Sony "in talks" with Microsoft about a Xbox 360 Blu-ray drive
By Darren Murph 
posted Mar 6th 2008 3:55PM
posted Mar 6th 2008 3:55PM
About 48 milliseconds after the format war was officially over, rumors started running rampant (again) about Blu-ray making its way over to Microsoft's latest console. Now, however, those rumors actually have some legs -- well, at least a leg. According to Stan Glasgow, Sony Electronics US president, "Sony is in talks with console rival Microsoft about offering a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360." For whatever it's worth, the exec also noted that it was having similar discussions with Apple, which has yet to even offer a Blu-ray option on any of its machines. Unfortunately, not a peep was uttered about potential launch dates and the like, but you can rest assured that we'll be keeping an ear dangerously close to the ground.[Thanks, Andy]
Yay....this will take away the only reason for me to buy a PS3 :P
That is if you would want to buy a crippled (no HD audio support) and ugly Xbox 360 add on.
Yeah, I'd much rather have a George Foreman grill sitting in my entertainment center than a plain looking disc drive.
It doesn't matter. It's not ugly, and if you care that much about it's looks, then you spend too much time not using it for it's intended purpose.
@tigershark
bluray addon -> usb -> pc?
@ Zeus.:God:
Will it be blac like the Elite or white for us non elitees? Or both b/c I have only seen white HD DVD drives.
Awesome!
Sorry for the double post. I wanted to write "First" but that would be taboo, so I wrote the next dumbest thing.
Anyways, I would love a Xbox with Blu-ray. I wanted a PS3 for the Blu-ray player, but needed (yes, needed) a 360 for gaming. Now I don't have to buy a PS3. Probably many people in the same position. Microsoft will make a lot of money if they go through with this, and take some wind out of PS3's sales.
(Not saying PS3 isn't good for gaming, I'm just a Halo 3 addict)
Just to add to that, SONY too, would make a lot of money.
The Xbox 360 is LOUD even with the HD DVD addon. The system is still going to be loud with a Bluray addon.
You need a PS3 for God of War 2, and Folding@Home! :-)
LOUD? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I HAVE THE GAME MUSIC TURNED UP SO HIGH I HADN'T NOTICED!
But seriously, if you're talking about it being too loud, try to insulate it (e.g. put it behind a cabinet to muffle it).
I think putting it in a cabinet will just end up overheating the system - which is already a common problem for the 360, and yes it is really loud. I got locked out of my house the other day (lame I know) and while I waited for my roommate to get home the only thing I could hear through the door was the fan/drive of the 360 spinning away. It was kind of comforting to hear but sucked non the less.
@Biju Varghese,
it's loud? what do you do? sit there and listen to it? good to know. i'll be watching my games and playing them.
"...it has been seriously frowned upon."
So has your spelling.
Sony to Microsoft: "Have we got a deal for us. Er..., I mean you."
Haha exactly. Sony sure knows how to play their cards right.
Even if this is true then everyone Blu-Ray addon sold will result in a royalty and extra hardware sales for Sony.
And before anyone starts talking about this addon slowing PS3 sales down need to realize that the only people who will buy the addon will be current 360 owners because anyone looking for a cheap Blu-Ray player will get the PS3 because it will still be a better value and more convenient than buying a 360 and then an addon.
Eric, the funny thing is, is that many people considering PS3s have 360s, and look into the PS3 for Blu-Ray mainly. If they do release this Blu-Ray drive for the 360, then there might not be enough reason for those current 360 owners to spend more on another console for a few games.
@Zeus
Yeah but I think a larger amount of people with 360s are more of Gamers than Movie buffs looking for Blu-Ray playback because then they probably would have bought the PS3 first. But since more people who own a 360 are gamers when Final Fantasy, God of War 3, and all the other great games come for the PS3 they will buy it anyways.
Also I bet Sony is sticking to the 10 year timeframe and is waiting for all those PS2 owners to upgrade to the PS3 because even if half the people with PS2s buy a PS3 then Sony will be right back at the top. But that might take years for the PS3 to dip in price and for those sequels and great games to come out.
If movie-buffs were looking for a Blu-Ray player, I'm sure they would go with a standalone unit.
Even then, most of those who own Xbox 360s likely don't care too much about the PS3's games, otherwise they would have already bought it, so if this drive is released, there would be absolutely no reason for those millions of Xbox 360 owners to buy a PS3. On top of that, it would be far cheaper than an entirely different console.
