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Commence frowning, HD DVD owners: Warner Bros. to support Blu-ray exclusively photo

You read that headline correctly; Warner Bros. has announced today that it's going to side with Blu-ray exclusively and drop all support for HD DVD. However, we will continue seeing HD DVD releases from Warner until May of this year.

"The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers," Warner Bros Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement.

Quite a shocking development in the ongoing format war if I do say so myself. The recent rumors about a new Xbox 360 with a built in HD DVD drive only make this whole situation even stickier.

For those of you who have invested in either format, how does this news affect you? As someone with an HD DVD player, it's pretty unsettling, as Warner Brothers has some highly anticipated movies coming out later this year (The Dark Knight anyone?).

The way I see it, this announcement is all the more reason to get a PlayStation 3 sooner than later. What do y'all have to say on the matter?

[Via USA Today, thanks Hatchetforce and Action Bastard] 


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116 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Y0j1mb0's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:41
Y0j1mb0
Already got a PS3..so cool with me.
ShadowXOR's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:42
ShadowXOR
I'm still fine with DVDs, they still look great on my 52" HDTV. Personally I think HD-DVD is the better format... It really isn't that expensive when you can Netflix both formats...I'm still trying to wait out the winner though (if there is one). Until then I'll continue to happily watch my DVDs.
Rogue Trooper's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:43
Rogue Trooper
As long as the Dark Knight comes out on DVD, I don't care as I don't have a HD-DVD or a Bluray player and I won't get either until this stupid format war is over.
BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:44
BahamutZero
I prefer the daguerrotype
Lord The Night Knight's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:45
Lord The Night Knight
Some thing this would end the format war, but we still have yet to see a major blu-ray or HD-DVD release sell more than 2% of its DVD counterpart. Until that happens, who sides with whom is unlikely to matter.
JohnnyWadd's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:48
JohnnyWadd
Hopefully this will help to end the format war sooner, Blu Ray is apparently the superior technology and the sooner it becomes the standard the sooner we can all get on with buying for it.
VWGTI's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:49
VWGTI
Dark Knight and Batman Begins are two titles I wish I had on Blue-Ray. Now this will happen. Cheers!
chief blaze's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:50
chief blaze
enough already with format wars, everything should be digital/downloadable.
THE ROADIE's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:53
THE ROADIE
It looks like I'm not buying any more WB films after May. Oh well, I already have Tranformers, Batman Begins and the Ultimate Matrix Collection.
THE ROADIE's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:53
THE ROADIE
It looks like I'm not buying any more WB films after May. Oh well, I already have my Transformers, Batman Begins and the Ultimate Matrix Collection HD-DVDs.
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 15:57
Neonie
HD-DVD, like VHS, and DVD, should win this. Why you ask? Becuase it makes more sense. People already KNOW what HD-DvD is. It's exactly what it says it is and doesnt have some weird name with no meaning.

My argument is based ENTIRLY on name alone. Nothing else.
covah's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:00
covah
its all bull, they didn't need two formats of HD discs in the first place. Did they have two DVD formats when DVDs came out? no. But apparently the visual media entertainment industry just thought that was a bit too simple and easy for us.

whatever, its just the waiting game now. or until digital distribution takes over
AlarmedMidget's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:01
AlarmedMidget
I have an HD player (thanks M$) so I am a fan of the format, however as long as DVD's don't go the way of the dodo, it doesn't really bother me. Also at some point the price of the technology will come down and I can get whatever I am missing then.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:02
Dexter345
I agree with you in that it's high time to pony up for a PS3. I'm about to get one, because I want a Blu-Ray player, and I might as well grab the machine that plays the newest Ratchet & Clank while I'm at it.
Bob Arctor's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:03
Bob Arctor
Woot! come on Matrix to the Blu-Rayz!!! That collection is really the only thing I wanted but couldn't have... again... yet!
I don't really care one of them needed to win it just happens that I have a ps triple and hadnt gotten the hd-dvd drive for the 360
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:05
Magesx
Bluray is still losing the format war, right?

