Rumor: Microsoft to announce Blu-ray 360 tomorrow

124 Comments by Griffin McElroy Jun 8th 2008 3:00PM
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

Tech blog CrunchGear is reporting that an inside source at Microsoft who was a former member of the company's HD-DVD department has confirmed that the company will announce that the "Xbox 360 will get Blu-ray before Christmas" via a press release set to go out at 9 a.m. PDT. Details about the supposed system are slim, though the tipster confirmed that the new model will cost less than an Elite model ($449.99).

The announcement is supposed to drop one hour before the opening of the Worldwide Developer's Conference in order to steal the spotlight from Apple's annual event. Kind of a bizarre move on Microsoft's part -- we doubt announcing a new model of your gaming console will overshadow an entire conference-worth of Apple-related news stories. As per usual with rumors (especially ones involving Blu-ray 360s), we'll keep our standard level of skepticism at heart as we refresh our mailboxes tomorrow morning.

[Via X3F]

Tags: apple, blu-ray, breakingnews, rumor, worldwide-developers-conference, wwdc, xbox360

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Obie: Jun 8th 2008; 3:08PM

It makes sense, why claim you have a "High Def" console that doesn't really play HD movies after HD DVD went dodo ( and sorry those compressed "HD" movies from marketplace don't count ).

I would bet on an external blu-ray drive, it would seem logical. Why the hell would they make another sku?
But then again, some would say MS has too many sku's already.

Kamizar: Jun 8th 2008; 3:39PM

I see what you did there...

Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674): Jun 8th 2008; 4:13PM

Last time I checked, Xbox360 was a game console, so the "High Def" label refers to 720p/1080i/p resolutions, specifically for the damn video games kids are playin these days. I agree with you there will likely be an external Blu-ray attachment (why would I pay $450 when I could pay $200 instead? Plus I wouldn't have to swap out Gears of War just to watch a movie). Also, the marketplace movies look fine to me (watching on 32" HDTV in 720p), but at around 4GB each, who wants to wait a couple hours for it to download?

Obie: Jun 8th 2008; 4:17PM

I agree the 360 is first and foremost a game system, but everytime I boot to the dash I get to see those lovely ads to download movies ( which I can't since I live outside the US 6 months a year ).

So yes, an external BR drive would be nice...and I'd buy it.

Nomi: Jun 8th 2008; 4:24PM

@Kamizar

How do you justify saying that?

blehh: Jun 8th 2008; 4:42PM

already debunked

http://gizmodo.com/5014393/robbie-bach-denies-blu+ray-xbox-and-zune-phone-but-hints-zune-platform-may-expand-to-other-devices

OTAM: Jun 8th 2008; 5:49PM

Wow blehh,they don't pay attention and just keep on posting.

Chris: Jun 8th 2008; 3:12PM

Strange....the conventional thinking seemed to be that the initial Xbox 360 HD-DVD support was an outgrowth of Microsoft's desire to prolong adoption of a disc-based HD format (since digital downloads would more clearly benefit them). I guess besides the technical benefits of Blu-Ray (larger disc size for more space for developers), and the marketing benefits of touting that the thing also plays Blu-Ray discs (somewhat dubious, since significant percentages of PS3 owners don't even know their machine plays Blu-Ray movies)...not sure what is to be gained from this by Microsoft...

SoulBlade: Jun 8th 2008; 3:22PM

I doubt devs will be able to use the Blu-ray drive for games. They have to code to the lowest common denominator which would be the DVD9 based HDD-less crap SKU

Obie: Jun 8th 2008; 3:29PM

Isn't the "read" velocity of blu-ray inherantly slower than regular DVD's? That is why a good portion of PS3 games require installs? I swear if the 360 will also require installs I will flip a shit.

And as far as I know there are no dual DVD/Blu-ray drives in existence.

DangerMouse: Jun 8th 2008; 3:29PM

I think it'll be reserved for movies, not games. No developer would put a game on Blu-Ray since doing so would be a complete failure since there's already non-equiped blu-ray 360's in the wild. The sole purpose of a blu-ray capable 360 is to offer it to a more casual consumer who's still not a console owner, but would sway towards the PS3 because of the Hi-Def movie capability. If it does come out, i'd put money on a different design, to make it more sleek and attractive for the entertainment center owner.

FSK405K: Jun 8th 2008; 3:36PM

"And as far as I know there are no dual DVD/Blu-ray drives in existence."

I guess you can't play DVDs on PS3?

Whoppy: Jun 8th 2008; 3:41PM

Blu-ray drives play DVDs, it would be silly if they didn't.

