Sony, Microsoft 'in talks' over Xbox 360 Blu-ray drive

by Christopher Grant { Mar 6th 2008 at 5:28PM }

Financial Times reports that "Sony is in talks with console rival Microsoft about offering a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360." This is the first time we've heard any concrete details regarding such a move, though Microsoft has long suggested that adopting Blu-ray was a possibility. As early as CES 2006, in January of that year, Peter Moore said that Microsoft could release an external Blu-ray player if that format proved victorious (which it did); at CES this year, Microsoft's Albert Penello said adopting Blu-ray was "something [they'll] have to consider" if "consumer choice" demands it.

So when Sony Electronics US president Stan Glasgow says Sony and Microsoft are chatting Blu-ray, it's really not a surprise but an update. That said, Mr. Glasgow also mentioned talks with Apple, who has yet to offer a Blu-ray drive in any of its products and is (like Microsoft) focusing on digital downloadable content. We doubt Microsoft would release an internal Blu-ray drive, but an external drive seems like a safe bet in keeping with their HD media strategy.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: Blu-ray, BreakingNews, Microsoft, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Mar 6th 2008 5:30PM

This is just an open invitation for fanboys everywhere.

I'll get the popcorn!

kbomb1upc @ Mar 6th 2008 5:56PM

Oh this is going to be a fun comment section. We already have fernando getting voted down for his first positive PS3 statement ever, crazy ken is still being krazy and the kool-aid man is giving everyone a tall glass of pwnage. I love Joystiq.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 6th 2008 5:59PM

It's Joystiq fault... too much flamebait.

jonondaspot @ Mar 6th 2008 6:11PM

Do some research. MS Not in talks for Bluray drive. The article that Engadget draws on says MS in in talks about Bluray. This is for Vista support, not a 360 drive. Look at what was said versus what the writer interjected. He is the one that made that unsuppoeted leap to the 360.

Also this:

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9445&Itemid=2

"A Sony exec has reportedly said the electronics giant is in discussions with Microsoft about Blu-ray for Xbox 360, but a Microsoft rep tells Next-Gen that there are "no plans" to bring the technology to its console.
With Microsoft-supported HD-DVD now in format heaven, speculation that Blu-ray will head to Xbox 360 is now as open as ever.

The Financial Times in a Thursday article cited Sony Electronics US president Stan Glasgow, who reportedly said during a media dinner that Microsoft and Sony are discussing Blu-ray for Xbox 360.

But a Microsoft rep said in a phone interview with Next-Gen that that is "not at all" the case, and Microsoft will "remain focused on the games" for the console, not its movie playback capabilities.

"There are no plans to introduce Blu-ray," said the spokesperson.

"In response to Stan Glasgow’s statement that Blu-ray is a possibility for Xbox 360, we have made no such announcement," the rep added in an e-mail. "Games are what are driving consumers to purchase game consoles and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available."

Abscissa @ Mar 6th 2008 6:37PM

"Do some research. MS Not in talks for Bluray drive. The article that Engadget draws on says MS in in talks about Bluray. This is for Vista support, not a 360 drive."

I'm not usually one to write short pointless posts, but:

Ooohh, BURN!

dsalyers @ Mar 6th 2008 6:44PM

@Jonondaspot - Why would MS be in talks with Sony about Vista support for BluRay? Vista already has support for BluRay Drives.

As far as the denials go, I don't know if I really believe that BluRay will come to the 360, but I mean isn't this what all companies do when they are asked to comment about something that has not been announced, Deny deny deny.....

jonondaspot @ Mar 6th 2008 9:15PM

Bluray is barely supported in Vista and not properly at all. Try google. I have a BR deive and run Vista Ultimate and I have to reboot into XP to get the most out of it.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 7th 2008 12:42AM

@jondaspot

Ummm... the article over at Engadget has a quote from from a Sony US President that says, "Sony is in talks with console rival Microsoft about offering a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360." That's a direct quote. So unless they made that quote up, it's quite clear that the talks include the 360.

jonondaspot @ Mar 7th 2008 12:48AM

Yes Vidicron. T%hat is what the article says. That is what the writer werote. But that isn't what Sony said. SOny, not the writer stated:

But after Sony’s victory last month in the high-definition DVD format war, Stan Glasgow, Sony Electronics US president, said the two sides were now talking about Microsoft adopting Blu-ray.

