Microsoft on HD DVD: No announcements right now

71 Comments by Justin McElroy Feb 18th 2008 11:45AM
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

Just two days after Blu-ray apparently won the HD video battle, Microsoft has chimed in on the eulogizing. Unsurprisingly, the company doesn't view being on the losing side of the fight as particularly damaging to their platform, saying, "We do not believe the recent reports about HD DVD will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace. As we've long stated, we believe it is games that sell consoles and Xbox 360 continues to have the largest next-gen games library with the most exclusives and best selling games in the industry."

The statement was silent on any other plans for the console's external HD DVD player, saying "We will wait until we hear from Toshiba before announcing any specific plans." So no, they're not ruling out an external Blu-ray player at the moment ... but don't expect them to interrupt the funeral to talk about it.

Tags: blu-ray, hd-dvd, hddvd, microsoft

(Page 1) Reader Comments

CB: Feb 18th 2008; 11:49AM

It's not you, HD-DVD, it's me!

No, it's you.

Matt B: Feb 18th 2008; 3:25PM

http://i26.tinypic.com/21jc7pf.gif

Viridium: Feb 18th 2008; 11:51AM

Toshiba hasn't officially thrown in the towel just yet:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=33204

copa: Feb 18th 2008; 11:54AM

"We will wait until we hear from Toshiba before announcing any specific plans."

It's OK, dudes. You don't need Toshiba's permission to announce the Blu-Ray add-on you already developed.

Viridium: Feb 18th 2008; 12:21PM

What's that got to do with my link to Toshiba saying they haven't canceled HD-DVD yet?

copa: Feb 18th 2008; 12:42PM

Nothing. I started to reply to your comment, then changed my mind and entered a comment that deserved its own thread.

I got a little confused on the interface, and accidentally entered my new comment in your thread.

You can clearly tell from the timestamps that I was not attempting to snipe my way up, if that's what you're suggesting.

ill trooper: Feb 18th 2008; 2:02PM

Toshiba is punch drunk and won't stay down. The ref (the consumer and media) is calling the fight. If there was any question before this weekend, the web and the public have clarified it: It's over.

Andy: Feb 18th 2008; 11:59AM

Quit linking your shit. Get you own damn blog.

NATO_Duke: Feb 18th 2008; 12:02PM

OMG I was at http://www.xomba.com the other day and it is so great. I want to go back to http://www.xomba.com later today too and read the great stuff that is posted. Yes, thank you for http://www.xomba.com.

Wait, I forgot what I wanted to say about the topic while pimping that website. Oh well, http://www.xomba.com is all that really matters. Am I right? Huh?

D_Average: Feb 18th 2008; 12:11PM

You may as well stick a turd in that thing...HD DVD is done.

why not the LS2LS7?: Feb 18th 2008; 12:11PM

Honestly, I think all the design, pricing and very existence of the add-on are turned over to Toshiba (but not the software, I met a guy at Intervideo/Corel who worked on the DVD/HD-DVD playback software for 360). This frees

As such, this thing isn't going anywhere until Toshiba stops making HD-DVD players. And unless a BDA member wants to jump in and make a nearly loss-making BluRay peripheral for 360, it won't be replaced with a BluRay add-on.

It does still leave open the question as to what kind of drive Xbox 720 will have built-in. I can't see it being a DVD drive.

Rususeruru: Feb 18th 2008; 1:17PM

Behold! The cartridge's triumphant return!

j/j - I hope.

vidGuy: Feb 18th 2008; 12:11PM

I think they're right about it not being a problem. Anyone who bought the HD-DVD drive knew or should have known about the risk that it might be a failed format. Since MS didn't include it in the console, they aren't out anything. Just make and sell a different periph, no biggie.

Now, if BluRay had failed, Sony would definitely have a problem on its hands.

CassilineKnight: Feb 18th 2008; 12:14PM

Lol now that would have been hilarious and a site to see...

Talk about a virtual meltdown. The internets would have exploded.

deaftly: Feb 18th 2008; 12:14PM

Excellent response from Microsoft, absolute truth.

