Wal-Mart goes 'exclusively' Blu-ray

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 15th 2008 at 8:30PM }

Wal-Mart declared today that it will "exclusively" back Blu-ray in the high-definition movie format war. We know there's a lot of emotions about this issue still out there, but when Netflix, Blockbuster, Best Buy, almost all of the major movie studios and WAL-MART go Blu-ray, can we finally say this is the end for HD DVD? Wal-Mart stated that "in less than 30 days" customers will see the alpha-dog of retailers go predominantly Blu-ray.

Wal-Mart's release to Joystiq also states that the company is moving "exclusively toward Blu-ray ... players." We've requested clarification as to whether this means they will no longer carry the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on player. We'll update when we get a response. What we can say is that the 10 Wal-Mart stores we did call either had no idea there was an HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 or said they haven't had them for a while.

Tags: blu-ray, bluray, hd-dvd, hddvd, sony, wal-mart, walmart

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

rom @ Feb 15th 2008 8:36PM

Hurray!

Now Blu-ray vs DVD....GOOOO!!!

KVN @ Feb 15th 2008 9:11PM

Nah it'll be Blu-ray wait for DVD to faid out then digital downloads really start.

qo_op @ Feb 15th 2008 9:42PM

please shut up about Digital Downloads, its not going to happen anytime soon so please STFU. At least not for another 10 to 15 years.

Vidikron (FU) @ Feb 16th 2008 2:11AM

@KVN

This is the kind of shit you're going to get with VOD until the majority of the country is sporting 100 Mbit connections:
http://gizmodo.com/352392/vudu-test-confirms-hd-download-worries-plus-what-needs-to-be-done

Enjoy!

superaktieboy @ Feb 16th 2008 2:54AM

dude, digital downloads have already taken the number 1 spot :P [sarcasm] dunno if you've ever heard of torrents and ed2k?[/sarcasm]

greetzz

James @ Feb 16th 2008 9:34AM

I've only got a 16mb connection but I download HD films from the iTunes store...
Press download and in 15-20 minutes the video is mine.

I don't see why we would need 100mb connections for that?

Vidikron (FU) @ Feb 16th 2008 5:24PM

@James

Yeah, and do you get 1080p video with uncompressed audio tracks with that? And care to explain to J6P how to get those videos on his big screen TV with no hassle? And also explains where J6P can store all those videos they buy. Just because internet nerds know how to deal with networking/streaming doesn't mean the average person does. Most people are lucky to be able to synce their 99 cent music downloads with their iPods. It's going to take a big paradigm shift to convince J6P to move away from physical media for $20 movies.

mrfong @ Feb 15th 2008 8:40PM

Oh dear lord PLEASE let this end!!!

I'm getting real tired of Toshiba not letting this thing go, and I can't wait until they give it up and have their players (specifically the 360 add-on) drop to ridiculously low prices so I can at least have an HD movie experience until Blu-ray players drop to a reasonable price.

Cesaria @ Feb 15th 2008 8:49PM

Let it end. I'm tired of listening to both sides bitch at each other.

RoboChamp @ Feb 15th 2008 8:51PM

It's over guys. It's really over.

MS, you better get that Bluray add-on ready.

RoboChamp @ Feb 15th 2008 8:51PM

It's over guys. It's really over.

MS, you better get that Bluray add-on ready.

RoboChamp @ Feb 15th 2008 8:53PM

Shut up idiot!

Raikage Apple freaking DF (Wii FC 5508 0487 4434 0992) @ Feb 15th 2008 8:56PM

Yeah why do you gotta be a douche!?

Raikage Apple freaking DF (Wii FC 5508 0487 4434 0992) @ Feb 15th 2008 8:55PM

Blu-Ray... I bow before thee.....*bows*

Well now I know I'm getting a PS3... when I get an HDTV...I know, I know, I'm not a very good gamer... I don't haz all the "P"s you gots, sorry.

