Microsoft denies Xbox 360 Blu-ray reports yet again

We're beginning to lose count of how many times we've been around this carousel, but just in case you thought yet another rumor would bring the Blu-ray-infused Xbox 360 any closer to reality, Microsoft's out to put the kibosh on your wildest hopes and dreams. Following up on the latest round of whispers that surfaced last Friday, Redmond proclaimed to GamePro: "As we have stated, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360." The statement also noted that "games are what drive consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available." Right -- which totally explains your prior relationship with HD DVD.

[Ninjakamster (PSN: Chin-Poh) @ May 5th 2008 1:34PM]

Well, they already have their Xbox Live Video Marketplace up and running. I wonder if they had a Blu-Ray drive, how it would have affected the Marketplace sales?

Its a shame, the 360 has more to download than the PS3 but yet its the PS3 where you can swap the HDD out for a 320gb whereas your stuck with MS's proprietary 20 and 120gb options, the 120gb retailing for $180, ridiculous!

[Daren @ May 5th 2008 1:40PM]

the 360 uses laptop hard drives. if you want to upgrade it yourself- go at it... but the common consumer would rather pay the premium...
---------

Also, what good would it do to bring out a built in Blu-Ray drive right away. Wait for the prices to go down and until then release it as a stand alone only (like the HD-DVD drive)

[j3oomerang @ May 5th 2008 3:24PM]

Speaking of proprietary formats, I was just thinking to myself that maybe the next gen player will have a built in HD-DVD drive which in turn might help Microsoft battle piracy. Doesn't seem that far fetched, plus i bet there are a bunch of HD-DVD manufacturing tool/machines for sale onthe cheap. Basically, microsoft can end up with a proprietary format without doing any extra research and or using other resouces.

[ck @ May 5th 2008 4:57PM]

@Daren

Erm, I'm pretty sure there is no way to format and set up a blank hard disk for the 360 without hooking it up to a PC and messing about, and even then I don't think you can partition it bigger than a default 360 drive if you want it to show up on the 360.

At least this was the case a while ago - I'll be happy to be corrected on this one.

[Nate @ May 5th 2008 5:17PM]

@ck, daren

I checked only a few months ago: You can buy as big a drive as you want and the 360 will partion it with previously stated limits.

[CharlieX @ May 5th 2008 1:38PM]

I doubt they'd add an internal Blu Ray at this point. Their games don't need it, it would have to have fast enough DVD access to load data at the current speeds, and it would raise the price considerably so they'd have to make a whole custom version of the 360. Plus Blu Ray sales aren't exactly massive right now that it makes it an imperative.

Perhaps a USB add on. Just like the HD-DVD drive.

[System48 @ May 5th 2008 1:43PM]

As is standard with most every new product it will continue to be denied until it is announced.

[Darkest Daze @ May 5th 2008 3:31PM]

I've actually gotten to the point of "if it sounds plausible, and they take the time to deny it..then it's 99% coming out".

[Ysleiro @ May 5th 2008 1:44PM]

At this point I think MS is lying to maintain sales and stop people from waiting for a better system.

I don't think it's possible for so many other industry insiders and companies both in Asia and the US to be lying or wrong about something, all at the same time.

Especially if these companies have nothing to gain by making such comments.

[Lee @ May 5th 2008 1:49PM]

Not gonna happen, besides I have an elite and it sounds like a vacuum cleaner, how are you gonna watch a movie with all that noise? I also have PS# which is much quieter and already plays Blu-Ray. I don't get why you people hate the PS3 so much. It is the same price as a blu-ray player. Sounds like a no brainer to me, just get it and remember they will have some great exclusives coming out. Gran Turismo, Metal Gear, Socom etc.., stop moaning about the sony fan boys and do yourself a favor and get a PS3. I am not gonna tell you again lol

[BobTurbo @ May 5th 2008 9:59PM]

It seems like people hate the PS3 because xbox 360 fanboys are unemployed or still at school and have plenty of time to post on forums. The mass market have only just started to look at purchasing next gen consoles and they are confronted with a swarm of 360 kids trying to convince them to buy their unreliable junk console with arguments like "its got achievements n that". Bloody kids, get outside and play more you fat slobs.