If this had happened a few months ago, I wouldn't have bought a PS3. I mean, I like it now, but I bought it mainly as a blu-ray machine.
You now what, you are right. At first I was thinking that the Xbox 360 Blu-Ray add-on would impact PS3 sales, but it wont because only current 360 owners will be buying it. Plus, the 360 isn't the most reliable or quiet console in the world either for playing Blu-Ray.
Microsoft just wants the Blu-Ray for the 360 so that they can say that their console has Blu-Ray also and the PS3 isn't the only console that has it. I already have a PS3, but if I had to choose, I would rather buy the console that already had Blu-Ray built in.
It would be a great HDDVD, Bluray, Digital Download, DVD, VOD, Tivo type system that plays games too!
Well you know what you just described there? A PS3!
PS3..
HDDVD Player = Check! It maybe only able to play HD-DVDs through Linux with hacks, but the 360 can't play Blu-Ray movies at all - at the moment remember they are still only in "talks".
Bluray Player = Check! Duh, its built in and so far the only player capable of Blu-Ray 2.0 standards plus its the cheapest Blu-Ray player still.
Digital Download = Check! May not be superior then XBox Live but its getting a facelife so it should get on Par with Live soon enough *crosses fingers*.
DVD Player = Check! Come on, even the PS2 has DVD playback.
VOD = Semi Check! Trailers and what not are on Playstation Network, but sadly no feature length films yet. But Sony has the means for this so this should be launching soon enough.
TiVo Type = Check! First of all I have a 360 and I can't record TV shows with it, maybe its just me? But the PS3 has TiVo features in the works.
So does the 360. Infact its a set tob box in europe for digital cable. With my medica center pc it already does the tivo stuff.
Now I have a PS3 and it works fine. I just think this would be a nice set up if it comes to pass.
@jason w
Hey I'm with it would be great because I'm just happy there is competition because it forces both Microsoft and Sony to deliver to the consumers or risk being left behind like the Dreamcast. I have both systems, well all three, so I couldn't care less but its always fun watching the fanboys go at it.
@ Eric M
Yeah, the only thing it needs now is a decent selection of good games...and a decent online service.
Then, maybe Sony can talk to MS/Toshiba so they can come up with drivers so HD-DVD owners can watch their movies on the PS3 with the 360 Add-on without needing Linux and/or hacks. That'd be sweet. I'd love it.
Why would you be hooking up a 360 HD-DVD addon to a PS3? Why not just leave it hooked up to your 360?
And um you can probably get a DVD Upconverter oops I mean an HD-DVD player for like $20 in a few weeks or even for free if you check Toshiba's dumpsters.
Because I don't own a 360. I'm using my 360 Add-on on my pc. But, if I could use it on the PS3 it would be a nice touch because I already own it. And you're right, if I owned the 360, it would make sense to have hd-dvd player hooked up to it directly.
Have you been living under a rock?
The 360's HD-DVD Addon Drive works PERFECTLY with the PS3.
Just plug it in and it will detect a new device in Ubuntu.
You can watch all your HD-DVDs in VLC or whatever player of your choice.
That is called giving it to MS up the ass.
49$ for HD-DVD support for the PS3 = Awesome.
Um..never mind. I dunno how I missed that last line.
Yes please, don't give me a reason to buy a PS3.
You think Microsoft could just swap out the drives from the external HD DVD units with Blu-ray internals - done deal. Then I may actually finally get around to buying a Blu-ray unit.
They can do that, and then do the software changes required for it (implement a Java virtual machine, for example). The software changes involved seem to be relatively minor.
No, this is all about licensing fees. It might be easy for Microsoft to just shove a blu-ray drive in that thing (it is, after all, just an external 5.25" drive enclosure), but they need to negotiate licensing fees that are required to be allowed to sell that.
to Brad:
Im sure you never seen any game that require more than a dvd, the same way somebody in the first years of dvds would say they wont need more than a cd and years ago nobody realy need cds cause they were happy with floppy discs, but in a few years, maybe even starting this year, you will start to see an increasingly number of games that require multiple dvds, and then the bluray option will be starting to look like a genuine advantage, and in that scenario, i believe the PS3 with standard bluray will have an edge over the optionally bluray xbox360. Anyway, I enfatize the "i believe" part, nobody really knows how thing will develop
Don't do it Microsoft!!
