Rumorang: Lite-On not manufacturing Xbox 360 Blu-ray drives, Microsoft insists
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Apr 2nd 2008 at 6:30PM }
Additionally, Microsoft used its swift denial as an opportunity to plug Xbox 360's Video Marketplace, saying, "For our customers who want a premium movie experience we offer the largest library of on-demand HD content available" ... and oh, don't forget, a budget-priced HD-DVD player! (While supplies last.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nxtiak @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:33PM
Ya, I prefer my Black Elite than the boring old white.
First.
Howl Pendragon @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:35PM
I don't care about Blu-Ray.
John McPoop @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:37PM
And to think that there was an entire flame war over this for no reason et all..
copa @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:39PM
"Lite-On is not manufacturing Blu-ray drives for Xbox 360."
That's a stupid non-denial. The original report never said that Lite-On was manufacturing Blu-Ray drives for XBox 360. It said they entered discussions with Microsoft about building them into the 360, and that there were licensing and cost concerns.
Blu-Ray may never show up on the 360, but Microsoft certainly isn't ruling it out.
Figman @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:41PM
will this rumour ever die? Microsoft are to commited to digital distribution to relase a blu-ray player this generation.
Howl Pendragon @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:43PM
Unfortunatley this rumor will never die. Xbox fans will keep bringing this rumor up in hopes that it will come true. Obviously they want Blu-Ray on 360 but unfortunatley its not going to happen.
Lone Starr @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:49PM
Obviously? I don't think a lot care.
I think the main group this matters to are the gamers who don't really game because they are two busy arguing on blogs.
Darkbhudda @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:10AM
Now with HD-DVD in a coma we are no longer bombarded with daily rumours about internal HD-DVD drives. Now we get rumours about internal Blu-Ray drives instead. Oh, vey.
It's not the gamers, it's the blogs who keep on posting this.
duerra @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:49PM
Microsoft shouldn't start requiring a blu-ray drive in all of their 360s, but in order to keep up with the PS3, now that Blu-Ray has won the HD format war, Microsoft needs to do *something* or risk losing buyers that want a 360, but are cost conscious and can't afford both consoles (but want their system to be future-proof).
I can't speak for everyone, but I am one of those people. I would buy a 360 if they came with a blu-ray drive in a heartbeat, but in the mean time I'm seriously considering getting a PS3 instead because it has blu-ray. And at present, I can't afford both consoles.
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John McPoop @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:59PM
I will check out your site and I appreciate the disclaimer instead of just spamming.... Now, I own all 3 consoles and both handheld systems. I am of the opinion that the PS3 is the better console... I do not want to start some flame war or list war but I will put it simple... The Wii is not really a media hub, The 360 has had reliability problems to put it nicely (I have had 6 RRODs since launch) and the PS3 is lacking in 1st party exclusives. Now, I choose the PS3 as my favorite because of all the media capabilities and easily upgradable HDD. If you are considering purchasing one and are cash conscience you should pick up an 80 GB (MGS 4 Bundle is slick) or the 60 GB model. The 40 GB will be cheaper but you lose out on Backwards Compatibility. Just look at the games and features and weigh the options. I have heard the new 360 SKUs have better cooling and are more dependable. I just think as a multimedia hub the PS3 is king but you know what they say "jack of all trades master of none". The Wii is probably your worst bet if you desire multimedia functions. Its certainly your best bet for price (if you can find one) and it has some good titles. However, you will miss out on most multiplatform titles as they are typically not released on the Wii or a scaled down Jr version is released. I like all of them but have been able to do much more with the PS3 beyond even Blu-Ray.
I am sure your well informed on all of this but I figured I would throw out my opinion as someone who owns all of the consoles. You really can't go wrong with any of them it just depends what you want your console to do. I look at the PS3 & 360 as super media computers with the edge in media to the PS3 and edge in games to the 360. I look at the Wii as a low cost alternative thats fun for the whole family but lacks many media capabilities in comparison.
Intentless @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:46PM
John Mc something... Then you are not in it for the games your points are valid but its about the games... It should be a video game console first a "media" center second... Not that I'm not getting a PS3...
Nate @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:35AM
It is about the games - 90% of titles are multiplatform on both PS3 and 360. Both consoles have very good exclusives. To someone just coming into the next gen console world, the gaming libraries are pretty equivalent, simply because they both have more good games than normal people (even hardcore gamers) can afford to buy or find time to play.
