After Toshiba withdrew from the HD format wars and handed over victory to Blu-ray, many industry analysts have stated that Xbox 360, which only supported HD-DVD via an add-on drive, is due to get its own high definition Blu-ray drive soon. It doesn’t require a great leap of logic because how can the console continue to be competitive against their great rival the PS3 if it doesn’t support HD? (Not that the Nintendo Wii needed any…)
However, Microsoft immediately came out of the ring kicking and screaming that they are not considering a Blu-ray option for their consoles, vehemently denying the rumors and they have a good reason too: Xbox Live has always been a wonderful service (if you have great broadband that is) and with Microsoft pushing everything onto that platform, it seems that the format would have been irrelevant if users could stream all the high-quality videos they need online. There’s no longer a need for a physical medium which only introduces clutter.
Nevertheless, word has it that indeed the Xbox360 will be getting access to Blu-ray. Pegatron Technology, an OEM subsidiary of ASUSTEK Computer has secured the manufacturing rights and will be producing Xbox’s “with Blu-ray drivesâ€. This begs the question of whether all future Xbox 360s will have the Blu-ray capability built in, or whether it will be available as an extra add-on, ala the older HD-DVD add-on.
If it’s the case of the former, it’s certainly going to make many existing Xbox 360 owners angry because they have already paid so much. The latter makes more sense, but the wording of the article seems to suggest otherwise. Personally, I think Microsoft will be putting the Blu-ray drives into their consoles from now on (a lesson they learned painfully as the majority of Blu-ray players sold now are PS3s, suggesting consumers are buying into the marketing by Sony) and will also be offering it as an add-on to existing owners.
Written by Colbert Low
source:Â craveonline.com
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