Sony didn't mention the 360 at all. Nothing. Nada. The writer didn't personally interview the guy either. No quotation marks. He is making his own leap and missing the point that thousands of articles have discussed long before the format war ended. Proper Bluray support in Vista.

CB @ Mar 6th 2008 5:33PM

*waits for negative responses*

Hamza @ Mar 6th 2008 8:26PM

Microsoft's potential decision to add a Sony-patented Blue-ray drive == Troy's decision to allow the Greek-patented Trojan Horse as a gift.

They weren't lying when they said this was the PS3's year.

CB @ Mar 6th 2008 10:53PM

Yay, my first white-out comment!

deaftly @ Mar 6th 2008 5:35PM

Very smart move by Microsoft. Hey if you already own a 360 and just want to play some blurays, save some cash and just get the addon instead of a PS3. Bye bye PS3 sale.

Tranando @ Mar 6th 2008 5:38PM

Of course, if you go for the PS3 option, that Blu-ray can be used for gaming, getting the benefit of the faster Blu-ray transfer speeds and superior storage capacity...

The Blu-ray on 360 can only ever be used for movies, because of the 17 million consoles gone before it without one.

Abscissa @ Mar 6th 2008 5:51PM

Ha ha, fast BluRay transfer speeds. That's funny :)

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 6th 2008 5:45PM

In your scenario Sony doesn't really lose out either. If someone has a 360 and just wants Blu-ray then a standalone would have been their next best bet. At least this way Sony can get another Blu-ray player in homes for less than the cost of a standalone. For those interested in the PS3's games the PS3 itself is still an attractive package that is not dimished by the 360 having a BR add-on.

BUT if you look at it from the angle of someone that doesn't own either system this would seem to diminish the added value of the BR player in the PS3. Of course, the PS3's is still built in and isn't attached to noisy beast.

In the end though, it would be another be another BR player in the home for Sony where that might no otherwise have been one. If Sony and MS go through with this it seems likely that Sony has calculated the benefit of having more BR players in homes as being greater than the potential loss of PS3 sales.

Zeus.:God @ Mar 6th 2008 5:47PM

Yeah, because when you're going Blu-Ray, speed certainly is an issue. I mean, that add on player would be slow as Hell!

/sarcasm

I'm sure that 2x Blu-Ray drive in the PS3 is a real speed demon.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 6th 2008 5:48PM

Crap... I totally butchered the first sentence of that last paragraph. It should read, "In the end though it would be another BR player in the home for Sony where there might not have otherwise been one. "

why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 6th 2008 5:59PM

Zeus:
Due to the might higher data density of BD, the BluRay drive in the PS3 has higher transfer rates on portions of the disk than the 360 12X drive has, but only on portions.

The big problem with the PS3 optical drive is the access time, not the transfer rates.

Abscissa @ Mar 6th 2008 6:46PM

"...has higher transfer rates on portions of the disk than the 360 12X drive has, but only on portions. The big problem with the PS3 optical drive is the access time, not the transfer rates."

With both points still making it kinda silly for Tranando to promote BluRay for the reason of speed. Unless MS's player was faster, but it would only be used for movies which only need 1x (by definition), which would make any extra speed kinda pointless in that case.

Tranando @ Mar 6th 2008 7:30PM

Unbelivable, I set the bait, and the Xbots jumped right in there.

PS3's 2xBD drive is faster than the 360's DVD drive. Want some facts, rather than the brainwashed FUD that microsoft emailed you??

Here goes...

[B]2x Blu-ray Drive (72Mbps(9MB/s))[/B]
Single Layer (2x CLV) - Constant Linear Velocity (Same speed across entire disk)
Double Layer - Couldn't find any data but no games have been released on a double layer yet.

Entire Blu-ray Disk is read at 9MB/s.

