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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] 


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37 comments | showing # 1 to 37

Dhaos's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 09:57
Dhaos
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 09:58
glipe
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:04
Dhaos
so your saying "yay another SKU!"?
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:05
BluDesign
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:08
NihonTiger90
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:11
CarlostheJackal
So can we expect that the RRoD will be replaced with the BRoD?
moonkid's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:15
moonkid
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:15
Necros
Carlos stole my comment. And my pants.
Soliden's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:18
Soliden
Be interesting so see where this turns out.
DrXym's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:18
DrXym
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:19
Monte
@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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:27
Kryptinite
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:27
BlackDove
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:31
BluDesign
@moonkid

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

was you thinking this?
highrobot's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:38
highrobot
Coopetition?

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

Talladega Nights
TheStripe's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:43
TheStripe
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:44
John B
@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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 10:56
foxhound009
heh... external br player or ps3.. I think I would go for ps3
vitus's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 11:01
vitus
simply: that be cool
Nogarda's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 11:12
Nogarda
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 12:16
brainderailment
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 12:24
Corak
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 13:57
maxio098ui
well that could mean they could make a console with both lasers to play both formats
jackdoe's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 14:22
jackdoe
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 14:41
Faraday
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 - Comment posted on 01/28/2008 14:52
Hinesmdc
Blu Ring of Death. $14440 to repair.

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