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Microsoft CEO DOESN'T confirm 360 Blu-ray add-on (Update) photo

Gizmodo has an exclusive interview with Microsoft CEO's Steve Ballmer going up in full this Friday. Until then, they're releasing little clips from the interview and the one they have up right now sees the CEO talking about Natal, and more importantly, a Blu-ray add-on accessory for the Xbox 360.

Gizmodo asked Steve Ballmer on whether we'll see any Xbox 360s with a Blu-ray drive to which Ballmer replied by stating that "you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories." No time frame is given for when we'll see this Blu-ray accessory and Xbox spokespeople avoided answering the question when Gizmodo pressed for further information. 

So after all this time, a Blu-ray accessory is coming to the Xbox 360. Neato? I don't know about you, but I'm just going to sit back and watch as the entire Internet collapses from the fanboy war that's about to unfold.

[via Geoff Keighley's Twitter]

[Update: Stop the press! This looks to be a misunderstanding, with a Microsoft representitive issuing this statement to us on the matter:

"Steve was referring to Blu-ray accessories for the PC.  As we have said in the past, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360.  In fact, the future of home entertainment starts this fall when Xbox 360 becomes the first and only console to offer instant-on 1080p streaming HD movies.  With a library of thousands of TV shows and movies to choose from, Xbox 360 owners can instantly watch the movies they want, when they want, in the highest form of high definition."]


Continue: More Xbox 360 stories





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141 comments | showing # 1 to 50

robotbebop's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:39
robotbebop
I'm pretty sure the simple fact that the PS3 is the same price AND has a blu-ray player is probably starting to eat into Xbox sales a bit. Or at least threaten them.

And even still, it's a great marketing choice, sell a blu-ray add on for only $100 to the already impressive Xbox 360 install base! Who doesn't want a cheap blu-ray player?
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:40
DaedHead8
What the shit? Is it April 1st?
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:40
Tubatic
Talladega NIGHTS!
Fission Mailed's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:41
Fission Mailed
My initial reaction: DUN DUN DUUUUUUN

I foresee great Fanboy Friday material from this.
ruthloose's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:41
ruthloose
Great another awkward USB accessory that only really works if you keep your 360 horizontal. Le sigh.
Crudus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:42
Crudus
Erm...I don't understand. Why are they doing this again?
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:42
WarZombie
$100 would be a steal for a Blu-ray add-on, but it still sucks it just didn't come packed-in. Actually, what's to stop MS from packing a Blu-ray 360 with Natal?

I think an add-on will come, and possibly something like what I mentioned. After all, MS would make a killing off Natal alone, so why not pair it with a Blu-ray 360?
AILDFan's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:43
AILDFan
Holy shit.

BUT IT'S GOT TALLADEGA NIGHTS! IT'S GOT THE BLU-RAY!

You just made my night Hamza.
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:46
AgentMOO
SHAKE AND BAKE
AllHailShake's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:46
AllHailShake
It'll cost $300, but it'll have two antennas so it's okay.
Riegel88's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:48
Riegel88
Meh, and games will STILL come out for my PS3, so I don't give a crap.
BFeld13's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:48
BFeld13
TALLADEGA NIIIIIIIIGHTS!!!
thenooby1's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:49
thenooby1
ZOMG CONSOLE WAR IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!111!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!
bluexy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:49
bluexy
FUCK HDDVD I GOTS MY SHAKE AND BAKE.
feedback's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:51
feedback
Just...no.
armless-phelan's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:52
armless-phelan
...I have the 360 HD-DVD add-on. That thing was over-priced like there was no tomorrow (almost $200 if I remember correctly), but I got it a year after HD-DVD died for $50 new at Wal-Mart.

They're useful because it doesn't wear out your 360's disk drive, but they do require they're own separate power cord. :/ I'm assuming this will be the exact same concept.

Oh well, so much for the digital distribution model MS was pushing.
taiki's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:52
taiki
RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!

PS3 FANBOY CHECKING IN.

