Next generation Xbox 360 with built-in Blu-ray coming in 2008?

Ok, here we go again. Despite Microsoft's attempt to quash Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumors, they're back... with a vengeance. According to "industry sources" speaking to DigiTimes, Lite-On is developing built-in Blu-ray Disc drives for the "next generation" Xbox 360 game console. Lite-On is expected to begin shipping the new BD players for assembly in the second half of 2008. DigiTimes also claims that the new, presumably smaller Xbox 360 will reduce the power supply from 210-watts to 170-watts. So... care to comment, Microsoft?

Update: As noted by our readers, Falcon-based 360s are already running at 175-watts.

[Fred @ Apr 1st 2008 5:15AM]

360's with the new chipsets already come with 175W power supplies... Methinks DigiTimes should get with the times already.

[JS @ Apr 1st 2008 12:08PM]

April Fools?

[rock99rock @ Apr 1st 2008 12:58PM]

Fool of April?

[Carl M @ Apr 1st 2008 1:58PM]

Really? Have they made them plug-incompatible with the old consoles so that people don't burn them up by plugging them into the 200W consoles? Or did the old consoles actually not need 200W supplies?

[Pip @ Apr 1st 2008 2:27PM]

Anyone wanna take at guessing the SKU and price?

By H2 2008, it should be time for a price cut. Bring the Premium down to $299 and the Elite with Blu-Ray to $399? I just don't see the Blu-Ray in all the SKUs. Maybe bring the Arcade version down to the magical $199, doubtful but I could see Microsoft do it if the heat keeps increasing from the PS3.

Also, something I just thought of. Just because Lite-On is creating a 360 Blu-Ray drive doesn't necessarily mean it is internal, does it?

[Totalfixation @ Apr 1st 2008 5:15AM]

I hope the blu ray player is region free, kinda sucks that the ps3 is region free for games but not the movies, and the xbox is region free for the movies but not the games.

[Tony Rayo @ Apr 1st 2008 5:53AM]

I'm afraid they don't make the rules. The BDA has already set regions and all devices have to follow them. But it's not such a big deal (unless you are in Europe, then you might miss out on some US or Japanese only titles). Speaking of which, my top 3 "coming in the future HD-DVD crossovers" are "The Matrix" (dunno if I'll go for the whole set) and Shaun of the Dead + Hot Fuzz.

[SimbaDogg @ Apr 1st 2008 6:25AM]

au contraire my good friend, you are in the dark as i was about a week ago, check out this region free Blu ray list...
http://bluray.liesinc.net/

[r3loaded @ Apr 1st 2008 8:08AM]

The Xbox is region-free for games, I've got quite a few US-imported titles off eBay and they work fine on my UK Xbox 360

[nerrrrrrd @ Apr 1st 2008 9:34AM]

Some 360 games are region free, others are not. I doubt any of those US games you had imported were made by EA.

[Mike @ Apr 1st 2008 5:18AM]

The new falcons already use only 175 watts.

[caramelzappa @ Apr 1st 2008 5:19AM]

makes more sense for them to just make an add-on like with the HD-DVD drive.

[luckydude76 @ Apr 1st 2008 10:24AM]

I would if they will use HD DVD+ instead?

http://www.dvdcritiques.com/news/news_visu.aspx?dvd=1877

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Apr 1st 2008 11:15AM]

the battle's won my friend... no need for an add-on based on different formats! i don't think there will be any HD-DVD comeback at this point.

i understand that all current users would be screwed if they didn't offer an add-on (I have a launch-day Elite version)... but if this new console was about 10dB quieter i don't see any reason why half of us wouldn't upgrade by Christmas '08!

[ChrisBlaze @ Apr 1st 2008 5:24AM]

Must be April fools..

[Tony Rayo @ Apr 1st 2008 6:12AM]

Heh if so they are not being very creative considering you hear something like this about once a week these days.

[zsyco @ Apr 1st 2008 3:50PM]

I agree, this looks like an April Fools thing. The only thing that I can remember that would lend this any merit is the fact that MS stated long ago that they would consider integrated HD drives when the time was right. The war is over, the time is now right...

[Bryan @ Apr 1st 2008 8:40AM]

Seeing that we get one of these every week or two, I would say that its not. I would be more likely to believe that this is a April Fools joke if it was, "Microsoft announces new 360 SKU with Blu-Ray built in, TBR 1QTR-09."

[Hero @ Apr 1st 2008 9:46AM]

So did Engadget fall for DigiTimes April Fools or are they just going along with it?

[DiscoCat5 @ Apr 1st 2008 5:24AM]

well if they release it and its roughly the same price as a premium now, then id probably snaffle that up. i have a ps3 which is insane, but i wouldnt be against 2 consoles, its just that when i went to buy i was sick of microsoft always going to release the 65nm and all that so i went out and bought a 60gb ps3 which worked out cheaper, wifi etc. THE FUTURE IS BLUE MICROSOFT.

[fuzzy @ Apr 1st 2008 5:34AM]

Hmm... when did this story come out?

Oh yeah, April 1st.

If you believe this, I've got this youtube link that definitely does NOT to go a catchy 80's pop song by a guy who's name rhymes with Dick Dastley (which incidentally sounds like a Dick Tracy villain).

[quasimoto @ Apr 1st 2008 5:39AM]

Playstation 3-60?