The PS3 also has motion sensing controllers, which the 360 does not. That's a fairly significant *gaming* advantage (even if most games so far don't take much advantage of it).
The PS3 also has free online *gaming*, which another big plus. Sure, if you spread the $50 that Live costs over the year, it's cheap... but it's not spread out over the year, you pay that $50 all at once, which is another game I could buy.
So... given all that, I would probably buy a PS3 for *gaming* reasons, even if it didn't have the blu-ray player. Putting the blu-ray player in there, and taking into account much higher reliability and more open standards, it becomes a no brainer.
Synner @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:44AM
actually nate, you can buy the live in a 3 6 or 12 month sub. I think you can do it for like 7.99 for the 3 month.
Ludwang NDF- Roof Tiling @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:53PM
HD-DVD is still superior to Blu-Ray.
WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:01PM
Yes.
Smaller capacity, and a text based interface that BD live will soon surpass.
Yep, yer darn tootin right about that.
Howl Pendragon @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:01PM
Actually Blu-Ray can hold 50 GB on a dual layer BD unlike HD-DVD which holds less.
Zeus.:God @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:21PM
Its superior in the fact that it was, and always will be, better for the consumer in price vs quality and so on.
HD-DVD, at the moment, still offers more features than any Blu-Ray movie.
Too bad such a great format had to die.
Oh well, for those of you who see Blu, let the price gouging begin! Oh... Wait... Already has! LET THE PRICE GOUGING CONTINUE!
Intentless @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:48PM
HD DVDs had more special features.
Same quality video.
And BluRay is restricted to a small limit of layers.
HD DVD has a much higher capacity for layers and could have surpassed BluRay in memory. Given time just like the argument that the PS3 and BluRay would be superior... Given time...
WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:59PM
I find it infinitely funny that so many bashed Sony relentlessly for including Blu-ray in the PS3. And now Microsoft fanboys clamoring for MS to do the same thing. Of course they are diluding themselves into believing that MS will build a 360 with an INTERNAL BD drive.
Oh, the IRONY of it all.
I said it was an April fools joke. Looks like Joystiq FINALLY caught on.
Howl- SRF @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:10PM
Couldn't agree with you more.
Viridium @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:19PM
I find it infinitely funny that you:
a) think people are clamoring for BD on 360
b) think it would be an internal drive
c) can't spell deluding
I only got into HD-DVD because Best Buy paid me $6 to purchase the 360 addon, and I've been able to buy some decent titles for $6 to $8.
Otherwise, upscaled DVD looks pretty damned good and is way cheaper. High-def, either HD or BD, is still an incredibly small portion of the overall market now. Why would MS want to increase their costs of the console when they're actually making some money now, and no games would come on BD anyways?
ScottyGEE32 @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:47PM
Why is it funny? I just want HD movies accessible to me for a cheap price.
However, I'm not one of the people you described as being someone who insulted another company for including a new-at-the-time-rivalled-by-HDDVD technology...Which is ridiculous to begin with.
ScottyGEE32 @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:49PM
But regardless, I know it won't come true either ;p
The only time I will bother believing such a thing is when its out in Australia.
Howl- SRF @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:57PM
The original article talked about Lite-On making a built in Blu-Ray drive.
smjames23 @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:03PM
the transfer speeds for blu-ray are just not good enough yet...hence the whole 30min install for certain games on the POS3...the only way to do it would be the same as the HD add-on and make it for movies ONLY. which is a good idea. MS will never allow games in blu on the 360 this gen.
Mr Khan @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:23PM
I could see this coming by the end of the year, just not built-in like that one rumor was saying
DangerMouse @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:23PM
Microsoft likes to release slightly different revisions, add-ons, and gadgets to the consumers . It's the same shit that Sega used to do, and look what happened to them. They had some good stuff, but releasing a worthless system when a brand new one is right around the corner is a big fuck you to your hardcore fans.And with the RROD, Microsoft has a shitload of damage control to deal with first.
Zeus.:God @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:42PM
Consider the damage controlled.
Synner @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:47AM
funny that the only people still talking about rrod are stupid sony fanboys that wouldn't buy the 360 anyway.
Top Ramen @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:37PM
I like my Xbox, but really don't want to see any add-ons. I'd like to keep it strictly a game machine. If ever in the future I would end up watching more movies, then I would have to weigh PS3 vs. stand-alone player.