(not really. But LOL BLURAY)
ydarkage's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:53
ydarkage
Haha I was just screaming like little girl for 10 minutes.. wow! Cool! Better yet is the comments on Gizmodo about this!

haha
Isaac Bertrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:54
Isaac Bertrand
300 for the xbox +
100 for wifi adapter +
100 blu-ray add-on +
50 for xbox live +
______________________
Grand total = 550$
Steve Cebu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:54
Steve Cebu
Like this really comes as a surprise to XBox owners. It's not about PS3 Blu-Ray it'sabout storage media and Blu-Ray is it. I expect to see it on a lot more PC's as standard this upcoming year and much cheaper than ever before.
M$ had to bite the bullet and allow Blu-Ray or be left behind.
At least my PS3 has the Blu-Ray included and it's not an extra cost peripheral.
PS3 +1
M$ -1
Unassuming Local Guy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:55
Unassuming Local Guy
Microsoft will probably charge a yearly fee to use your Blu-ray add-on.
ydarkage's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:57
ydarkage
@Isaac Bertrand

DonŽt Complain, for me to have it, its just the double + A SHITLOAD of taxes!

and iŽll glad to pay for it! Ok, not to glad, but iŽll!! Will be more cheap than to buy a ps3 or a blu-ray driver in here!
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:59
Chronic Logic
Blue-Rays have been invading computers for a long time now, where's the PC fanboys outrage?!
Isaac Bertrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:59
Isaac Bertrand
@ydarkage where are you from
ydarkage's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2009 23:59
ydarkage
"So after all this time, a Blu-ray accessory is coming to the Xbox 360. Neato? I don't know about you, but I'm just going to sit back and watch as the entire Internet collapses from the fanboy war that's about to unfold."

Oh Yeah Hamza.. and they started pretty soon! Already crying aboUt their little Jack in the Box! ;) Hehe Just love it!
CaptainApocalypse's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:00
CaptainApocalypse
My PS3 = best BluRay add-on for my 360. What happens when the 360 gets the RRoD? There goes your movie watching! I'm not trying to sound like a PS3 fanboy, but I've just sent my 360 in for the RRoD for the second time and I'm getting kind of sick of it.
Isaac Bertrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:01
Isaac Bertrand
im going to go taunt the 360 fanboys over at gamespot, probably going to get modded
shinigamiDude's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:03
shinigamiDude
That's what Kojima been waiting for! MGS4 ready for 360!
Infamy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:05
Infamy
@CaptainApocalyspe:

That's what you get for having an old model 360 and then a refurbished one. RROD is non-existant with newer models. Get with the times.
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:05
Magesx
MGS4 for 360 confirmed.
bcrt2000's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:05
bcrt2000
For those who are saying its gonna cost $550 to have feature parity I think MS would be stupid to do that. In Canada they are already bundling Wifi with the Elite, and I wouldn't be surprised if they go the extra mile and bundle the Bluray accessory or even make it internal at one point (like for Natal). The way for MS to go is to bundle feature for feature in the Elite and include more than just 1 free month of Xbox Live Gold (give 4-6 months).

We'll see if MS is smart enough to do that though. That being said, I think it would be even smarter if they just made bluray and wifi internal to the 360.
Isaac Bertrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:08
Isaac Bertrand
@bcrt2000 , you know they wont make them internal , THEY WANT YOUR MONEY
TheCleaningGuy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:11
TheCleaningGuy
Neat, I know a couple people who need a replacement for their HD-DVD add-ons.
matrixdude171's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:12
matrixdude171
Meh, just stop stalling and announce the 720
Hriki's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:12
Hriki
@infamy

Oh of course! How silly to be mad that if you bought a 360 before October 2008 you should be so SMART as to fork out for another 360 just so you don't have to keep getting your fucked piece of hardware fixed....how silly of us -_- My 360 hangs on, but 1 mate is on his second. Another is gonna be on his 3ed because he just got it again. Oh and the other who is on his 8th....I kid you NOT. To all that say this will be $100...hahahahaha a G wifi adapter, so easy to put internally is $100. As if something that isn't NEEDED is gonna be $100
HEL105's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:13
HEL105
Wow, I thought that rumor had died a while ago. I'm glad I decided to check Destructoid one more time before I went to bed!