[B]12x DVD-Rom Drive SL (9.25MB/S-15.85MB/s(AVG ~8x(10.57MB/s) DL (4.36MB/s-10.57MB/s(AVG ~6x(7.93MB/s)[/B]
SL(DVD-5) 12x Max (5-12x Full CAV) - Constant Angular Velocity (Speed Varies from edge to edge)
DL(DVD-9) 8x Max (3.3-8x Full CAV) - Constant Angular Velocity (Speed Varies from edge to edge)

In Summary:

360's DVD on Single Layer (4.3GB) DVD is 1.57MB/s faster than PS3's Blu-ray
360's DVD on Dual Layer (9GB) DVD is 1.07MB/s slower than PS3's Blu-ray

Consider very few games these days are on single layer discs, there is proof that PS3's Blu-ray drive is faster than the 360's DVD drive. The fact the PS3's Blu-ray laser operates at a higher wavelength, means the track pitch is finer also means seek times are much better than DVD.

Sources:

Hitachi 12x DVD-Rom Faq (Page 2)
http://www.hitachi.us/supportingdocs/support/manuals/gd7500,0.pdf#search=%22Hitachi%2012x%20dvd%20read%20speed%22
What is DVD?
http://www.videohelp.com/dvd

why not the LS2LS7? @ Mar 6th 2008 8:34PM

Abcissa:
In a COMPLETE bout of insanity, the minimum speed for a BluRay video drive is 1.5X, not 1X. Makes no sense, but it's true. So to play a video, you need to make at least 1.5X drive and run it at that speed or higher.

Tranando:
I don't take that 8X limit for dual-layer as gospel. It varies from drive to drive. I wish I had a way to easily measure drive speed in use so I could feel confident backing you up.

Seek times may be better on BluRay, in fact, the average seek (a true average seek, not just 1/3rd seek) is probably quicker. But, the time it takes to reacquire the track after seeking (settle time) is FAR higher on the PS3 because on average the disc has to rotate 180 degrees in order to find the track after seek. Since the 360 drive is spinning at 5x-12x instead of 2x, it takes 2/5ths to 1/6th as long to reacquire the track after the seek.

Just as with net connections, latency is a serious issue, and you can't make it go away. The PS3 will always be at a serious seek disadvantage to the 360 (unless it sprouts a faster BD drive at some point).

Is this the end of the world for PS3? Nope. Just like PS1 games got by with a 2X optical drive and PS2 and Xbox games got by with 4-8X, smart developers can work around this in many clever ways. But PS3 fans are well advised not to get involved in any smack talk with 360 fans over optical disk access times.

Korova @ Mar 6th 2008 5:35PM

Get it in front of me, MS. I'll hit it.

Master Bruce @ Mar 6th 2008 5:35PM

Sony's prescience has proven valuable once again. People must remember not to be shortsighted in the future...winning the battle is pointless if you lose the war. Sony took a lot of hits early on with its high price and late entrance due to the bluray drive...which is now proving to be the difference maker in the long haul.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 6th 2008 5:53PM

"Tranando? Hmm, your name seems like a conjunction of Fernando + transvestite: Tranando. Coincidence? I think not."

Yeah, I think that's the joke :-/

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 6th 2008 5:54PM

Sorry, that reply was meant for below.

Lone Starr @ Mar 6th 2008 7:17PM

"People must remember not to be shortsighted in the future."

If people forget this little bit of advice, would it be safe to say they are shortsighted?

pkpk523 @ Mar 6th 2008 7:30PM

I agree. I think only the true MS fanboys would be fighting this one. It seems like a win win to me.

Tranando @ Mar 6th 2008 5:35PM

So remind us again as to the total cost of the 360..

Console
Play and change kit
Wifi
HD DVD
Xbox Live subs
Blu-ray drive

LOL...

deaftly @ Mar 6th 2008 5:39PM

$349.99

Marry me Mario @ Mar 6th 2008 5:39PM

Micro$oft loves to nickel and dime the customer, just look at EVERYTHING they do.

sp @ Mar 6th 2008 5:40PM

remind us again what life is like under that bridge....

Grindstone @ Mar 6th 2008 5:41PM

Tranando? Hmm, your name seems like a conjunction of Fernando + transvestite: Tranando. Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway, I am happy to just download movies off XBL in hi-def. It is the future. Msoft can build a blu-ray player, but just like the HD-dvd, I won't be buying it.

Scotto @ Mar 6th 2008 5:51PM

Yeah, the whole modular design aspect of the XBOX 360 console has been a huge failure for them so far, eh. I hear the PS3 outsold them every month last year.