HighFiveJesus @ Feb 15th 2008 8:57PM

Hmm think this is gonna be a repeat of the earlier one about Toshiba dropping HD DVD.

Specifically the poster boys for Microsoft/HD DVD saying how this is a horrible thing.

I remember when porn studios backed HD DVD and people were freaking out with "FINAL NAIL IN PS3 COFFIN, FORMAT WAR OVER".

lvl99ultrathug @ Feb 15th 2008 10:46PM

I would think that anybody not watching porn on their computer would still be watching it on VHS lol

playwhutyalike @ Feb 15th 2008 9:04PM

I just bought a 360 Pro today. I really don't watch movies at all so the PS3 isn't for me. While discussing video games with the employee, he mentioned that MS owns some stock somehow linked to Blu-ray production. Any truth to this?

The Aggie CEO @ Feb 15th 2008 9:15PM

what is a "360 Pro"??

lvl99ultrathug @ Feb 15th 2008 10:41PM

Same as the 360 Premium

Chameleon @ Feb 16th 2008 8:28AM

why was he voted down ....

playwhutyalike @ Feb 16th 2008 9:31AM

Aggie,
The package I have says XBOX 360 Go Pro. So fuck off.
I just asked a quesion about what I heard. You PS3 fanboys need to get a life already.

Norty @ Feb 15th 2008 9:07PM

Sony paid almost a billion dollars in bribes to make this happen. You don't have to believe me, just remember you heard it from me first.

A-Troll-Named-Slickback (Yes the A Troll Named part, and yes every time!) @ Feb 15th 2008 9:12PM

Microsoft paid almost a billion for lube, to use with Norby. Just remember you heard it from me first.

bAssackwards @ Feb 15th 2008 9:14PM

You're right, I don't believe you.

The Aggie CEO @ Feb 15th 2008 9:16PM

trust and believe.....

Sony didn't HAVE a Billions to pay people off with.......

but M$ does......

Kspraydad @ Feb 15th 2008 10:10PM

I'll look for that on their next quarterly report to shareholders...and if its there I'll let you know since I doubt you know how to read one.

Lone Starr @ Feb 15th 2008 11:29PM

"Where do you get your info?"

"I get it from this guy on Joystiq. We call him Norty."

"..."

Batzarro @ Feb 15th 2008 9:34PM

Norby and Lube? What is that, a buddy cop movie?

Whatever on the format wars. I haven't got HDtv yet, so I can ignore both with ease...

CrazyKinux @ Feb 15th 2008 10:03PM

Glad I waited this long before choosing. HD-DVD is going the way of the dodo.

dsub @ Feb 15th 2008 10:13PM

I'm pretty sure MS hasn't been manufacturing HDDVD drives for quite sometime now, and if they have, they've been doing so in very small amounts. The recent drop in price of the drive to $129.99 was likely to liquidate all remaining stock of what's left in stores before Toshiba pulls the plug all together.

mr nimblewick @ Feb 15th 2008 10:18PM

Oh man! Should I buy a blu-ray player now or wait until I have that HDTV I never plan on buying???

dsub @ Feb 16th 2008 12:30AM

I get your sarcasm, but you and everyone else who takes this "I want to be a rebel and resist the HDTV transition" will have to buy one sooner or later. Manufacturing of SD sets has all but died off, and the only companies making the damn things are cheapo electronics companies that are just satisfying what has now become a niche market of SDTV buyers. Within the next 12 months, you won't be able to find an SD set in any store you walk into, and given the fact that your current set is bound to die sooner or later, I'd say that you will be buying an HDTV whether you want to or not.

Not trying to be a dick, just saying. Attempting to resist buying an HDTV is cool, but eventually we're all going to have one.

Vidikron (FU) @ Feb 16th 2008 1:27AM

You're not cool. Just FYI.

Phranctoast @ Feb 16th 2008 7:20AM

thanks vid, for making my morning.+

Lone Starr @ Feb 15th 2008 10:41PM

So now I can start expanding my collection beyond that free Talladega Nights throw in? Sweet!