Obie: Jun 8th 2008; 3:45PM

Correct, but I don't mean I using the BR drive for DVD playback, but reading game data.
I would assume that in order to keep the 360 relatively speedy in that regard, a regular dvd laser would still be best.

Bah, I am overthinking this whole thing...it's still just a rumor anyways.

Extinction: Jun 8th 2008; 4:09PM

Actually PS3s Bluray drive loads 1.5 MB/second faster than 360s DVD

Rob Accomando: Jun 8th 2008; 5:39PM

If they do get Blu Ray, it will NEVER be used for games.

Thanks to the core system and the non-blu ray system.

That is, of course, MS decided to give EVERY Xbox360 owner a free upgrade to Blu Ray external.. which would never happen.

Anonim: Jun 8th 2008; 10:21PM

@Extinction
Actualy You don't know what you are talking about.

Blu-ray is slower than DVD in X360
http://www.emedialive.com/articles/readarticle.aspx?articleid=11404

BRx2 IS EQUAL TO 6.5 DVD speed!

*Also Bluray has VERY SLOW access time*
DVD ~110ms
2xBlu-ray >350ms

Vidikron (FU): Jun 8th 2008; 10:44PM

@Anonim

I'm not sure what the full specs are, but the chart is just the showing the equivalent speed. That doesn't mean that the BR drive doesn't actually read DVDs faster. For example, there's a 2X BR drive on Newegg that reads DVDs at 12X. In addition, the same is true for access times... those times are for reading BR, not DVDs. So access times when reading DVDs could in fact be much faster. Again, I don't know the full specs on the drive in the PS3, but I do know you making false assumptions.

Kilika: Jun 8th 2008; 11:53PM

Xbox 360 DVD drive reads at 105.5 Mbit/s using CAV (constand angular velocity). But since it reads at 8x for dual-layer discs, thats 84.38 Mbit/s. A 2x BR drive reads at 72 Mbit/s using CLV (constant linear velocity) for both single and dual layer disc. Which means a BR drive will always read at 72 Mbit/s at any part of the disc. For DVD9, the 360 drive peaks at 84.38 Mbit/s at only at the very outside end of the disc. At the inner part, it reads about half that which is an average of about high 60ish MBit/s, less than what a BD25/50 disc being read at 2x. And aren't most drives read from the inner part of th disc first? Which means DVD never attains its highest read speed until the very end of the disc.

Anonim: Jun 9th 2008; 12:56PM

FUD.

The DVD in X360 reads DL DVD at 12x spreed.

BECAUSE IT IS 16xDVD DRIVE capable of reading SL at 16x and DL at 12x WITH FIRMWARE LOOCK DOWN TO 12x to keep NOISE DOWN.

Check firmware hacks....

GFunk84: Jun 8th 2008; 3:13PM

If true, this will certainly kill off Xbox 360 sales for a good long while.

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120): Jun 8th 2008; 5:25PM

Your post doesn't make sense, you fail.

Ethan: Jun 8th 2008; 7:23PM

They wouldn't do anything other than have in in stores already if they announced it. Some manufacturers have been claiming to be making it already, hence a sales spike if anything.

Jtenma: Jun 8th 2008; 3:13PM

I wonder how many posts.....?

Vegnagun bwf: Jun 8th 2008; 4:37PM

Maverick Saturn: Jun 8th 2008; 3:14PM

Another rumour? And guess what, Micro will disagree with it....again ¬_¬

Chris: Jun 8th 2008; 3:15PM

BTW, does anyone know if the new Elites have a materially lower RROD rate? I really want an Xbox but just can't take the plunge until they figure that out (and make their long overdue price drop)

Fernando Rocker: Jun 8th 2008; 3:17PM

The RRoD problem is practically erradicated.

Any model manufactured from November 2007 to date uses the new Falcon chip, and uses a different power cable too, and consume less energy.

SoulBlade: Jun 8th 2008; 4:25PM

Early reports (Jan 2008) said the Falcon had about a 10% failure rate. That's still crap for a consumer electronics product, but better than its predecessor. I can't imagine that rate has gone down.

J: Jun 8th 2008; 6:58PM

I just got the RRoD two weeks ago. I don't have any Elite though.

Sure it kinda sucks, but the process of having it replaced is relatively easy and absolutely free.

why not the LS2LS7?: Jun 8th 2008; 6:59PM

The RRoD problem is absolutely "fixed" on Falcon.