Kaemon: Feb 18th 2008; 12:17PM

Hmm, HD-DVD is down, oh well. See, now I'm sligtly interested in a PS3, haha, only thing its good for, I mean, there would be 1 or 2 exclusive games, but nothing I can't get on my 360. But why not get the Ps3 over a normal one?

qo_op: Feb 18th 2008; 2:35PM

"I mean, there would be 1 or 2 exclusive games, but nothing I can't get on my 360"

-Your just as bad as those guys who thought HDdvd was going to win the format war. How about this, when:

Warhawk
Heavenly Sword
Ratchet and Clank
Uncharted
Killzone 2
MGS4
FFXIII
Little Big Planet
White Knight Story
Haze
Resistance
Resistance 2
Singstar
Socom
The Agency
God of War III
Heavy Rain
Gran Turismo 5
Tekken 6
The Getaway (ps3)
MotorStorm 2

come out on 360, Ill buy them FOR YOU shipping and handling included! Thats one hell of a deal!

Cesaria: Feb 18th 2008; 2:49PM

That's a whole lot of sequels you got there.

qo_op: Feb 18th 2008; 2:57PM

10 of those are new IP's not continued from the ps2.

xGeneral DEATHx: Feb 18th 2008; 3:04PM

qo-op:

Well-met. This year looks to be a year of solid titles for the ol' PS3, and I for one am looking forward to it. The "there are no games" argument died about 6 months ago. Let's all look forward to new and better titles this year instead of saying "PS3 is teh l00zer dis gen".

michaud.jon: Feb 18th 2008; 6:10PM

Warhawk -- Decent
Heavenly Sword -- Pretty good
Ratchet and Clank -- Pretty good
Uncharted -- Quite good
Killzone 2 -- Not out yet
MGS4 -- Not out yet
FFXIII -- Not out yet
Little Big Planet -- Not out yet
White Knight Story -- Not out yet
Haze -- Not out yet
Resistance -- Not that great
Resistance 2 -- Not out yet
Singstar -- Are you kiding?
Socom -- Huh?
The Agency -- Not out yet
God of War III -- Not even close to being released
Heavy Rain -- Not out yet
Gran Turismo 5 -- Not out yet
Tekken 6 -- Not out yet
The Getaway (ps3)-- Not out yet
MotorStorm 2 -- Not even near a release date

Soooo.... we got 5 releases and the rest are still either being made or very far from a release... Goooo PS3!!! >-)

Kaemon: Feb 18th 2008; 7:42PM

Hehe, nice list kid. But let me tell you, the only thing on that list that I really could care about, and as I said, 1 or 2, is MGS4, and MAYBE if I like the battle system FF13, really all that other stuff doesn't interest me much. Tekken 6 maybe, but I wouldn't count on that staying on just PS3. Though even if it is, I'm not much of a tekken fan.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Feb 18th 2008; 9:07PM

HAI GUYS!!!

AREN'T OPINIONS FUN!!!

deaftly: Feb 18th 2008; 12:18PM

Fernando I just bought viewtiful joe off gamestop for $3.74 thanks to your avatar, gotta buy all those gamecube games i used to love before i sold it. Got windwaker coming as well.

Geo: Feb 18th 2008; 12:21PM

LOL!!......

Mike: Feb 18th 2008; 12:26PM

Microsoft doesn't comment on rumor or speculation

Obie: Feb 18th 2008; 12:26PM

"Why are you looking so sad?"
"Why are we going to the shed?"
"Why are you carrying a shotgun?"

Microsoft? Mic..?

*BANG*

Fernando Rocker: Feb 18th 2008; 12:29PM

Henshin a go go baby!

=p

CassilineKnight: Feb 18th 2008; 12:34PM

WHY SO SERIOUS!?

xGeneral DEATHx: Feb 18th 2008; 1:49PM

See, to them, you're just a freak...

...like me.

severian00: Feb 18th 2008; 12:36PM

My guess is that we hear about a Blu add-on at E3 with it going on sale a couple of weeks later.

antec: Feb 18th 2008; 12:42PM

i cant wait to see the reactions to that. oh the laughs.

deaftly: Feb 18th 2008; 12:46PM

The only ones laughing will be MS right to the bank. Do you realize the potential how many ps3 sales would be lost because people could just buy the addon drive since more people own 360's.

severian00: Feb 18th 2008; 12:53PM

Agreed Deaftly, MS isn't the kind of company that does things for no reason. MS will sell more 360's, more blu add-ons and more digital downloads. It's a win, win, win situation.

Co: Feb 18th 2008; 4:33PM

But when the 360 breaks, how will one watch their Blu-Rays on the add-on?