Right?
Lord The Night Knight's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:05
Lord The Night Knight
"Did they have two DVD formats when DVDs came out? no."

Wrong. You heard of the DVD DivX rivalry (it's not the same as the DivX codec).

Now DVD won because DivX wasn't becoming profitable, which neither HDM format has yet to become.
nagolttam's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:06
nagolttam
I have a PS3, but I could care which one wins. I don't own a single blu-ray disc. I just watch the DVDs that I own. Besides, why would I want to pay $26 for a movie that I can get for $10 that looks just fine on DVD?
vexed alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:09
vexed alex
Hasn't this shit dragged on long enough? Can we just get a solid format? And please drop the price of HD movies. $30, are you fucking stupid?
konchu's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:09
konchu
I am a little sad I was rooting for the HD-DVD side a little more(I have both). Well maybe this is enough for this to be the end of the BS that is the format war.
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:10
Neonie
@LTNK

Dident they also have Dvd's vs. Digital Lazer discs.
Electrobes's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:11
Electrobes
I have an HD-DVD but I too think that downloadable content will be the true winner in the near future.
zaqu's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:14
zaqu
BLU IS DAH WINNER PRAISE CHAD WARDEN
SniperFodder's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:17
SniperFodder
Itz got teh Bloo Rayz!

I have a PS3, but I prefer digital download. Like for porn. Although I'm not sure I would even like to see porn in hd. But I digress.
Mauer's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:18
Mauer
I own both, but any movie that comes out on both formats I buy on Blu Ray cause it will win.
Rockvillian's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:19
Rockvillian
If HD-DVD and Blu-Ray were two girls fighting for my attention and forced me to decide which I was interested in, I'd hand the question over to some poor (rich) sap next to me and wait until I could do both at the same time.
tgammet's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:24
tgammet
Woot, I know there were a couple HD DVD releases from Warner I wanted, and now here they come :D
Psywolf's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:27
Psywolf
i still need to buy a hdtv

but i have a ps3 and have yet to buy a hd attachment to my 360
but ps3 upscales anyway so anything i wanted thats only in hd i'll just end up buying on dvd and upscaling with my ps3
which is close enough
so eh

but how does playing games in hd work on the 360? do i need the hd dvd player and play the game in that drive to get it to show up hd? or can i use the disk drive that came with it?
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:27
BluDesign
DIVX was against DVD. DivX and DIVX are two formats. DIVX was a technology investment on Circuit City and Sears' behalf. It failed because it was just the two of them. Nowadays both formats have been able to establish themselves, and Blu Ray gets to win because Sony forced it on people.

Not exactly fair, but this is WAY better than downloading. At least until we get DRM free 50 GB downloads.
loki d20's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:30
loki d20
Good, progress towards the end of the war.