[Fara @ Apr 1st 2008 5:44AM]

C'mon, that was a crappy April fools joke. Do better, please.

[THe Herbbb @ Apr 1st 2008 6:59PM]

Kids these days, always wanting someone to fool them more and more. When I was your age...

[vileta2 @ Apr 1st 2008 6:05AM]

April 1st joke.

[Sukhminder @ Apr 1st 2008 6:13AM]

Just hurry up so I only have to buy one console.

[rayza563 @ Apr 1st 2008 6:47AM]

what? you dont know which one to buy yet!!! dude. innovation v nothing.

last gen with slightly updated graphics or THIS GEN with motion and 1080P.

the next xbox will prob just update graphics and put a blu ray drive in but no motion. its M$ there too busy with surface or w/e.

[Sukhminder @ Apr 1st 2008 7:04AM]

I have a 360, but don't want to buy a PS3 just for the Blu-ray.

[Ryan @ Apr 1st 2008 7:05AM]

Rayza game for game the 360 blows the PS3 out of the water. As a media device they are even. As a next gen optical format player the PS3 wins with it's Blu Ray capabilities. Both consoles can also do 1080p.

As far as the motion stuff goes, it is pretty much useless. If I play a game with the option for motion controls 9 out of 10 times I turn them off, as the games are more fun without.

On topic though I hope MS just releases a Blu Ray add-on, not a new console with Blu Ray built in. If the drive is built in there will be a point where someone will make a game that needs the Blu Ray drive, which will effectively rule out the majority of owners from playing it. They need to stick it out with DVD for the rest of the 360's life cycle and then with the next Xbox slap a Blu Ray drive in it and call it a day.

[ssuk @ Apr 1st 2008 6:22AM]

I SO BELIEVE IT!

[John B @ Apr 1st 2008 6:32AM]

I $$^@ing **HATE** April Fools Day and the idiots who revel in it.

"Who's the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi

[tim @ Apr 1st 2008 6:47AM]

That's ok John, we all hate you too.

[John B @ Apr 1st 2008 9:48AM]

Forgive when I say, "I really don't give a sh*t." Or don't forgive me. I don't care either way, nor should anyone else. :P

[rayza563 @ Apr 1st 2008 6:48AM]

"DigiTimes also claims that the new, presumably smaller Xbox 360 will reduce the power supply from 210-watts to 170-watts."

WTF HERECY!! M$ you copied Sony with there PS2 and Playstation psx thing. god damn it i h8 you. regardless when sony releases there slimline (historically speaking) in about 2 years it will look MUCH BETTER! slim ps2 v original xbox = GAME OVER. slim already good looking ps3 v slim 360 OVERKILL!.

anyways i dont think they are going to put blu ray in and digitimes? the last thing i knew with digi in its name was digiplus and that shut down so ....

[Intrepid @ Apr 1st 2008 6:56AM]

M$ h8s u 2. Because you write like an idiot. Learn English.

[ArcticFox @ Apr 1st 2008 7:22AM]

Technically Sony copied Sega and Nintendo, both Master System and Megadrive(genesis in america) were slimmed down for the Master system 2 and megadrive(genesis)2, and nintendo gameboy technically got smaller and better.

FYI the PS3 is hardly "slim" its the biggest console out of every console ever made.

Goddam Sony fanboys acting like Sony invented everything. News flash, whatever new "inventions" Sony comes up with, chances are people have been doing it for decades before Sony.

[Backlin @ Apr 1st 2008 9:56AM]

PS3 Rulez
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April Fools! :P

[nxtiak @ Apr 1st 2008 7:08AM]

I except a better April Fool's joke in the morning Pacific Standard Time.

[Martin Carlsson @ Apr 1st 2008 7:39AM]

Aprils fool? Although they should join the force!

[rene siller @ Apr 1st 2008 9:00AM]

DOWN WITH THE 360.

[Maestro @ Apr 1st 2008 9:31AM]

Who makes this crap up? Can we expect some kind of Xbox 360 + BluRay rumor on a weekly basis now?

[Mikee @ Apr 1st 2008 9:40AM]

It all depends on the disc read speed. The 360 uses a 12x DVD-ROM drive. If the BluRay drive can support reading DVD's at 12x, then it is possible. If not, then this rumor is totally wrong.

[CountZeroUK @ Apr 1st 2008 9:41AM]

is c4e working on the firmware already?

[Hax Or @ Apr 1st 2008 9:55AM]

Blu-Ray is DEAD for the 360.

Get over it! LOL

[pieboy @ Apr 1st 2008 10:30AM]

How can it be dead when it was never alive to begin with?

[Jared @ Apr 1st 2008 10:21AM]

You know, I would say that this may make me hold off getting a 360, but it's April Fools' day. I don't trust engadget.

[lee @ Apr 1st 2008 10:22AM]

Seriously do you really think SONY would give up the one thing that is selling PS3's to Microsoft? Maybe there will be a Blu-Ray in XBOX 720

[Zeus.:God @ Apr 1st 2008 10:29AM]

Well, considering Sony doesn't own Blu-Ray, they don't have total control over it. Even if they did, it would be making them money.

[rawd @ Apr 1st 2008 10:27AM]

175 watts of suck

[Reader @ Apr 1st 2008 10:38PM]

Because I laughed, I'll give you one reply to make your trolling feel a little more successful.