Susan @ Feb 15th 2008 11:53PM

Super sloppy triple-dog nail in the coffin this time...

Lone Starr @ Feb 16th 2008 12:32AM

That sounds like either an amazing Nickelodeon game show or a sex position...

Brian Jarrett @ Feb 15th 2008 11:54PM

I didn't go to school for business, but seeing as how Sony had 2 platforms to distribute their format (standard on PS3 and Bluray players) and HD DVD had only players and an optional drive for the 360, Sony had a much better chance to get their format into the consumer's hands. I personally think if Toshiba sucked MS a little more and made HD DVD standard on the 360 (even a late update) this war would be going on very strong still. Also... Bluray is just plain catchy and HD DVD sounds generic as hell. F- to their Ad team and business model. Maybe they should have hired me. JK ;)

Carlos @ Feb 17th 2008 11:23PM

360 are overheating with a simple DVD drive, imagine the disaster if it had a HD DVD drive instead...

ThornedVenom @ Feb 16th 2008 12:57AM

You're forgetting to mention that Sony laptops had a BluRay drive implemented in them, and that Toshiba laptops had a HD-DVD drive in theirs.

That's also a major factor.

Markham @ Feb 16th 2008 12:19AM

Toshiba should make their remaining stock into disc-launching rail guns and rename the acronym to HyperDeath-DVD.

ThornedVenom @ Feb 16th 2008 12:58AM

I'm really glad that the format war is reaching to an end, but I dunno: there's like some bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

It doesn't feel right to trojan PS3 users.

FidliousWong @ Feb 16th 2008 10:12AM

Part of me agrees with you but the other part of me sees three discs on a single peg and the wear and tearing that will do to the game and agrees that the industry needed a larger format. HD doesn't come cheap in regards to file size. A larger format is needed as compression only goes so far.

And since Sony would, to solve this, be putting in a BluRay drive, why not make it play the movies as well? Besides, to me.. BluRay movies was a hell of a plus. I mean, to give scale, none of my movie channels locally are offered in HD format. In fact, all the HD channels available to me are shit. But for these channels to be in HD, I have to spend an extra $45 a month. Meanwhile, the content I want in HD isn't available to me outside of BluRay.

wootman @ Feb 16th 2008 1:03AM

i was anywhere that digital downloads are not going to happen in the next decade, i must have been too busy watching my HD movie from the xbox marketplace on the apple TV to notice.

wootman @ Feb 16th 2008 1:04AM

i swear to god i didnt just write anywhere instead of AWARE. jeeesus Christ, im dead.
X_X

WLT @ Feb 16th 2008 1:05AM

Now that they won the Hi Def war, will Sony finally get to making some good games?

Jouten @ Feb 16th 2008 1:56AM

They already have started building a decent library. I like Uncharted and Folklore. I hope for more RPGs, something that my 360 is absolutely STARVED for. PS3 will be my RPG machine, for sure.

Nonhippyhippy @ Feb 16th 2008 7:43AM

ha ha! hilarious!!! how long has the "PS3 has no games" joke been running!! since november 2006!! and its still this funny... u know you're a comic genius WLT... [massive sarcasm]

Chameleon @ Feb 16th 2008 8:37AM

"...will Sony finally get to making some good games?"

::sigh::

the man never said it didn't have any games ....

Jouten @ Feb 16th 2008 1:46AM

I hope we get an 'official' word from Toshiba here shortly. I was an early adopter of both formats so it hurts a little bit (Add On and Toshi Player). However, I am still ok with the Blu Ray thing since I do have a PS3. I'm just glad I didn't get more movies than I did (6 free and 5 I bought). At least 300 was a combo HD DVD/DVD disc so that's not a total waste lol!

Anyway, I feel bad for those of us early adopters who spent a helluva lot more than I did and can understand their bitterness towards Sony.

I can at least have peace of mind knowing that I can at least start investing in a new Blu Ray movie library now.

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