Another concern is how much would it cost? Then, you probably would be better off buying a PS3, that is if you don't have either system. It is a different scenario for everybody.
EcnobA @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:57PM
so with the blue ray drive i will be able to play MGS4 right?
Anthony @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:23PM
Blue-Ray will never come to the 360? That's a pretty long time, and a lot can change in the amount of time.
I assure you with no doubt that Microsoft will put Blue-Ray drives on their systems the moment they can make a dollar off of it, and not a second later.
AwesomeStuff @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:46PM
Home Movies avatar FTFW!!
Abscissa @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:41AM
"Microsoft has again flipped the 'light off'"
You Joystiq people and your silly puns.
LongshotX @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:49AM
All they are saying is Lite-On isn't making an internal drive. This does not mean Blu-ray 360 is dead.
ZeroCorpse @ Apr 3rd 2008 1:33PM
Like I said earlier, MS will NOT admit it even if it's true because to admit it now would kill sales of the current SKUs.
If you were thinking about getting a 360, but heard that a model equipped with Blu-Ray were on the way, would you get a Pro now, or wait and get the Blu-Ray version?
This is standard practice. Nothing to see here. Move along. We'll find out when they're ready to commit to it on the shelves.
Duke 2 @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:11PM
Alot of this stuff gets thrown to speculation for a lack of knowledge as to what Microsoft's mid / long term strategy was and how it took a couple twists and turns over the last several months. The 'missing pieces' so to speak...
In the near term MS had, as we all know, loosely backed HDDVD in a non-committal way. Contrary to popular opinion, however, that their lack of fully embracing the format actually guaranteed it's failure to BR, that is not the case. This was much more in the hands of the large film production studios than it was Sony integrating BR in the PS3 and MS offering an optional piggy back HDDVD player. Coming into CES in January, things were actually pointing to HDDVD over BR. If anyone knew how close Warner was in *not* going Blu, your head would spin. This was truly an 11th hour 'about face' born out of some extremely creative backroom negotiating. It's nothing short of remarkable how the very future of physical media twisted in the wind based on that fateful alliance. While MS had (and still does)appear to have outwardly walked the fence to the demise of HDDVD, they had in fact gone ahead and adopted the format and built a console with integrated HDDVD (Bill Gates last big Hoorah)- a thing of beauty that never saw the light of day outside of Redmond and the 3rd party vendor contracted to develop the console. Yes, simultaneous with the launch of the new console, they were also poised to officially 'outsource' console production and support to another company. Building hardware was no longer considered a 'core competency' and the $ billion RROD write off was a painful lesson not to be continued (remember the inexplicable shortage of consoles from Jan - Feb?) And you thought Toshiba's exposure was limited to their investment in a failed format did you?
Nope.
This was part of a 5 year plan largely seen as a transitional phase to the next real evolutionary step in what was (and still is) to be a convergence in what we currently think of as console gaming, IPTV and PC / media extension in a single all inclusive product / service ie DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION. This would keep MS extremely competitive with Sony and Nintendo during the interim while they capitalized on areas they already had a technical edge (networking, media extension, evolving high speed 1080i/p downloads to where it would be practical enough to become readily accepted by the masses as an alternative to the last phase of the physical media product life-cycle.
The kink in the gameplan was the last minute defection of the last hold out studio to BR which has left MS in a strategic dilemma. The interim built-in HDDVD generation console was a bust and adopting BR would entail a complete shift to publishing games on a format that would instantly create obsolescence and a tsunami of ill-will. Completely unacceptable as the strategy was not to move people to a new platform, but rather offer everything they were getting in a new, easier way through direct download. In other words, take a complimentary, progressive approach seen as easing people out of the comfortable familiarity of physical media while not alienating them with the prospect of losing use of all the $450 consoles and $60 games floating out there.
MS may well offer an external BR drive much like it did with the external HDDVD drive. This will purely be a function of demand and if the market sees it as a value-add or not, sticking to the mantra of offering customer's the 'flexibility to choose' what they want and don't want in their gaming / media consoles.
So, with the twists and turns that have transpired, MS is left without the midterm solution (the 'bridge' if you will)in it's 5 year strategy and instead is now essentially leap-frogging to the next phase- that of true media convergence / digital dsitribution. A tougher road to haul, but one that they see a distinct competitive and tactical advantage in making happen.
Oh, and as a disclaimer, everything above is nothing but pure speculative mindless ramblings of someone who just had some extra time on his hands!! :)