Despite long-standing rumors that Blu-ray compatibility would be coming to the Xbox 360 in some way, shape or form, Microsoft man Robbie Bach claims that customers don't really care for it, reinforcing that the company has "no plans" to support the disc format.
"It's not a feature we get a ton of requests for," claimed the entertainment and devices boss. "We really don't. When you ask people the list of things they want to see us spending time creating in Xbox, Blu-ray is way, way down on the list."
Of course, that might just be because the Xbox 360 has a lot of other, more crucial problems that come way, way ahead of Blu-ray, but I'm sure Bach wouldn't (publicly) agree with me on that.
"The second thing is, from a technical perspective, it doesn't help us in the core of what Xbox does, which is in gaming," he continued. "We can't have publishers produce games on Blu-ray disc. Because then they won't play on the 28 million Xboxes we've already shipped. So it doesn't help us in the core gaming space."
Bach also said that it simply costs a lot of money to support Blu-ray, something which just wouldn't make sense for the limited use Blu-ray could logically have right now. After dismissing Blu-ray, the MS man suggested an even better way to get HD TV and movies on the 360, bigging up the Netflix video-on-demand service.
Despite the fact that Bach is bemused by "actual twelve-year-old girls," he makes fair points all around. Supporting a whole new format this far into a console's lifespan is not financially wise. I am pretty sure we'll see more embracing of Blu-ray in the next generation, but it's a stupid idea right now, as the Sega CD could personally attest.
Contest:
8:40 AM on 01.09.2009
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So no he is quite right if I really wanted Bluray I'd just by a Bluray drive for my PC. But I want that shitty format as far away from my 360 as possible.
But, I love mine. If I didn't have a PS3 and only owned a 360, I'd be chomping at the bit for a blu-ray drive. The 720p-capped downloadable movies are a joke and the download times, inconvenient.
The BD drive would add a further 100-150 bucks on their list, to which Sony would make a point of saying Ours is 400 bucks, to get theirs on an equal level on a technical standpoint, it's 600 bucks. ( I don't have a copy of that chart on me, so if you do, sub those numbers with the real ones in your head) That's a dream come true for Sony, and could help them make a real dent in Microsofts lead this generation. Also, They'd end up giving money to Sony on each BD Drive sold thanks to their part in manufacturing/designing BD.
It's just not that viable for Microsoft to make a BD drive without looking like hypocrits, and every PS3 fan and owner would be laughing, and so would Sony.
Also we have a competing downloadable movie service.
Where you can experience, true HD at 720p. Yes I said 720p. Don't believe Sony, they're Japanese, they're the enemy. And good at maths, that's why Blu-Ray does 1080p, it's a mad eup number!
Please continue to buy this limited, suicidal console!"
Subtlety was never my strong point; Probably why I don't work in PR.
All 28 million Xboxes are in the US after all..
oh wait wtf!?
So how exactly did the HD-DVD drive help with "the core of what Xbox does...?" What a bunch of corporate spin and hypocrisy. You didn't let me win at the game so I'm going to take my ball and go home. Microsoft is all for consumers having a choice, as long as they choose the Microsoft solution.
P.S. Before the spittle starts flying that I'm a PS3 fanboy, I use Microsoft XP at home and work, I'm a .NET software developer, and I own an Xbox. I like their stuff, but disingenuous statements just pi$$ me off, no matter what company they come from.
Apparently if I want another Blu Ray player in my home (which I probably will at some point), it would appear that MS won't be selling me one. Big deal, it's to someone else's gain.
Probably Sony's. Integrated media player and Blu Ray all in one is mighty nice. Or I could just fuck both of them over and buy the LG Blu Ray player and use that to stream Netflix movies.
I have my options, Microsoft, and you're not in the cards, either way.