Microsoft officially gives up on HD DVD

by Christopher Grant { Feb 23rd 2008 at 9:58PM }

We're certain there are plenty of Really Important things that have to be considered before summarily tossing failed hardware peripherals out the boardroom window, en masse. What else have they been up to for the last 4 days since Toshiba officially announced the format's death? No bother, because Microsoft's Gamerscore blog says, "Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360" though they "will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market." HD DVD eBay onslaught beginning ... now.

Tags: BreakingNews, HD-DVD, Microsoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Joe @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:06PM

Second is the best...

Zorink @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:23PM

No, second is just the first loser.

Joe @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:55PM

I just got pwned on a blog!

(Places check on to-do list)

Tiptup300 @ Feb 23rd 2008 11:31PM

Dude, I'm 32nd but you don't hear me bragging.

riggs @ Feb 24th 2008 12:44AM

i am sad that you counted.

DangerMouse @ Feb 24th 2008 1:47AM

Hey, I'm 48th, but you don't hear me trying to make you think i'm not trolling.

vidGuy @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:09PM

You can get the player for $50 now with 5 free HD-DVDs.

I'd rather start saving for a BluRay stand-alone.

Abuzar @ Feb 23rd 2008 11:04PM

Well you can use it as a External DVD Drive on your PC. That and maybe it's collectors value in a thousand years makes it worth it.

Game_playa @ Feb 25th 2008 10:08PM

Why Standalone Ps3 is the Best!
Other Players aren't future proof like the PS(Triple) is so I think it's the best choice!

And Remember........THE FUTURE IS BLU

vidGuy @ Feb 25th 2008 11:41PM

Options, controls, form factor, appearance, price, and mobility are all going to be better for a stand-alone player. I'm not interested in the PS3 games, I'd rather have a dedicated player.

sp @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:12PM

so what are the chances a blu-ray peripheral will hit the 360? not good, i imagine.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:15PM

why not? MS said they would support whoever wins. i wouldnt be surprised if they have one out by the holidays.

Rususeruru @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:16PM

better than you think, expect a samsung drive soon... they won't let it slide for very long and there have been rumors that they have a working BD-ROM playing Blu-Ray in house somewhere in those 360 headquarters. They'd be fools to let Sony be the only console with BR capability, but then again it is Microsoft.

vidGuy @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:22PM

Count on the 360 having a BluRay periph for $179 by August.

Obie @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:23PM

I dunno, I think MS wants to focus on compressed HD rentals over XBL instead.

Negativecool @ Feb 23rd 2008 11:40PM

I think this would be the best MS strategy AGAINST the PS3 and not for blu ray.

So far, PS3 has been shooting up so much on the charts because it is has blu ray, which was/is more highly supported than HD DVD which was found on the 360. Once MS puts the 360 together with blu ray, the PS3 has completely lost its advantage.

MS needs to see this.

jonondaspot @ Feb 24th 2008 12:02AM

Count on getting busted for smoking dope if you think an external Bluray drive is coming to the 360.

Count on getting busted for crack dealing if you think an external Bluray drive is coming in for less than $250.

ill trooper @ Feb 24th 2008 1:17AM

They ought to think about putting it INSIDE the 360, this external 'dongle-drive' stuff is wack.

vidGuy @ Feb 24th 2008 3:30AM

jonondaspot, your post has been saved. Chances are I will be drudging up your statements before August. FYI.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/rumor-xbox-360-blu-ray-player-could-be-out-by-may/

jonondaspot @ Feb 24th 2008 11:39AM

Yeah you can save my post right along with this one:

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/30/toshiba-man-hints-at-internal-hd-dvd-360/

And this one:

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/rumorang-built-in-hd-dvd-drive-for-xbox-360/

And this one:

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/speculation-microsoft-may-integrate-hd-dvd-into-xbox-360/

peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio) @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:17PM

If you were in front on me right now, my fist would be lodged in your face.

Ranus Studios @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:21PM

I'm going to wait a few years and see if maybe the price goes up as like a collector's thing. I doubt it, but who knows. It's more likely that that'll happen with the Transformers HD-DVD that I intentionally didn't order until after HD-DVD kicked it.

fwacce @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:24PM

You would think MS would come out with a BD player as an add-on, but since the 360 version would always be inferior to the PS3 BD player(due to processing, outputs, etc), they may not want to be known as having the inferior player. Although, they may still hold the argument that it's the 'consumer's choice' that they are offering and not forcing it on gamers. Of course, if they charger even $100 for a BD add-on, then there console would be priced higher than the PS3, a fact Sony may exploit.