[cptGreedle @ May 5th 2008 1:51PM]

Oh but it does explain their relationship with HD DVD. They never fully supported it or they would have made a 360 with it built in and given it more push when it was failing toward the end. Instead they distanced themselves and let it drop. Supporting Blu-ray would be against that since it has a chance of winning against their download service. Plus, the 360, with all its problems, is not a very "popular" console right now. Sure it sells a lot, but a lot of ppl are fed up with rrod and other problems. Adding a BD player would only make their current users mad, unless it was an add-on.
And they would never release BD games since all games are on DVD now and all 360s only play DVDs, so they would loose a huge customer base by releasing only to BD.
I don't think it will happen. Not on the 360 at least. Maybe on the next console, IF they ever make one.

[Homeboy @ May 5th 2008 1:54PM]

The day the PS3 price gets cut down to the same level as the 360 premium, MS will be force to add a bluray drive in order to maintain the 360's competitive edge in price value. Today they are pretty alright, but as Sony keep cutting the price of the PS3 every no and then MS better drop of the price of the 360 or consider adding a bluray drive.

[Eviil @ May 5th 2008 2:02PM]

yeah, its not like they could just lower the price.

[Backwards People @ May 5th 2008 1:58PM]

HD-DVD was the better format with better options. The consumers snapped up $99 HD-DVD drives even before Toshiba ditched the format.

Blu-Ray will die the same way. To a better format with better options.

[JakeB @ May 5th 2008 2:54PM]

One question, how many HDDVD movies did you buy before they failed?

[Kerrick @ May 5th 2008 2:53PM]

VHS died to a better format with better options - DVD. DVD is going to die to a better format with better options - Blu-Ray. Of course Blu-Ray will die. It will be a while, though. Blu-Ray is king of this era.

[NxP3 @ May 5th 2008 2:08PM]

There's no way MS will bring bluray any time soon. It will probably come, but not soon. So why even bother with rumors. What good is a bluray when it will not help with game storage, it will just be for movies and to do it right now will just help Sony and slow down microsoft big plan for digital distribution.

[subke @ May 5th 2008 2:34PM]

You are absolutely right. The use of physical media for music, movies, and games has a limited lifespan. Microsoft needs to weigh the expenditures involved with incorporating Blu-Ray into the 360 versus the revenue received over the remaining years of this technology. As bandwidth speeds steadily improve, look for an alliance with NetFlix or possibly Blockbuster for direct downloads or real-time streaming. The benefits to this business model far outweigh the current model from both a manufacturing and a support standpoint.

[shawnmos @ May 5th 2008 2:10PM]

"We're beginning to lose count of how many times we've been around this carousel"

Then, please, stop reporting it! It seems like almost every week you guys are reporting that there will be a blu-ray drive for the 360, then you find out it's bogus.

[Phoenix @ May 5th 2008 2:42PM]

they haven't found out it's bogus. MS are just denying it. MS could be lying. it's happened before.

[Mic2000 @ May 5th 2008 2:11PM]

They wait for the E3, then they will anounce it, mark my words ;)

[Backwards People @ May 5th 2008 4:33PM]

Marked!

[Espertempo @ May 5th 2008 2:21PM]

Blu-ray will come to xbox for sure, it's just a matter of time.
The fun of a console does not end with its games, it's got to have a decent film playback among other features
Now that Blu-ray/HD-dvd war is over, it is clear that blu-ray is the future.
Microsoft isn't fooling anyone, if they want to keep on having a competitive product they WILL have to include blu-ray to their console.
The only explanation I can find for MS behaviour is that they don't want BD-roms prices to rise and increase final xbox prices even more.

[Galley @ May 5th 2008 2:20PM]

Microsoft will soon abandon the DVD format and produce games exclusively on BD. The new model will be known as the Xbox 360 BD.

See how easy it is to start a rumor?

[kal326 @ May 5th 2008 2:20PM]

So if MS is going all in for digital downloads for movies instead of a br player, when are then going to up the HD size? I have the 120Gig and even without out any downloaded HD content its still over half full. You start adding on a few HD movies and its going to be completely full really quick.