@people who think everything should be digital: Yeah, not going to happen until the mass majority of people can download a 1080p movie in only a few minutes and 100+ terabyte media servers become common in households.
shadowcast's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:31
shadowcast
Well I'm still old school with the DVD's and my SDTV, so this news doesn't really effect me. Although I'm happy as I think BluRay is the superior format. Although the future is all about digital distribution anyway.
20 Sided Death's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:31
20 Sided Death
i guess I'm kind of upset because I just got a HD-dvd player for christmas but I got a PS3 already so whatev. If a format has to win I won't be mad as long as it wins before I get too many HD-dvd's. Yes, I assume that Blu-Ray will win.
Simmy's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:32
Simmy
Wow now blu-ray has another big film studio behind it. It should be very profitable for Sony.
They already own MGM which of course deals with both the Bond and Stargate franchises and with this addition I reckon it'll be game over for the HD-DVD
rpbowlinggod's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:33
rpbowlinggod
I bought a pstriplez when they first came out with the excuse of hey, its 300 bucks for a game console and 300 for a Blu ray player. I admit I was super jealous that transformers and batman weren't on blu ray but its ok now, at least I can get one of them now. @vexed alex - once a format starts tipping the scales in their favor, the price goes down fast (maybe by May??)
decoyb's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:37
decoyb
I'm still waiting for universal to switch to supporting both/blu-ray. Lost in translation is one of their movies, and if anything should be seen in 1080P it's the opening shot of Scarlett Johansson's ass.
rpbowlinggod's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:37
rpbowlinggod
@loki ditto. HD content takes up way too much space on hard drives right now and since the most common sizes for hard drives is between 160-350 gig, I would legitimately have to have a couple hundred terabyte drive to store "stuff"(yes mostly porn)
amalgamut00's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:41
amalgamut00
The only reason I still turn on my PS3 is for Blu Ray movies. If HD got a big partnership like this then I'd consider buying a HD player. Right now I'll just look forward to the Barman Begins Blu Ray release this year :)
BluFire's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:47
BluFire
Wow, I remember an article that came out just two days ago that said that Blu-Ray could win the war, as long as WB supported them exclusively. Just a few more steps and this war could be over.
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:49
MaxVest
Blu-ray is only two syllables, and HD-DVD is five. I mean, take a look at the possible scenarios:
Customer: Hello, good stock man. Where do you keep the __format__?
Employee: The __format__ are over there, under the sign that says __format__.
Customer: Then I shall go browse the __format__. Good day.

From my calculations, Blu-ray requires an average of 12 fewer syllables per exchange. Syllables take time to say, and time=money.

Therefore Blu-ray is good for the economy, and good for America. And maybe those other places, unless they're communists.
Bus's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:49
Bus
Just got the Xbox 360 HD-DVD add on so this news mildly upsets me but how many times has the format war been "decided" or "nearing an end?" I will say that this will of course lead to even more buy one, get one sales on HD-DVD. I've been able to get nearly 20 for the price of 8 in the past few weeks. I can only hope that the savings I make on software in HD-DVD's potential death throes offset the price of a Bluray player.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:52
Sharpless
First of all, HD-DVD deserves to win.

Second of all, when will these fucktards stop being assholes and realize that exclusivity is absolutely shitty. It just serves to alienate and annoy. Fuck them.
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:54
brainderailment
"First of all, HD-DVD deserves to win." Why, did it bathe your grandma when you weren't around to assist her?

I don't care which wins, i do know that i have a ps3 and will never lose the ability to play blurays, so i may start buying them soon.
TheBrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:55
TheBrain
Yes! Teh Matrix!

I can now get a Blu Ray Player without worrying that The Matrix would stay HD-DVD exclusive.

Now I just need money.
Knigge's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 16:55
Knigge
I bought a PS3 recently, so I'm good. I have a 360 already, but I just really didn't want the extra 360 peripheral; I knew that I was eventually going to buy a PS3, and I had a huge craving for visual sploogin from my HDTV. This is only good news for me.
The_Psychopsilocybin's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 17:05
The_Psychopsilocybin
This is why i didn't want to invest in a new format.
Jordan Devore's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 17:06
Jordan Devore
@Bus - You're not alone. :D
scott78945's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 17:10
scott78945
I just got a PS3 for X-mas and couldn't be happier. The movies are amazing! Remember, Blu-Ray also has Disney as well. Thats a large corner in itself...I do believe this was the last nail in the coffin for HD-DVD...even if the 360 comes out with a system with an HD-DVD built in it won't do any good if there's no movies to buy...A day late and a dollar short for MS
scott78945's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 17:14
scott78945
I just realized, if HD-DVD goes away with the wind what will M$ do for their games when regular DVD's can't handle their games any longer? Wouldn't that be a hoot if M$ has to use Blu-Ray disks for their games in their next machine. Ohh SNAP!
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 17:17
brainderailment
HD dvd is better because it has two swooshes in it's logo whereas bluray only has one swoosh.

PROBLEM FUCKING SOLVED!
Sadie G's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/04/2008 17:23
Sadie G
Having all three consoles, I no longer care.
I was rooting for HD though.

I just find it odd that there are HD and Blu-Ray movies that are cheaper than some regular DVDs.
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