You fanboy retards never cease to amaze. Just buy whatever console(s) suit your taste, stop trying to justify your purchase to yourself by defending it against strangers on the internet, and shut the fuck up.

I hope all three companies combine to make one console next generation, if only so it gives people like you no reason to have an internet connection anymore.

- Scott

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 6th 2008 5:54PM

Tranando? Hmm, your name seems like a conjunction of Fernando + transvestite: Tranando. Coincidence? I think not."

Yeah, I think that's the joke :-/

Jacksons @ Mar 6th 2008 6:11PM

The only thing from that list that irks me is the WiFi. I don't have ethernet cables where my tv is, so I get to spend an extra $100 on the console right from the start, making it the most expensive of the three. (don't even mention the arcade, I'm not an idiot.) I love it, but I wish I didn't have to pay $100 for something so trivial.

Abscissa @ Mar 6th 2008 6:33PM

Disclaimer: I consider all 4 major systems (PC, Wii, 360 and PS3) to be a giant pile of "overrated". So don't read the following and try to call me a fanboy of one system or another. You'll just prove that you started spouting off without reading.

"Yeah, the whole modular design aspect of the XBOX 360 console has been a huge failure for them so far, eh."

You know what, I can get WiFi on my PC for about $50. Maybe even less. The Wii is $250 and has WiFi built-in. But then MS charges an extra $100 for WiFi on top of that $350. Don't try to tell me that's "good modular design". Charging $100 for WiFi is a rip-off no matter what.

As for online multplayer and modularity: Honestly, how many of the 360 owners out there AREN'T interested in online multplayer? That's an extra $50 per year over the lifetime of the system for the vast majority of 360 gamers. That alone puts it higher than the PS3 on just the second year of Live, again, for most users, and that's without any other extras.

Now, modularness (is that a real word?) on the high-def movie player: That I can respect simply because I can't even begin to imagine actually giving half a crap about high-def movies. With a videogame, it can sometimes be useful to have a higher-than-NTSC/PAL resolution simply because you sometimes need to be able to see things that are either small or off in the distance (SegaGT and Pikmin have often made me wish I was playing on a VGA or HD resolution, although many games I still don't care either way). But when do you need to see anything off in the distance in a movie? Anything you need to see in a movie, the director already makes sure you can see it (Paul Greengrass notwithstanding). Why would I care if I can pause a movie and see pores or beads of sweat? Well ok, maybe porn, but hell, I've got a PC for that! ;)

Also, @Grindstone, it's hard to determine your tone (being the 'net and all), but I hope you weren't trying to insult Tranando. His icon makes it pretty clear the "Fernando + transvestite" thing was intentional.

Spartacus @ Mar 6th 2008 9:47PM

So remind us again of the total cost of the PS3?

$499 console (it is the most popular apparently)
$55 DualShock 3 (x2)
$30 HD cables (average)
Non-user replaceable batteries ($$$)

Don't act like every console this generation doesn't have its drawbacks.

wes @ Mar 6th 2008 10:31PM

I think its more like

$399 console
$50 dualshock 3
$6 HD cables
Fully user replaceable batteries that dont run out for 3 years or so... ($$$) It shows you how in the manual...

Facts are awesome...

xAnarChisTx @ Mar 6th 2008 5:42PM

So, Microsoft will make Blu-Ray drives, and by making Blu-Ray drives, they will have to pay Sony some sort of fees? So, by paying Sony these "fees", then our money that is spent on buying the Blu-Ray drives, it wont really go to Microsoft, it will go to Sony?!?!?

DOES NOT COMPUTE!

deaftly @ Mar 6th 2008 5:46PM

Another thing to make your head explode. Bluray uses the Microsoft VC1 codec.

SoulBlade @ Mar 6th 2008 5:51PM

They also use Mpeg4 H.264 and Mpeg2, so it's not only Microsoft's codec in there, but it is a rather cool twist.

Grindstone @ Mar 6th 2008 5:52PM

It may be a wash, meaning, the money that Sony would pay to Msoft for the VC-1 codex is the same money that goes to Sony for the Blu-Ray license. Ya think? Hmm, no. If anything, Msoft gets more because all Blu-ray movies use VC-1 (now) while the 360 Blu-ray player is only one of many Bl-ray players available.