in talks with Sony to see how to integrate Blu-Ray into Windows machines.
WebDev511 @ Mar 13th 2008 10:52AM
Yeah, I read that comment. I'm not sure what he was thinking and what he said matched up. MS doesn't typically write the drivers, but they will certify a manufacturer's drivers. What he probably meant was they may add blu-ray playback capabilities into windows (media player & media center).
I for one wouldn't want to be on the team that would have to port Java over to the 360. Yeah, that will be loads of fun.
aplen22 @ Mar 13th 2008 2:01AM
If ANYONE from Microsoft is reading this, this is the only thing that is keeping me from buying a 360. Bring out a Blu-Ray drive and i'll hop right into the store to buy the whole darn system.
Then, talk to developers and offer them the suggestion of offering 360 games in DVD and Blu-Ray versions so that as games get bigger, I don't have to disk swap in my game. You'd be surprised then how many people buy into the add-on even just for convenience. Developers did the same thing when we transitioned from CD-ROM to DVD and that worked!
superklye @ Mar 13th 2008 12:38PM
Yeah, because the ONE Xbox 360 game (Blue Dragon) that shipped on multiple discs is totally killing EVERYTHING.
OH TEH NOES! I HAS 2 CHAENG A D1SK WILE PLAYNIG!!111
Give me a break. If swapping out a game disc is so hard for you, you could probably use the damned exercise. Get over it.
Jeffrey Picard @ Mar 13th 2008 3:12AM
Read the story carefully. What it states is: "Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience." That doesn't mean that they weren't EVER in talks with Sony, just that they aren't at the present time. Maybe the deal has been done already? I know, far fetched but....?
GhostDoggy @ Mar 13th 2008 4:44AM
I am not sure I need a third BD player in my home at this point. My first one was a PS3, and I bought it to play movies on--never played any games on it.
andy @ Mar 13th 2008 10:42AM
He said "currently" and "integrate".
Based on what I've learned from WB:
1. Talks are concluded, therefore, they're not current.
2. They're not "integrating" because technically, an add-on isn't "integral". It's external.
Why don't people just tell the truth anymore?
Glavasich @ Mar 13th 2008 10:49AM
Awesome catch, I do believe the key word here is "Integrate". It would be dumb for Microsoft not to have an add-on at this point. Especially with Metal Gear Solid 4 around the corner. GTA IV will only keep people busy for so long...
syphix @ Mar 13th 2008 11:47AM
He says "integrate..into the XBOX experience"...not just the XBOX console. I take that to mean: "no add-on".
Jim Todd @ Mar 13th 2008 1:12PM
As someone who has had 6 RROD errors and multiple E68 drive issues with the 360, I can tell you that in my opinion you would have to be insane to make your access to Blu-Ray (or even HD-DVDs) 100% dependent on the 360.
"See? I wanted high-def playback, but I thought that rather than get an independent player, I would pipe all the high def video and superior sound through this machine that sounds like a vacuum cleaner and tends to fail about every eleven days" Unless the thing comes out at a price point of around $12, you'd be foolish to use the 360 as a high-def player in a HT setup.
1stGreg @ Mar 13th 2008 2:25PM
I find the GTA 4 comment funny, considering that it'll be available on both platforms. I hope they don't count on that to reverse the trend, with GT5, WipEout HD and MGS4 right around the corner ;)
(and FFXIII, White Knight Chronicles and Resistance 2 a little later among others).
This being said, as noted, I think the key part of the speech is "integrated". As we all know, an new Xbox 360 with built in Blu Ray is very improbable at this point, but an external "non integrated" player ... ?
GhostDoggy @ Mar 14th 2008 7:15AM
There isn't any way for M$ to offer such a solution for under $200. Heck, even the bare ROM drive solutions are priced above $200 and if one is going to spend $300 on an add-on solution they can just buy a PS3. :)
Jake @ Mar 14th 2008 1:48PM
OK....lets see one company......sony claiming they are in talks with microsoft ....and the other.......microsoft acting like they have never heard of this ...how you say...."blu-ray technology......
IMHO I think microsoft is just one huge bad liar....
p.s. I