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A Microsoft/Blu-ray partnership? 'You never say never' photo

One of the better rumors out there among the incessant HD DVD/Blu-ray arguments is that Microsoft has been thinking of working Blu-ray into the Xbox 360. I never expected this to happen, but it does seem that the two companies have been in talks.

Microsoft exec Jeff Bell says Microsoft has been talking to Blu-ray about the possibility of some kind of partnership. 

"We've been talking to Blu-ray all along because we have the best piece of software in the business, called HDi. It is the backbone that powers interactivity in HD-DVD and we have that available to potentially partner with others," Jeff Bell told 1UP.

Bell also points to another sort of partnership between Microsoft and Sony. He uses the term "coopetition" to describe how Sony uses Windows software on their computers.

As far as the future possibility of an Xbox 360 Blu-ray player goes, Bell does not rule anything out. 

"You never say never. I think we'd like to see how things evolve. Our commitment, however, to HD-DVD is profound and consistent, and we have done very, very well in term of our accessory sales."

I think there's always the possibility of the two working together, but I don't think we'll ever see Blu-ray in the Xbox 360. What do you think? 

[Via eurogamer -- Thanks, DF] 


Continue: More Xbox 360 stories





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37 comments | showing # 1 to 37

Dhaos's Avatar
Dhaos at 01/28/2008 09:57
you still won't be able to play XBOX-BlueRay games on it I assume so what does it matter at this point?
glipe's Avatar
glipe at 01/28/2008 09:58
I said a while back that, while I didn't appreciate Microsoft's stance on adding the HD-DVD as a peripheral instead of as an integral part of the system, I could understand why they did it. They had less to lose by going HD-DVD with just the peripheral. Now, with HD-DVD spiralling the drain, they can negotiate a BluRayp and get on with making games.

Seems like the logical business decision for a company that has no real investment in either format. Unlike Sony and BluRayp.
Dhaos's Avatar
Dhaos at 01/28/2008 10:04
so your saying "yay another SKU!"?
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 01/28/2008 10:05
I would buy an external BluRay drive for the 360.

It would have to be as cheap as the HD DVD drive is now, though.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 01/28/2008 10:08
That blue-lit Xbox 360 made me change my pants because it is so sexy. I want my Xbox 360 to have a blue light. :(
CarlostheJackal's Avatar
CarlostheJackal at 01/28/2008 10:11
So can we expect that the RRoD will be replaced with the BRoD?
moonkid's Avatar
moonkid at 01/28/2008 10:15
Sometime in the near future...

-Hey, look at this on Ebay, one of them HD-DVD players! I thought they were just like an Urban Myth or something.

-What the fuck is HD-DVD?

-Exactly

(PS- I am a 360 owner myself)
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 01/28/2008 10:15
Carlos stole my comment. And my pants.
Soliden's Avatar
Soliden at 01/28/2008 10:18
Be interesting so see where this turns out.
DrXym's Avatar
DrXym at 01/28/2008 10:18
HDi is the interactive menu system for HD DVD. Why in the hell would Blu Ray need it as well when it implements HDMV and BD-J already? Studios that want simple menus can use HDMV which is much like existing DVD menus. Studios that want something more can do what they like using BD-J. I see no place HDi even needs to feature in this. I'm sure BD-J could do with some authoring tools but that's another matter entirely.
Monte's Avatar
Monte at 01/28/2008 10:19
@glipe
Although, in theory, had MS included HD-DVD built into the 360, HDDVD might still have a chance in the format war and may actually be winning at this point... afterall, every 360 owner would be a potential HDDVD customer and there might be A LOT more people buying HDDVD movies (might as well make use of it) and the movie studios would react to that. The studios might have sided with HDDVD since it seemed like the format that is most popular, the format the people have chosen
... Sure HDDVD would have increased the cost of the 360, but when it comes down to it, the PS3 was hurt FAR more by it's lack of games than it's high price; and the 360 had a good library

but ofcourse, we will never know what could have been...

@Dhaos
Nah, more likely, "external Blu-ray Add-on"
Kryptinite's Avatar
Kryptinite at 01/28/2008 10:27
Being that I own a PS3, I'm good on the Blu-Ray front. I do hope they slash the cost of HD-DVDs extremely so that my add-on wasn't bought in vain. Although I do have the Ultimate Matrix Collection so I am happy with that.
BlackDove's Avatar
BlackDove at 01/28/2008 10:27
I'm fairly certain Sony would love for Microsoft to use their BluRays, that was after all, the whole point - for everyone else to use their format and pay them royalties.
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 01/28/2008 10:31
@moonkid

Go find out what CED is.
moonkid's Avatar
moonkid at 01/28/2008 10:34
@dvd

was you thinking this?
highrobot's Avatar
highrobot at 01/28/2008 10:38
Coopetition?