Is is more like don't do it Sony. I mean, BR is one of advantage Sony has over 360.
Looks like I don't need to buy two consoles...thanks Sony.
THE WAR IS NOT OVER!!!!!!
STAND STRONG MICROSOFT!!!!
HD-DVD WILL WIN IN THE END!!!
Didnt MS buy the company that owns rumble? If this is the case then every sony console with the dual shock 3 will be paying MS a royality. Why not let MS do the same for sony.
Damn the inbreading.
What the hell is inbreading?
Inbreading is bad enough...but inbreadrolling or infrenchbreading are much much worser.
I love bread!!!!!
inbreeding
@Marry me Mario:
I C what U did thar.
If you want to go further, Sony makes laptops that run Windows. So it's not exactly inbreeding, it's just business. If Sony were to say no way to Blu Ray on the 360 drive, watch Microsoft dangle that Windows licensing agreement in front of their face. Or Microsoft could do some crazy lawsuit.
Unless Microsoft wants to loose sales to Sony, they better offer Blu-ray for the 360 before Christmas. Lately PS3 sales have begun catching speed and it's only a matter of time before people see it as a better value than the 360.
Last I checked this would be an add-n drive!!
Which means the PS3 still a better value as it is IN the machine. and not an extra purchase.
Besides Sony wouldn't license it besides the movies. So yes a Blu-ray player but not more capacity.
... Flame ON!!!!
And the prize for the correct answer goes to.
Yeah, people really hate having the option to only purchase the pieces they want, and not paying for something they don't want / can't use / don't care about. Consumers HATE choice.
The HD-DVD add-on did pretty well on the XBOX. People who owned it were generally satisfied, and it gave the ability to expand the system AFTER you purchased it - distributing the cost over time.
So what's the "flame on" thing about anyhow? I don't think most people make their purchasing decision for a console based on the level of integration of secondary features - they buy it based on 1) price, 2) game selection, 3) brand loyalty, and 4) perceived future value of the system, in basically that order.
To put it bluntly, the HD-DVD drive sitting next to MY 360 isn't exactly hurting it (not being integrated), and if I can spend another $200 to get a Blu-Ray drive, I just might. But I'm not gonna spend another $500 for that privilege, since I already own a gaming system and all the really good games I want to play are available for both, and I have a large collection of accessories (controllers, chargers, guitars, headsets, etc) already purchased for that system. The cost of migrating is extremely high.
So Sony can get Blu-Ray in more homes and sell more movies by getting together with MS on this one (who isn't really their competitor in most things, they actually usually work together) or their gaming division can be destructive to their Media division. Guess which one the execs are gonna listen to?
to Brad:
the problem with the HD_DVD not being standard and rather being an add-on is that game makers can't publish any games on HD-DVD because only a fraction of users have it, and because nobody publish in HD-DVD, nobody (very few) buy de HD_DVD add-on. It's a chicken egg game that sony avoided with its standard bluray, and that will probably be paying off highly this or next year when most A-games require high capacity and will be avalaiable only on the PS3, or at least in a better quality version
To BGS:
Sorry, but I just don't buy that. I've NEVER seen a game that genuinely required more than the 8.5GB available on XBOX's DVD9 format. Sure, a few of the Japanese fantasy games may have to "settle" for in-game rendering rather than including a full three hours of pre-rendered, HD content. That's the way it goes.
Also: Take a look at this post:
http://m3mnoch.wordpress.com/2006/01/12/dvd-9-is-not-too-small/
It lays out the cost reasons that games hover right around the 1-3GB range - detail of the pre-rendered or artist-placed variety costs a lot of money to produce, and procedural textures, environments, and even enemies - these things don't take up a massive amount of storage. The added cost of a Blu-ray disc and the added cost of developing for Sony (the SDK for PS3 is roughly 10x the 360's IIRC) and the (currently) smaller potential market of PS3 games?
I really don't think the supposed "media advantage" is really all that big an advantage. Really, it leaves the door open for sloppier programming, outdated techniques like repeating textures, and cramming a bunch of pre-rendered video onto the disc (and the commercials). If it were that big an issue, you wouldn't see most games coming out for the 360 and PS3 in about the same quality.
