Rumor: Lite-On bringing Blu-ray drives to 360

This is pretty fishy. The Digitimes article mentions that the new box will have a "170 watt PSU instead of the 210 that existing Xbox 360s use"-- a completely inaccurate statement given that many Falcon 360s come with a 175 watt PSU (my Elite did).

Including a BD drive also raises some tough questions, like how much will they charge for it? Realistically they can't even get away with more than $399 since it's directly comparable to PS3 at that point, and still lacks WiFi. Maybe $450 since it presumably would come with the 120gb hard drive, but then what do the not-very Elites go for then?

It really seems like the only thing that makes sense is to make a clone of the HD-DVD add-on instead, just with this Lite-On BD-ROM inside...

If it's quieter, I'm for it.

So what about everyone who already has a 360? Will they be Blu-less? Wouldn't it be smarter to put out an add-on instead of a internal drive, so that people that have already purchase one wouldn't have to buy another 360 just to play Blu-Rays.

Look- Of course they won't admit it. If they admit they're building Blu-Ray into the console, then they won't sell any consoles until the Blu-Ray version is out, because consumers will wait for it.

So they lie and hope to pick up more sales until the official announcement.

Standard practice.

I'm sure they will miss you since you hate it here so much.

Joystiq,

THIS IS AN APRIL FOOLS ARTICLE.

And you want to be considered competent journalists. Laughable.

Think about it, and INTERAL BD drive? Yeah, MS is dying to make those 17m+ system obsolete and alienate thier loyal fanbase.

If this is true, I would have to say this is what Microsoft really have planned.

At E3 2008 they will announce an upgrade from 20GB to 60GB for the Pro Model, Arcade and Elite staying the same.

Fall 2008, Microsoft phase out the current Elite, announce a new model true to it's name. Built in Blu-Ray, Built in Wireless, Bigger Hard Drive, all for $299 which the PS3 will likely be by then. That's the PS3 comparison competition sorted.

The Pro and Arcade will be a lot cheaper and appeal to the masses and the gamers so Microsoft has every base covered.

Fall 2009, Microsoft announce the Xbox 360 Mini, much like Sony has done over the last two generations with the Playstation as PSOne and PSTwo. By this time the Valhalla(CPU and GPU on one chip) chipset for the 360 will be available. All 360 SKUs will be released in this format and that will ride out Microsoft for the remaining 360 lifetime while they get the Xbox 3 ready. Profit making 360 even after the Xbox 3 launches just like Sony with the Playstation.

Bet Ya!

As long as BR movies still have an asinine price tag on them I could really care less. Talk about throwing money in the toilet @ 35 beans a movie.

The irony here is that he'd get banned from kotaku for posting that post.

Jesus PLEASE stop thinking the games will be put on BR disc. THEY WON'T PERIOD. MS can't just tell the 10 million who have a 360 with standard DVD drives "too bad you need a new 360 with BR to play these games now." Just stop even mentioning it as it makes you look stupid and drags other stupid people into the pointless and stupid comment war. It won't happen this gen and that's that. DUMBASSES

what's the date of today again?

but seriously, it wouldnt surprise me if it was true. digital distribution is certainly the future but not everyone is prepared to make that jump yet. if they stay true to their objective to be about choice then this will probably just be another SKU or added into the Elite or something.

if microsoft adopts blu-ray into its system then thats a big plus for them, granted sony would be making royalties from heir biggest competition in the gaming biz but im sure that all games made by scea are running on windows and pc based machines so it goes hand in hand in some ways. they would have a much larger storage compacity for their games without having them come in 2 and 3 disc sets ala psone generation. plus they would be able to market their machine as the whole entertainment deal, lagging behind in even one area with something that popular could cause alot of damage, seeing as they are really targeting damn near identical audiences. hd is dead so its time to move forward as buisness should. itd be a big plus for consumers, with the exception of those who already have a 360 but thats why they make both external and internal models which will make everyone happy and keep them in the race within the next gen movie war.

Don't need blu-ray.. for what? Gimmie games. Wait, M$ is doing a dang good job at that!


Carry on!