MS removed the RRoD from the firmware. So when a Falcon fails, it fails in a different way. This is very convenient for MS because their extended warranty only covers the RRoD.

So this way they don't have to cover any future failures under their extended warranty, even if they are due to their own design mistakes.

NATO_Duke: Jun 9th 2008; 10:49AM

why not the LS2LS7? - Did you just make that up?

Fernando Rocker: Jun 8th 2008; 3:15PM

Now I will have to sell my 360 Elite. I don't play it a lot, so I can wait until the new model with Bluray.

GreyFox: Jun 8th 2008; 3:43PM

And I will be selling my Premium and I doubt I should have too many problems considering they will be releasing that handy dandy DRM software...soon I hope that shit is annoying as hell.

Hyams: Jun 8th 2008; 6:51PM

Why don't you keep the Elite and buy a PS3? The blu-360's only advantage over the Elite is blu-ray play-ability, which the PS3 can do too.

Fernando Rocker: Jun 8th 2008; 7:47PM

Hyams

Fernando + PS3 = Apocalypse

Hyams: Jun 8th 2008; 8:23PM

Well, I'm kindda hoping that if you actually buy one you won't hate on it so much. Mayhaps you'll realise the PS3 isn't as bad as you seem to imagine.

Also, I'd get a kick out of slaughtering you on Warhawk.

Ethan: Jun 8th 2008; 8:28PM

xbox - xbox + xbox = xbox

xbox + ps3 = ps360

owning both is for republicans and venture capitalists. Selling the xbox and buying a ps3 maybe, not in this case because I don't want to discover what's worse than the apocalypse, but buying both is absolutely a waste. They by and large do the same thing.

Fernando Rocker: Jun 8th 2008; 8:40PM

Wii + Xbox 360 = Wii60 = Best of both worlds.

Vidikron (FU): Jun 8th 2008; 10:47PM

PSWii60 + PC is even better.

@Hyams

What's your PSN ID? I play Warhawk from time to time.. usually fills the gaps between major releases. Mine is "Thraxen" (same as on Live).

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5): Jun 9th 2008; 4:50AM

Fernando is just fronting on Joystiq ... I have an e-mail where he admits he will get a PS3 eventually

kaneda: Jun 9th 2008; 9:37AM

Don't you worry Ferny. No one is gonna force you to buy that PS3 that you hate so much. You'll never have to worry about playing any PS3 exclusive, which I'm sure you hate on the actual merits of the games and not simply on the basis that it is on PS3.

Santo: Jun 8th 2008; 3:19PM

As long as Blu-Ray won't be required for any new games, I could give a shit.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread): Jun 8th 2008; 8:23PM

they wouldnt do that. which is also why i think they would just do an external one like the HD DVD drive. a blu-ray drive would still be able to play the DVDs the 360 games are on but that would require everyone to buy a new 360 if they wanted blu-ray. an external one is much more consumer friendly.

360 games will never be on blu-ray unless they do a PC style "DVD box with 4 disc or Blu-ray box with 1 disc" type thing, but that isnt a very practical business model.

Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!): Jun 8th 2008; 3:20PM

Please make it external MS! I don't want to buy another console just for the nice feature.

And if you do add Blu-Ray playback, please also release an update to make your media playback more robust. After coming from a PS3 to 360, I certainly miss some features like zooming in and out of photos and whatnot. : (

beatboxtaun: Jun 8th 2008; 3:22PM

It's about damn time

GaryM: Jun 8th 2008; 3:22PM

Why would they announce it six months before it's due for release?

SoulPatch: Jun 8th 2008; 3:26PM

All I know is that I will be frustrated if they do not sell an attachment blu-ray drive as well. I mean, I bought an X-box 360 a year and a half ago and I already missed out on the HDMI input, and now Blu-Ray? All this tells me is when the next X-box comes out I will not buy one, I'll just buy the Playstation where I get everything already.

Scotto: Jun 8th 2008; 3:32PM

Everything?

Depending on the model you get, you might get:

- Less USB ports
- Less HDD Space
- No hardware back-compat

IIRC, the 20GB models didn't come with wifi either. I might be wrong on that one though.

- Scott

jp: Jun 8th 2008; 4:05PM

that is pretty much exactly what i was going to say. they better offer an add-on cuz im not buying another 360 just for blu-ray when i could just as well buy a ps3 then. that way i can play mgs4 and final fantasy games, gt5, among others. i would think any 360 owner with at least half a brain cell would just do the same thing.

if they offered an add on i would actually buy it if it were cheap enough, that way they wont be allowing sony to get my money for games.

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