Adding a stand alone player for br is a no brainer, it takes away a competitive advantage and gives existing users an option to upgrade to br if they want. You will never see an integrated br for the same reason, it takes away the choice.

[solosmooth @ May 5th 2008 2:30PM]

LIARS!!!

[Mischa G @ May 5th 2008 2:45PM]

Why should they put a blue ray drive in it? The end of optical disks will be great for the planet and consumers. Digital downloads will save the world.
http://impatientsufferance.com/2008/04/28/netflix-helps-save-the-planet-202/

[Harry Wagstaff @ May 5th 2008 3:53PM]

Optical media are kind of handy for those people who don't want to spend 2 weeks downloading something and then find out it's rubbish and not be able to sell it on.

[xValentine @ May 5th 2008 2:53PM]

Maybe Microsoft is up to something bigger.

A new optical media that can go head-to-head with BluRay perhaps ?

[JakeB @ May 5th 2008 2:55PM]

With all you talking about digital downloads you got to remember, each HD movie is around 10-15 gigs jsut for the movie. Granted as time goes by that will probably shrink. But take the 120gb drive that the 360 has and try fitting your collection on there with your games. You'll probably get what? 6-10 movies on there? then you have to store them somewhere. Ok, MS comes out with a 1 TB external drive. Awesome, now you can have 100 movies on that drive. Then that fills up and oyu have to buy another one. Consumers wont want to do that and people who want large movie collections are going to want the disc or a real HTPC that they can add as many hard drives as they want and not have to buy XBOX certified ones.Of course this is all if there are no advancements in the technology.

But to me, an internal Blu-Ray is going to be on the Next Gen and they will offer an external on the 360 probably for the Christmas season. Thats what I think.

[compejasiu @ May 5th 2008 2:57PM]

The reason MS does not want to confirm this is because it will hurt their bottom line. If people knew and X-box with blue ray was coming out later this year, they may hold off on buying it till it comes out. They want to be able to sell until the last minute....

[Stevo @ May 5th 2008 5:18PM]

Yeah totally agree. If they had confirmed a BluRay 360 for say, Q4, I may have held off buying one recently. You right on the money there - no pun intended - that it would hurt profit margins significantly over the next two quarters.

[ZeroCorpse @ May 5th 2008 3:09PM]

How many times do I have to say this before Engadget stops printing "denial" reports so prematurely?

Microsoft will NOT admit to ANY upgrade to their hardware until it's released, because announcing it prior to release would KILL sales of the current SKUs available. NO COMPANY would shoot themselves in the foot like that.

Admitting it would basically be Microsoft saying, "Here's our great product, the Xbox 360-- But you may want to wait to buy one, because we'll be putting out a model with Blu-Ray in about six months."

WHY would they do that? Do you really think they're that stupid?

Would Nintendo say, "The Wii is in stores now, but if you wait six months you can get one with a hard drive!" ???

Would Sony say, "Check out our PS3 today-- Or you could wait six months and get the new one we're building with a TIVO function and 2TB hard drive!" ???

(yes, these are fantasy upgrades, just to illustrate my point)

Stop giving us "MS denies Blu-Ray" articles. It's silly. They aren't going to admit it, and they WILL deny it until it's ready to jump onto store shelves, because to do otherwise would cause a financial loss. Give them some credit for marketing skills.

[Matt @ May 5th 2008 6:23PM]

Why not use the "We don't comment on rumors" line they've used before? Why are they lying?

[ChiWax @ May 6th 2008 2:40AM]

If only all of these people understood the market like you do. Who cares anyway!!! I bought the HD-DVDs and will buy the Blu-Rays. They are just larger DVDs with Hi-Def video files on them. They are a delivery system and nothing more. Get over it peeps. I love my SONY PSP w/ SONY Location Free Player and I love my 360. And I really love my Media Center PCs by HP. And I like my Linksys Media Center Extenders. Don't limit yourself peeps. You can download music from many sources. You can download Hi-Def video from a few sources. You can pop in a DVD, Blu-Ray, or HD-DVD and watch some great video. Who cares who really makes any of it? Q.

[ajfarson @ May 5th 2008 3:09PM]

They lost money on the HD DVD relationship. I am not surprised that they are moving away from shoehorning a Blueray player into the current platform. They can afford to wait until the next console to have a fully integrated drive. External sucks!