@ Brad:
http://gamer.blorge.com/2008/03/03/xbox-360-will-never-get-metal-gear-solid-4-due-to-size/
I think the link is self-explanatory..
Microsoft needs to keep the Blu-Ray disc player external, given the fact that their machines break so much anyways.
You okay, dude?
Woohoo!! No fruit in this post! Grats!
actually there was
I've been looking at getting a PS3, just for the Blue Ray drive alone. If MS doesn't put one out before July I will have to get one.
IS THIS THE FINAL NAIL IN HDDVD'S COFF- *gets shot*
*with a nail gun!
Too late i already have both
if sony does this, they are gonna get raped.
I believe that if MS does this it will be MICROSOFT that gets skunked not Sony. Without a Blu-ray add-on drive, it is a bit easier for MS to sell the 360 as not having extra baggage like BR playback. As soon as MS offers a BR add-on, they are in essence acknowledging the benefits of having BR playback capability. Once they do THAT, then it is an easier argument to show why the PS3 is better.
hmmm, good point. i just don't want sony to make any stupid moves because they already have a bad name with the ps3. i own a ps3 and i believe that it is the greatest system for ME. i used to own a xbox but i sold it. the people that hate on ps3 most likely haven't played one or dont even know what all the ps3 can do. people need to be a little bit more opened minded about their decision on buying a system.
nahhhhh for real!!!! i bet a lot of people feel real stupid after going all off on Sony blu ray & the PS3
Why would people feel stupid for purchasing a PS3 or a Sony Blu-ray player? Instead, you should be saying people should feel stupid for purchasing a HD DVD player. However, who am I to judge? PS3 is a better choice for Blu-ray playback and it is affordable. Why would anyone want to buy a crippled Xbox 360 add on, Xbox 360 does not support HD audio.
Say what you say, but I never - and never will - feel stupid for buying my PS3. Especially when I'm playing Uncharted on a 42in LCD in HD or when I'm watching SuperBad (hilarious) on Blu-Ray.
I'm pretty sure you two don't get it.
And nor does the PS3, or are you conveniently forgetting the lack of support for DTS HD MA?
Yay, I got an article in :D
But really, who cares unless it's internal and comes in a new form factor that's QUIET!
"Sony "in talks" with Microsoft about a Xbox 360 Blu-ray drive"
HEY! LOOK! A post that doesn't involve an Apple prod-
"For whatever it's worth, the exec also noted that it was having similar discussions with Apple, ..."
Oh, goddammit.
If this comes to fruition by the time I have an HDTV (August) I will have no reason to get a PS3.
It would be great if Samsung made a deal with Microsoft...
that'd be another war right there...
this could really spell trouble for HD DVD
i lolled.
Hell has officially been frozen over.
Last time I checked Sony didn't "own" Blu-Ray. If other manufacturers can build Blu-Ray then I'm sure Microsoft can choose to do the same thing. They don't need Sony's permission to sell Blu-Ray do they? The just need to pay whatever royalties come along with having a Blu-Ray player. The question would be will the royalties outweight the cost of selling more Xbox 360's? I think not.
Yeah, I was wondering if anyone would bring this up. Why is *Sony* talking to MS, and what are they really discussing? Sony directly lobbying MS to support BRD in its product line sounds a lot like a conflict of interest on Sony's part to me. Why isn't LG, Samsung (longtime XBox partner), Toshiba or Hitachi - to name only a few BRD-backing manufacturers - talking to them instead? For that matter, why isn't the BRDA (Blu-Ray Disc Association) talking to them directly?
On a side note, I find it funny that Sony is claiming to be in "talks" with Apple about implementing BR in its product line. Apple has been on the board of BRDA for quite a while now. I think they know all about it, and have avoided it on purpose.
Blu-ray isn't a Sony exclusive, so why would MS need or want to buy from Sony?
Sony is a drive manufacturer, they probly were just the first ones to approach them with plans for not just the drive but software so its operable. They could always end up buying the actual drives from elsewhere, Phillips or Lite-on or w/e.
TBH the main reason I'm interested is because it would likely also be the cheapest blu-ray drive for PC too...
If its new xbox360 with an integrated Blu-ray, why would you get another xbox360 if you already have one? Why not just get the PS3 so have all your game needs covered + Blu-ray player?
...Or it's an add-on drive like they were keeping HD-DVD...
