Microsoft has no plans for Xbox 360 Blu ray drive
By Dave Parrack
After the Blu ray vs HD DVD war came to a crashing end last week with the HD DVD format being declared dead, there was intense speculation over how Microsoft would react. It seems, for now at least, there are no plans for an Xbox 360 Blu ray drive.
After Toshiba announced they would be ceasing manufacture of all HD DVD products, it was thought Microsoft would be forced to move allegiance over to Blu ray, and bring an add on drive out for the Xbox 360.
In an interview with Eurogamer, John Schappert, Corporate Vice President LIVE, Software and Services for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft stated that there are currently no plans for a Blu ray drive for the Xbox 360:
“I don’t think we have any comment on that right now or any plans, but my focus is I’d rather give you community gaming and contribute to more games you can play and focus on the fact that you’re walking in, you’re buying that box and it plays great games and has the best online service. I think the fact that it does movies and sometimes TV shows in other territories is great but not the primary reason.”
“What I’ll say is we have nothing to comment there. We have no plans to announce or anything like that right now.”
And the reason for this lack of enthusiasm for an add-on? Well, according to Schappert, the attach rate for the HD DVD drive was only 3%, which means Microsoft don’t feel the need to make it a priority.
Instead, it seems the company is going to concentrate on the games, even if those games are just the crappy user created content that they seem intent on pushing to make Xbox Live more worthwhile.
“I’d also urge you to look at the attach rate for the HD-DVD drive.”
“It was a 3 percent attach rate. So again, when you’re saying ‘the obvious thing’, you also have to take into account how did the other accessory do when you look at the future. We have nothing to comment right now on that and my focus is how we make Live better, how we get more great games and how do we empower the community.”
This is going to be a disappointment for all Xbox 360 owners, who may not have bought the HD DVD drive due to worries about the long term viability of the format, which have obviously now been proved right. But now that one high definition format has emerged victorious from the long and bloody battle, more would be likely to take the plunge and buy an add on for their console.
When everything is said and done, all we can be sure of that Sony is laughing long and hard that they saw fit to include Blu ray in the Playstation 3 right from the beginning. There’s no doubt it has helped sales, and could see the PS3 leapfrogging the Wii to win this console generation war.
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Tips N4G
February 23rd, 2008
I’m glad they are focusing on games, something soy should really do. but microsoft should also be ensuring that their consoles don’t break down.
February 24th, 2008
I don’t think Sony is lacking in good games. The first-year PS3 games were as good or better than the games we got in the first year of the 360’s life. And 2008 looks even better for the PS3 with Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, Motor Storm 2, Little Big Planet, Grand Turismo 5: Prologue, etc..
I don’t see how including Blu-ray capabilities in the PS3 detracts in any way from Sony being able to make good games.
I am annoyed that Microsoft didn’t build a foreward looking machine in the first place. I bought my premium 360 at launch disappointed that it didn’t have a digital HDMI output nor a next generation disc drive, but I accepted it because I thought that was the best they were going to do. But then later Microsoft releases the Elite edition with the HDMI output that I would have bought (or waited for) had it been available when they released the console. Not a very consumer friendly move in my opinion. And to add insult to injury my Xbox 360 failed on the second day of owning it.
Sony has made much better decisions in these areas.
As to the subject of the original article, I would just like to say that I don’t think Microsoft will ever release a Blu-ray add-on for the 360. The cost to benefit ratio just doesn’t support releasing another HD drive. I do think there is a chance that they will use a Blu-ray drive for the succesor to the 360.