I hate people that make up dumb words.
delriego's Avatar
delriego at 01/28/2008 10:38
I would be very happy with an external blu-ray, that way I would never buy a ps3,
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 01/28/2008 10:42
Two words:

Talladega Nights
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 01/28/2008 10:43
M$ obviously has some licensing deal with Sony for BluRay, because Vista supports both. Not too much of a stretch to get a BR player for the 360, just another check to sony, and they both win. Sony gets to tighten the grip on HD Media sales, M$ gets to be the only console to deliver both BRD and HDDVD.
John B's Avatar
John B at 01/28/2008 10:44
@delriego:

I agree. I think that the game catalog for the XB360 is much better than PS3, but the only reason that I'd want a PS3 is for the BD functionality. An external BD player for the 360 would be fantastic.

That said, there are also combo BD/HD DVD drivers for PCs at around $270. So, I would think that an external BD player for XB360 would be available for less than $200.
foxhound009's Avatar
foxhound009 at 01/28/2008 10:56
heh... external br player or ps3.. I think I would go for ps3
vitus's Avatar
vitus at 01/28/2008 11:01
simply: that be cool
Nogarda's Avatar
Nogarda at 01/28/2008 11:12
Microsoft doesn't own its own hollywood movie studio(s), where as sony does.

Plus I think this is a clear nod where Microsoft are going to turn around and go oh yeah we fooled ya.... very very very belated april fool. Then go on as if they supported blu-ray from the very beginning, then throw money at the problem til it goes away. (3 year warranty extension anyone)

As a 360 loving multiformat gamer even I can see the lead blu-ray is at least gaining in the UK. on regular dvds its rarer to see a promo for HD-DVD than it is Blu-ray.

I think if a deal is struck between Microsoft and Blu-ray its for one thing and one thing only. The 360's successor.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 01/28/2008 12:16
Even if they put in HD-DVD drives into the xbox it wouldn't mean that when the format fails that they would have no way to print games, that'd be stupid.

They could've put the drives in simply to make the games better and been just fine after the failure of the format. It simply shows more of Microsoft's faith versus Sony's.
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 01/28/2008 12:24
I don't think we'll see a built in blue ray with the 360. Maybe an external drive when the time calls for it, but not until then. And by that time the stand alone blue ray players might be low enough where you would just get one of them if you wanted.
maxio098ui's Avatar
maxio098ui at 01/28/2008 13:57
well that could mean they could make a console with both lasers to play both formats
jackdoe's Avatar
jackdoe at 01/28/2008 14:22
I'd say never. Especially considering that there are a lot of 360s out there without HDMI which would be bad for the format that is all about security. Add to that MS vision for downloads and you see a conflict of interest. Hell, that vision is the only reason they are keeping this format war alive.
Faraday's Avatar
Faraday at 01/28/2008 14:41
that blue 360 is pretty sexy.
I'd totally buy one if it came out and I needed some sort of cheap blu-ray player.
Hinesmdc's Avatar
Hinesmdc at 01/28/2008 14:52
Blu Ring of Death. $14440 to repair.

You pay for shipping.
Gorelord's Avatar
Gorelord at 01/28/2008 15:25
microsoft will have to choose either HD or BR to put in the new xbox when it comes out
xper's Avatar
xper at 01/28/2008 16:18
the next xbox will certainly have blu-rayp in the box. and because of that, the next xbox is closer than you think
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 01/28/2008 16:34
@foxhound - Some of us like games, that's why we got a 360 instead.
vp360's Avatar
vp360 at 01/28/2008 16:35
i hope 360 has blu-ray after hd-dvd dies
GuitarFearow's Avatar
GuitarFearow at 01/28/2008 17:40
*Sony read news of Microsoft and Blu-Ray*
Sony: JUST AS PLANNED
Sam Spectre's Avatar
Sam Spectre at 01/28/2008 18:43
do want blu rayz
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 01/28/2008 20:03
Told you so.
Fading Star's Avatar
Fading Star at 01/29/2008 01:19
That would be cool. Let's see what happens.
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