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/04/xbox-360-with-integrated-hd-dvd-drive-no-way/
'Microsoft says they have no plans to integrate the HD DVD drive because they "feel that offering the drive externally is the best way to give consumers the ultimate choice to create their own high definition experiences."'
Not to mention they don't want to segment the 360 market more...
Because frankly, the ps3 doesn't cover any of my gaming needs. Fancy media center though, I suppose.
That's Amore! My goodness. Who's going to watch the garbage tonight?
Will it cost $50 like my HD-DVD drive? If not, meh.
LOL, thats rich! I can’t wait for the elegant math that will make up the pricing for that baby:
- Wholesale Parts = $99
- Sony’s “FU for buying an Xbox 360” surcharge = $100
- MS’s resale markup/profit = $100
Final price? 299.00! Anyone care for a friendly wager?
@Frankenstein
You must be kidding. $299 will effectively price the addon out of the market - especially with Blu-Ray prices dipping. Think about it, with another $100 you can get the PS3 and have a Blu-Ray player plus all the stuff the PS3 has. IF, and IF, this happens the price will probably be in the $199 range instead or theres no point.
@Eric M.
It wont, and the only way you get to $199 is with some type of HD-DVD trade-in program. Kinda like whats happening now on other HD-DVD products. Also, yes you are right, great for sony if they could say, "hey for an extra hundy you can own a PS3". Trust me it will be $250 to $299 or $199 if you trade in your Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive. Watch!
$200 Sony BD-1337 Blu-Ray, beige, SATA OEM recorder, w/o software.
about the only thing that would pique my interest regarding blu-ray.
It makes sense that Microsoft would want to go with the winning horse with the most hype now, despite Gates' previous insistence that he's not sure how much opticals even matter :p
I has a cookie!
Well this sounds like Sony can lose their edge on Xbox, if MS decides to add the drive to the console it will make the Xbox the console to buy.
1. You use an external drive for movies and not over use your main drive so it will last longer
2. The rumors are out that Xbox will drop to the 199.99 price point for the arcade making it worth getting
3. Games Games Games and so far Xbox has the advantage
4. Previous HD DVD owners will not buy it an instead go for a PS3 and put the cost of the external drive for a new console
Sony will gain money from the drives that get sold but they will lose sales on the PS3 for those movie buffs. So the only reason you will buy a PS3 is for games that you want to play but most likely will also be available for Xbox. Sony just wants to scratch MS back since Nintendo is whipping their ass in sales they need an ally.
Not overuse my main drive? I've got an original Playstation 1 that still plays games just fine...
they will probably delay the deal until they have cleared as much HD-DVD units out as they can.
Sony needs to play the right cards else the ps3 will see a slow in sales!
If this goes through, I wonder if Microsoft will be offering a trade in program ala Circuit City? I send in my old 360 HD-DVD drive they refit it with a Blu-ray drive or just replace the whole thing and ship it back. One could only hope...
Why can't Microsoft release a console version with a Bluray drive INSIDE the Xbox? Just for movies of course.
Doesn't matter to me, I got a 360 when it came out and I gots me a PS3 a few months back.
I still don't see the big difference between HD and not HD.
The question is would a new generation 360 with an internal BR drive work with the old external HD-DVD drive? Then I could have both!
That would be awesome!
Especially since dual players are no longer in production.
I understand that HD-DVD is dead, but, I still have alot of HD-DVD (my stupid brain didn't think toshiba would rapidly decline like they did), and also don't want a tone of devices on my shelf.
(I also have a dishNetwork hdDVR)
Why would Apple need Sony since they are a board member of the Blue Ray Disc Association? Probably purely as a drive manufacturer, which they have done in the past. Since Chinese manufacturers haven't been granted licenses yet I can see why this is holding Apple back. As for Microsoft...I think they should hold out for cheaper product than a Sony built drive to get that add-on price down. Honestly, unless they intend to put games on Blue Ray disks to take advantage of the expanded space...I mean, are game developers even to that point yet? Maybe for the next generation systems.
Blu-ray to match the Red Ring....oooohhh, sorry, that came out wrong. :(
Wow Sony is really hoping that Blu-ray is fully adopted. This is a move of desperation from the electronics giant.
dude you are a few weeks behind didnt you see the first thing I said? toshiba called it the quits with HD DVD last month! everyone is going to adopt bluray now because the only other choice is to go sit in a corner and whine and complain