So, overall, I'd say... who knows lol.

AwesomeTown @ Feb 25th 2008 7:58AM

I agree. Truthfully, I'd rather save the extra money and buy a PS3 than a 360 add-on, myself. I know it's not the best blu-ray player on the market, but it's a damn good one, and most people don't need those fancy new codecs. Plus by the end of the year, there should be (hopefully) another price drop on the ps3, and hell, there are some games I want to play on the ps3 anyway. So overall a much better deal, than an addon, in my opinion.

driven2sin @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:24PM

why wouldn't M$ make a cheap ass, lose money on it, blu-ray addon for $50 to thwart people buying PS3s?

ill trooper @ Feb 24th 2008 2:33AM

I don't think people who want a blu-ray movie player want the 360 as a movie player - the 360 is noisy due to its fans, and if you really want a movie player, you probably don't want a device with one drive for games and another external drive for movie playback.

In other words, I think the PS3 is the only acceptable choice if you're looking at a game console as high-def disc player. The 360 is going to stick with rental downloads from the marketplace.

vidGuy @ Feb 24th 2008 3:31AM

360 is a lot quieter than the PS3 in my experience. Though I'd rather have a stand alone player than either for my viewing experience.

ill trooper @ Feb 24th 2008 4:00AM

Vidguy - c'mon, guy. Let's get realistic. I like the 360 a lot too, but a 360 is not 'a lot quieter' than a PS3 unless the said 360 is turned OFF. This is common knowledge, not my opinion.

vidGuy @ Feb 24th 2008 11:03AM

I must have the super quiet 360 and the jet-engine PS3 than.

Brucie B @ Feb 24th 2008 11:35AM

ill trooper (I don't think people who want a blu-ray movie player want the 360 as a movie player - the 360 is noisy due to its fans)

The 360 will be Dashboard quiet. So Yes I think it would be fine for movies.

deaftly @ Feb 24th 2008 11:52AM

I have the hddvd addon and I can honestly say the 360 is very quiet when watching movies.

josh @ Feb 24th 2008 12:53PM

"and if you really want a movie player, you probably don't want a device with one drive for games and another external drive for movie playback."

i would much rather have a drive for movies and a drive for games. though i personally would rather have them in seperate devices entirely. i'll be buying a standalone blu ray player one of these days...

vidGuy @ Feb 24th 2008 1:21PM

So it's possible that my ears DON'T deceive me?

John McPoop @ Feb 24th 2008 4:21PM

@Vidguy

Unless the new SKU 360's are super quiet than yes the 360 is MUCH MUCH LOUDER than the PS3. In fact, my PS3 is super quiet and hardly makes any noise at all. My 360 on the other hand (when its not shipped off to Max for repair) sounds way way to loud. It's not to loud to watch movies for me because I have it far away and the surround sound cranked up but it is loud and noisy.

If your PS3 is that loud you probably have a bad console. My PS3 is quiet as a mouse especially compared to the 360.

ComradeTrotskii @ Feb 24th 2008 9:24PM

Josh: I hear ya. I already have separate devices for watching high def movies and playing games.

One is called a PS3 and the other an Xbox 360.

Thankyou, I'm here all week folks.

Dauragon88 @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:24PM

hah funny thing, I've given up on Microsoft a since my second xbox red ringed a couple hours ago.

In all seriousness I am just glad the format wars are over.

I sense a PS3 and a HD TV in my future.

Jason @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:58PM

You're the first 360 owner I've seen on here who has any sense. So many people are like "I've had 3 RRODs" and they are still sticking with the 360. +10 for you.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 23rd 2008 11:09PM

Do me a favor and ship me all your 360 games, kay?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Feb 23rd 2008 11:23PM

Well the reason why I'm sticking with Microsoft is...

1. I don't really care about MGS4, R&C, FF13 or any other Sony exclusives(note: If you can't tell, this is an opinionated response. So don't give me a fucking list cause I don't care).

2. I will miss games like Mass Effect, Fable 2 and Gears of War2.

3. There is no way in all of mother fucking hell will I be willing to rebuy all of my multi-platform games. Mother fuckers.

4. Points

I don't think that makes me crazy for sticking with Microsoft.

Cr33pingParanoia @ Feb 25th 2008 1:32AM

Uh, the reason people stick with 360 is because it has better games. End of story.