So, does anyone think that there will be any games released that require the blu-ray player, or will this strictly be for movies? I have a stand-alone player and one on my computer already, so I don't need it for the movies, but the games issue is what has piqued my interest.
mackie junior's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:14
mackie junior
"When I have the HD-DVD drive on at the same time as the Blu-Ray drive, how do I control the volume on the HD-DVD drive?"

"Why do you want to watch HD-DVD with Blu-Ray on?"

"Because I like to party."
Isaac Bertrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:16
Isaac Bertrand
@HEL105

i think there will be games just because i think that 360 devs are going to need the space that blu ray discs provide
funran's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:22
funran
no way issac, they cant segregate their market. This will be for video viewing only. They are not going to have bluray versions AND dvd versions. I would expect bluray as standard in the next console race.
The Cast's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:22
The Cast
Let the MGS4 Port Flame War commence again.
HEL105's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:23
HEL105
@Isaac Bertrand
If they go that route, I guess I'm going to have to buy one. There's always the danger of Microsoft splitting their user base if that turns out to be true...I can't wait to read the actual details of what their plan is.
Isaac Bertrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:25
Isaac Bertrand
@funran

sony and nintendo are both segregating the market with their hand helds

and microsoft would be smart and not smart to make blu ray only games.
1) 360 loyalists would make the purchase
2) some would be turned off from the extra cost
so there are positives and negatives

and i dont have any doubt that bluray will be standard
Kalmah's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:25
Kalmah
Blu-ray as an accessory? So it won't be mandatory? So (IF BLU RAY GAMES APPEAR ON 360) how the hell would you release a game for the entire Microsoft audience? That would definitely divide the core base in half, which will eventually kill the online play for the majority. This is the stupidest idea from Microsoft to date. Unless of course it's for movies only or a mandatory (ugh) purchase... which in that case, it's still a stupid idea, only less stupid now.

If you REALLY want a Blu-ray player, cut the price of the adapters, the online subscription, memory cards, and quite possibly the costly blu-ray and other useless accessories by doing yourself a favor and purchasing a PS3. With the games you obtain, the times you spend, and the money you save you'll thank yourself later.
HEL105's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:26
HEL105
The funny part is that I was literally watching Talladega Nights 5 minutes before I read this article! MIRACLE!
Oncomouse's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:27
Oncomouse
This will never be used for games. It'll split the user base and that NEVER works. EVER.

I'm guessing this thing will cost at least $100. If it costs much more, why not buy a stand alone player or even a PS3 at this point?

Honestly, I have a PS3 and I don't buy/rent BluRays. I have a 42" 1080p TV and my good ol' DVDs still look fantastic on it. I don't think you really need BluRay unless your TV is as big as a queen-sized mattress.
Isaac Bertrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:32
Isaac Bertrand
@oncomouse

do you play DVDs on your ps3?

and there really is a difference between BR and DVD
Oncomouse's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:36
Oncomouse
@Isaac Bertrand

I've played DVDs and BluRays on my PS3. I rented some BluRays from Netflix. It's better... but not that much better in my opinion. DVDs are still good enough. Maybe when I can get new BluRays under $20 regularly, I'll switch. Until then, it's not worth the extra cost to me.
aaronf's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:36
aaronf
If they are charging $150 for a 120GB laptop drive that you can get everywhere else for $70 (over 100% markup), one can only guess that a Blu-Ray drive would be around 500 - 600 dollars.
runtheplacered's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:39
runtheplacered
@ Oncomouse

If you're not playing BL movies... well.. that's your loss. I mean, if you're trying to say there's no difference between DVD and BR... you're wrong.
ace of knaves's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 00:40
ace of knaves
Oh yes, insanity is about to unfold.
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