Any serious movie buff would never dream of using a game console to watch a movie... Its just bad form.

[sharpe @ May 5th 2008 3:13PM]

They have to make the 360 function for longer than 6 months without a Red Ring of Death before they can market add-ons.

[LongshotX @ May 5th 2008 3:31PM]

In other words yeah its coming but we're not telling you when.

[fred @ May 5th 2008 4:29PM]

microsoft made a smart move because if they integrate a blu-ray drive for xbox then its game over for microsoft.

[Silverfrog @ May 5th 2008 4:34PM]

Microsoft, you need to get your existing DVD player-equipped consoles up to snuff before adding things methinks. Who cares about Blu-Ray when your console takes a dump every six months.

[tekdemon @ May 5th 2008 4:42PM]

Daren, you can't upgrade the drives yourself...they have individual codes for each and every single drive that'll allow them to work. You can take the code from a 20GB drive and use it on a laptop hard drive, but even if the drive is larger it'll still only allow usage of 20GB.

You can, in theory, get the code from a 120GB drive and clone another drive to have the same code...but the problem is that they would all look like the exact same hard drive to Xbox Live, and may or may not end up getitng you banned some day.

Also? Having to buy a 120GB drive to begin with kind of ruins the whole concept of upgrading yourself to save money.

[Cunthor @ May 5th 2008 5:04PM]

It makes sense to deny it... they are trying to sell off most 'old' 360s anyway, before the whole new kit comes out. Otherwise MS might get stuck with a huge inventory of old models.

[Nate @ May 5th 2008 5:19PM]

I will bet on 2 things:

1. It will come out before the holidays
2. It will be external

[LongshotX @ May 5th 2008 7:09PM]

I'm still waiting for the XBLVM + Netflix rentals + Blu-ray to completely "obliterate" as Hillary Clinton would say, one of the major selling points of the PS3 and give us the best of HD digital downloads and optical based media.

[LilTmac2003 @ May 5th 2008 8:31PM]

OK Microsoft, now we know for sure Bluray IS coming to the Xbox.

[BobTurbo @ May 5th 2008 9:59PM]

Yes games are what sells consoles but bringing out the most number of games is not what sells consoles.

[esp4p3 @ May 5th 2008 10:36PM]

MS would be stupid not to offer Blu Ray now that HD DVD is defunct. I just bought a PS3 and you want to know why I got it over an xbox 360? Blu Ray.

[Phil M @ May 6th 2008 4:50AM]

You've got to look at the current roadmap MS already have for upgrading the GPU and CPU processors to 65nm and 45nm, 65nm = Jasper (CPU and GPU both downsized to 65nm, reduces heat and power consumption, and hopefully no more RRoD) - Rumoured to be released around Q3 2008
45nm = Valhalla (CPU and GPU integrated into 1 processor unit, again heat and power reductions, possible redesign to the 360 casing - slimline) - Q3/Q4 2009

Based on this roadmap it would make pefect sense for MS to release the Jasper revision of the 360 later this year with an itegrated Blu-ray drive, yes there is argument to say that it will hurt MS's plans for movie/game downloads, but at the end of the day the PS3 is slowly soming down in price bit by bit tot he point where some retailers are selling it at only £10 more than the 360 Elite in the UK.

Both the 360 and the PS3 where touted as being not just games console but home entertaiment units MS have found themselves behind in this game on the DVD/Blu-ray front since the demise of HD-DVD and need to play catchup here, it the 360 is to have longevity against the PS3 it needs to be on a level playing field and a blu-ray drive will do that.

If MS release it with the Jasper upgrade with blu-ray later this year ready for the xmas holidays I'll certainly upgrade my aging 360 Falcon system the day it comes out.

[slarity @ May 6th 2008 10:05AM]

""Right -- which totally explains your prior relationship with HD DVD""

haha made me rofl

Even if 360 gets a BD-ROM it wont be as good as PS3 because they cannot take PCM signals off the hdmi unless they redesign their mobo and they will never use BDs for games (for extra storage) because its not standard on all 360s. Same mistake as not having a standard HDD.