Ix-nay on the Xbox 360 Blu-ray

Looks like Microsoft had a little PR cleanup to do this week after Peter Moore's semi-pseudo-vaguely worded statement to ITMedia at CES on the possibility of Microsoft's adding Blu-ray hardware support to the Xbox 360. Before, the man told 'em that Blu-ray would be "possible," and while technically he was being forthright in his answer (because it is in fact possible for them to do), there can be no further mistaken next-gen optical intentions for the 360. Microsoft's issued a blog-release of sorts clarifying that have "absolutely no plans to support other optical formats" (i.e. under no circumstances will they be releasing a Blu-ray drive for their flagship home entertainment device), and that they remain "fully Committed to HD DVD." Alright then, looks like that settles that.

[Via Joystiq]

[John Molina @ Jan 18th 2006 10:18AM]

Duh, he only said it was possible. He didn't say they were actually going to do it. Stupid heads.

Yay for craptastic journalism!

[rewris @ Jan 18th 2006 10:34AM]

I had to give props on the title. that heading was nice. lol

[Andy @ Jan 18th 2006 10:52AM]

Misunderstood (purposely?) comments make for good press. meep.

[Nogami @ Jan 18th 2006 11:18AM]

Yawn... still no reason to buy an xbox 360...

...And no reason to buy an HD-DVD player until someone finally clues-in and makes a dual-format player. And if they don't, I have no plans to buy one until the "format war" is well and truly over.

[Eric @ Jan 18th 2006 11:18AM]

The only reason microsoft is going through all this fuss is because they want to "ride the HD-DVD pony" all the way to it's grave before they will admit that they are considering the possibility that Blu-Ray will become the permanent successor to the DVD. So essentially Microsoft is just bluffing in the hopes that it will make a difference in what format becomes dominant. I am a huge 360 fan, because lets face it, PS3 just won't be as good for online play. However, I think Microsoft is a terrible company who only cares about one thing, making as much money as possible. Should Blu-Ray win, you bet your ass Microsoft will add it to their 360...

[Rob m @ Jan 18th 2006 11:58AM]

Microsoft down right denied any possibility of a HDDVD drive when there were rumors and they have since gone back on that. Microsoft's denial means nothing!

[Voodoo @ Jan 18th 2006 12:01PM]

Eric, I think you're right. When you set aside all this silly fan-boy-ness, why cant people just accept that the 360 is the most capable machine out there until this time next year, at least for those of us living in Europe. That doesn't mean that I have to like Microsoft, or the stupid ways the 360 is crippled.

[Voodoo @ Jan 18th 2006 12:03PM]

Eric, I think you're right. When you set aside all this silly fan-boy-ness, why cant people just accept that the 360 is the most capable machine out there until this time next year, at least for those of us living in Europe. That doesn't mean that I have to like Microsoft, or the stupid ways the 360 is crippled.

[Robert Aitchison @ Jan 18th 2006 12:12PM]

It's all kind of silly really, OF COURSE if one of the "standards" truly dominates the backers of the loser will be forced to support the winner, so I fully expect that eventually the 360 will support Blu-Ray or the PS3 will support HD-DVD. Or maybe they will both have combo drives.

[GeeksAreSexy @ Jan 18th 2006 12:26PM]

Yeah, we'll probably see combo drives poping up everywhere in the market.. exactly like what happened when the DVD+R, -R, etc... came out.

The only problem I see is that the cost of Blu-Ray players are supposed to be WAY higher then the HD-DVD ones, how much will a combo drive cost at first?

[clark d @ Jan 18th 2006 12:33PM]

Personally I hope Sony and blu-ray lose the format battle. First off why would you throw away all of the brand recognition that the "DVD" moniker has established? We all see how much success Sony has had with their other proprietary formats...ATAR3 (or whatever it is)...and there is precedence here folks - Sony really hit a homerun with BETAMAX!

[Mike H. @ Jan 18th 2006 12:42PM]

Well, I'm pretty sure 3rd party companies will make a blu-ray if microsoft does not come out with its own hardware.

Mike

[ChillyWilly @ Jan 18th 2006 12:42PM]

Disney said almost the exact denial statement about the DiVX DVD format.

MS will follow down the Blu-Ray once support for HD DVD starts showing signs of dying.

[Squrriel Milk Pockey :D @ Jan 18th 2006 7:49PM]

# 5

For us 360 owners... I hope your right Eric. Cause I'd hate to have my friends who are planning on buying a PS3 laugh at me for not having a Blue ray player.

[fluffy @ Jan 19th 2006 1:23AM]

What I don't understand about this fighting is the hypocrisy.
They go all about choice. Choice to select their own software more like, but when the industry actually gives the customer choice to select what they want, they go all out and criticize their opponents saying that they are fragmenting the market and all that jazz.

Microsoft is a hypocrite. You shouldn't believe all the crap they put out.