Tiptup300 @ Feb 24th 2008 1:41AM

I haven't had an RROD yet, but my 360 does overheat every 2 seconds + its ear-shatteringly loud. I noticed I play my ps3 (with 2 games) more than my 360 (with 15 games.) Its a much more soothing environment of gaming.

Tiptup300 @ Feb 24th 2008 1:42AM

vidGuy @ Feb 24th 2008 3:24AM

360 > Wii > PS3 in terms of playtime, games, and overall experience, for me at least. PS3 has been a huge disappointment all around. I'd rather buy a third PS2.

embassy @ Feb 24th 2008 3:59AM

why are people staying with MS even after multiple RRODs?

how do they garner such loyalty?

well, they do have these things called "games", and they have quite a few of them, and alot of them are really quite good.

Korova @ Feb 24th 2008 8:45AM

As Don Corleone said:

I want to leave. But they keep pulling me back in:

-with good games
-points
-live
-did I mention good games and live

Although, I gotta say the PS3 is becoming an interesting proposition:

-blue ray
-FF13, i wanna try it
-folding at home (i like charity stuff)

Dauragon88 @ Feb 24th 2008 1:13PM

Don't get me wrong, I don't have any vendetta against Microsoft. I just like stuff that works. If I buy a Toyota and the wheels fall off, TWICE, chances are that the next car that I purchase isn't going to be a Toyota. I will gladly buy another 360 when there isn't a constant looming chance that its going to break down in the middle of a game of Halo/Dead Rising/Viva Pinata or what have you.

hotnutz @ Feb 24th 2008 1:15PM

Vegeta: Your 2nd point does not make sense - all those games will come out for the PC. The 360 has very little in terms of full exclusivity.

Your others points are quite valid though getting emotionally invested in a piece of hardware that dies as often as it does does not sound like a good thing to do. ;)

Deck @ Feb 24th 2008 3:14PM

@embassy: Library of games. That is the reason that people (myself included) continue to stick with the 360. Also, XBL is really nice. Sure it could use some more things, but it is for sure the superior online multiplayer method of gaming. Even if you have to pay for it. I am not going to go on and name a huge list of games but anyone, even if you are not a fan of the 360, must understand and respect the fact that the 360 has a lot of good games for the system.

John McPoop @ Feb 24th 2008 4:25PM

The only reason I still have a 360 is because they keep fixing it for free (6 RROD at repair now!!). If they did not fix it for free I would not buy another one. PS3 has had ZERO problems since launch. But I can see why if they fix it for free sticking with it. But buying a new one is a bad decision.

John McPoop @ Feb 24th 2008 4:45PM

@ Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo)

1. I don't really care about MGS4, R&C, FF13 or any other Sony exclusives(note: If you can't tell, this is an opinionated response. So don't give me a fucking list cause I don't care).

Well that still does not mean the 360 is not a cheap console that often breaks down. You like 360 exclusives good for you.

2. I will miss games like Mass Effect, Fable 2 and Gears of War2.

Your going to miss games in which 2 have not yet been released and the one that is can be purchased on a PC.

3. There is no way in all of mother fucking hell will I be willing to rebuy all of my multi-platform games. Mother fuckers.

Oh the ferocity in your text.Why would you have to! Oh yeah because your 360 will crap out and they will charge you $100.00 to fix it if it is not a RROD ( I have had 6 2 of which I had to do a forced RROD because of disk read errors). So you would rather spend $100.00 to fix a defective console or buy another new console that has a 1/3 chance of defection because "here is no way in all of mother fucking hell will I be willing to rebuy all of my multi-platform games. Mother fuckers.". Alrighty then!! So buy another 360 instead of a dependable console. In the long runyou will spend more money repairing your 360 than buying a new console. To each his own I suppose.

4. Points

OK good so you prefer points and hate Sony exclusives. No wonder you would exclusively support a flawed system. No problem there.

I don't think that makes me crazy for sticking with Microsoft.

Of course it doesn't because its your money to spend as you please. But, if it were the PS3 that were constantly breaking down and someone gave the same reasons you did in defense of not buying a 360 my guess is you would think they were crazy..

But, if you have to re-buy the console or pay more than once to get it fixed then I think you are crazy for sticking with it especially when most of the exclusive games are available on a PC.

If my 360 had not been fixed for free 6 times I would not have continued to support it. Now I mostly buy games for the PS3 (multiplatform games when possible) because I know it will not crap out on me in a few months or scratch my disc's.

I don't want to sound like I am talking BS but I do respect your opinion because from your comments you are a fan of games and not consoles like alot of the people on these boards. Your favorite games just happen to be on the 360.