SharpShooter: Feb 18th 2008; 5:51PM

Actually, they will only loss as many 360s, which compared to the world, is nothing. Nobody without either and no interest in gaming would take the 360 over ps3, at least in their right mind. Even if the blu-ray addon cost $200, it would still be $150 more then a ps3 (40gb ps3 and xbox pro). Not only the price difference, as a media center, the ps3 just rapes the 360.

severian00: Feb 18th 2008; 6:17PM

I'm not sure what you were trying to say there other than the add-on with the 360 makes it more expensive than a ps3. My point is that the main reason people are buying the ps3 is as a blu-ray player, not as a game machine. Now the 360 is a game machine and if you want it, you've got a blu-ray add-on coming. Let's face it, if you ask most people what they are doing with their ps3, they'll tell you they're folding and watching movies.

hotnutz: Feb 18th 2008; 6:48PM

Personally, if I were Sony (and company), I would deny Microsoft from using the BRD format - the MS camp were clearly not BRD supporters and they are less than supportive now. Deny MS the ability to sell BRD for their "next generation" console and see how well it sells when the only add-on they can sell is for a dead format.

Microsoft keeps on making bad design/business decisions and the people who keep supporting them should bear the brunt of those failures for supporting these repeated mistakes. My 2 cents..

OR... Sony and the consortium should charge MS a very high licensing fee. We live in a capitalist society and if Microsoft really wants it, they will pay for it. heh heh.. suckers..

Stephen El: Feb 18th 2008; 12:44PM

MS is denying reality at this point. They would be wise to announce a Blu-Ray add-on ASAP... they are going to lose marketshare because gamers like me are looking seriously at PS3 because of its Blu-Ray capabilities. Watch PS3 sales start to take off, because the PS3 is the best Blu-Ray player out there for the money.

Trev: Feb 18th 2008; 12:44PM

Welcome... to zombocom!

http://www.zombo.com/

(PS: I pimp nothing, its really just a ridiculous site and I caught the similarity in URLs)

Cesaria: Feb 18th 2008; 12:47PM

I hope the recent price cuts of everything HDDVD convinces consumers and developers alike that this is the superior format. I'm not so sure that'll happen, though. Good run, HD DVD, sorry you had to go up against Sony's deep pockets.

qo_op: Feb 18th 2008; 3:11PM

Ok to clear one thing up:

SONY DID NOT CREATE BLU RAY!

"The "Blu-ray Disc Founder" was founded in May 2002 by nine leading electronic companies: Sony, Matsushita, Pioneer, Philips, Thomson, LG Electronics, Hitachi, Sharp, and Samsung. Spearheaded by NP Infotech, on February 19th 2002 the companies announced [2] that they were the "Founders" of the Blu-ray Disc and later changed their name to the "Blu-ray Disc Association" on May 18, 2004 to allow more companies to join their development."

Trev: Feb 18th 2008; 12:50PM

I wouldn't be surprised if they were waiting on a decision on whether to drop out of the HD disc action.

They can't keep supporting HD-DVD. Even Toshiba has thrown in the towel, so the HD-DVD add-on is probably out of production.

If they release a blu-ray add-on, there's going to be some serious egg on their face. From "committed to HD-DVD" to "we have the blurayz too!" is not a good flip.

If they just nixed the HDDVD add-on and kept quiet about blu-ray they would be free to continue their focus on games and downloadable media without going so far as to jump the fence and leave some 360+HDDVD add-on owners feeling betrayed.

severian00: Feb 18th 2008; 12:57PM

Not sure how that's not a good flip. MS has said since the beginning that they are all about choice and giving the gamer what they want. Now that HD-DVD is done, they will go Blu and continue to trounce the PS3 as soon as they can ship consoles.

Obie: Feb 18th 2008; 12:57PM

"If they release a blu-ray add-on, there's going to be some serious egg on their face. From "committed to HD-DVD" to "we have the blurayz too!" is not a good flip."

Maybe, but they might want to get a blu-ray option for their users to prevent HD enthusiasts buying PS3's because it is the cheapest BR solution currently on the market. And by releasing a BR add-on for $150, they could boast "the cheapest BR player evar...omg!"

We'll see how it plays out.

Trev: Feb 18th 2008; 1:06PM

@Obie
I agree, that is a very important thing for them to consider. They could also pimp the digital distribution angle for "HD with no extra hardware cost".

I bet there are people in a meeting room right now talking about this.