PSA: Microsoft not planning Blu-ray drive for 360

by Richard Mitchell on Oct 22nd 2009 6:55PM

Today has seen several reports that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has confirmed a Blu-ray drive accessory for the Xbox 360. The purported revelation came from a Gizmodo interview, during which Ballmer said that 360 owners wanting a Blu-ray player could purchase "Blu-ray drives as accessories."

Clearing the air, Microsoft's Larry Hryb (a.k.a. Major Nelson) has gone on the record saying that the company has "no plans" for a 360 Blu-ray drive, adding that Ballmer was actually referring to Blu-ray drives for PCs. Hryb reiterates -- as did Ballmer -- that the main push for the Xbox 360 will be streaming media, noting specifically that the upcoming Dashboard update will bring instant 1080p streaming, a feature of the Zune Video Marketplace.

Now, say it with us (one more time): Blu-ray isn't coming to the Xbox 360.

Source

Tags: blu-ray, debunk, Microsoft, rumorong, steve-balmer, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (84)

So....does this mean I can't trade in my HD-DVD drive for a Blu-Ray Drive?

Aww shucks!

This is Ballmer so i need a specific details because you now what happen during E3 when he said Natal will be playing in a NEW XBOX

it is confirm: NO BLU-RAY FOR XBOX 360
http://kotaku.com/5388041/microsoft-no-blu+ray-add+ons-coming-to-xbox-360

I wonder if I could open up the HD-DVD enclosure and swap in a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD combo drive? Then it looks like a Official Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive, then just need to figure out how to get the console to decode Blu-Ray as well.

Exactly, there is no Blu-Ray for the Xbox 360. It will come in the next Xbox that will be Natal focused. RUMOR FORCE GO!

No, but you can trade in some of your HD-DVDs for Blu-Rays.
http://red2blu.com/

meh i can definately see a blu-ray add-on drive being announced...

but the way MS came out with that stupid press release to cover up a slip-up makes me wonder... their response doesnt make any sense in relation to PC, it really sounds like they are working on a blu-ray movie drive but dont want to talk about it.

That's cool, I don't need it anyways.

I thought it was a little strange that MS would announce something like that in an interview and not some big trade show.

Since when do people/companies unannounced things at big press conferences?

"Laddies and gentleman welcome to E3! We have big news today! Microsoft is happy to announce that the Xbox 360 brand will NOT be receiving a Blu-ray addon! Hip hip hooray! hip hip hooray!"

I didnt mean unannounce it. I meant that I figured MS would announce a bluray player at a trade show... You are right, unannouncing something would be stupid

Damn.

...and I'm done caring.

Well there you go.

Again with this?...
They have no reason to add a Blu-Ray drive to their system.
They're not struggling for sales or anything.

They are not trying to change something that people like the way it is.

In the future (XBox 720?) they will probably use a Blu-Ray based optical drive.

Nobody cares that XBox 360 uses a DVD drive just like a PS2.
Nobody will care that XBox 1080 uses a Blu-Ray drive just like a PS3.

blu-ray is cool but xbox can't use it to their 360 games. Blu-ray is equal to more gameplay and more sharper images

jcjnumbersnumbers, all a Blu-Ray disc is practically useful for is storing more information, which usually comes down to the heavy things like audio and pre-rendered video. It doesn't result in sharper graphics, it just eliminates the need to switch discs halfway through a game heavy on voiced dialogue.

So Microsoft is actually doing us a favor. Switching those discs will help burn those carbos!

I honestly don't get the issue either. I really don't know of any cross platform games that had trouble with using DVDs instead of BluRay... except I think I heard something about FFXIII using 2 discs. Can anyone name a few more for me? Beuller?

The Last Remnant is on 2 DVD's, Doom 4 is rumored to be split across 3 DVD's. I think FF XIII is supposed to be multi-disc as well. So it's not unheard of.

exactly and by the time xbox 720 comes out they will use a faster blu ray drive...

Actually, it could result in crisper graphics, but only because there is more room to store uncompressed, higher-res textures. In terms of current consoles however (360 vs PS3) that is negated by the PS3s smaller amount of memory (so it can't load as much texture information, hence some games looking slightly muddier on PS3), so currently, yes, the only real advantages are more room for pre-rendered videos & uncompressed lossless audio and not having to split games onto multiple disks (not that there are that many which do)

Woo! Streaming media!

Hear that? That's the sound of video and sound quality going down the toilet!

HD-DVD is dead omg

Steve Ballmer has already commented on this issue, this is his explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc

Why not just buy a Blu-Ray player or PS3 if it's that important ? Knowing their pricing strategy with 360 accessories the drive will probably cost as much as a new PS3/Blu-Ray player anyways...

..It would mean changing the channel..

I don't see why they couldn't have just switched over to HD DVD and release games on that format.

Why don't you ask Sega or about any other game system manufacturer that tried to tack a new format onto an existing platform. Sega CD, Sega 32X, or Sega CD+32X ring a bell? Four formats one Genesis and a whole lot of WTF?

But-but-but-but... I-I thought... those rumors... whuh... why?

You know what's funny about this? Back when it was the HD DVD and Blu-Ray war, Microsoft said they would add support to their system for whichever won. It's been about 2 years since they've said that, and now they're saying it's not going to happen.

Must mean they thought HD DVD was going to win.

Blu-ray beat out HD DVD, but it still has a long way to go before beating out regular DVDs. DVDs still sell way more than their Blu-ray counterparts, though obviously that lead has been diminishing.

Of course DVDs sell more, you didn't expect people to just drop thier DVDs and switch to blu-ray did you? Unless theres a requirement, people will avoid buying new products until they see fit. There are still people who haven't got internet yet because they don't think it is necessary.

Saying that, those who want to keep up to date with the latest stuff and watch thier films in the best quality possible with buy blu-ray, everyone else will take thier time about it.

I'd say Netflix is winning ;)

He specifically said not coming to 360....

He didn't say not coming to their next system though. I think it will be silly if MS is still using DVD for the next generation.

Why not use a HD-DVD based format, with a balance of high storage & low seek times, and have it as a propiety disc format - exclusive to the next-xbox, never making a RW version.. sure might help against piracy

What's it cost to rent one of those fancy 1080p 'instant streaming' movies?

6 bucks for 24 hours? When I can roll down to my local Family Video and pick up a new release Blu-Ray for half the price..

Is paying double really worth the convenience of not having to leave your house? If this is Microsoft's future, I think I'd rather stick with the past.

Until prices for digital rentals drop, I think most people are just going to stick with Netflix for streaming and Blu-Ray rentals.

Not to mention those 1080p streaming videos look worse then a Blu-Ray.

1080p... looks worse than Blu-ray... 1080p...

So, you're already buying the 1080p movies off the Zune Market Place?

@ LameDuck

"While the video quality doesn't come close to a dedicated Blu-ray disc, not many instant streaming services can match the Zune Marketplace's fidelity."

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/hands-on-facebook-twitter-last-fm-and-zune-marketplace-on-xbo/

It's too late anyways.

it would be pointless for them to make a BD add-on....as it would cost $150 and in turn look even more as if they were ripping people off....so they will continue with the "1080p streaming is all the 1080p you need" talk....at any rate if they did ever have an Xbox with a BD drive I don't think it would be this gen...and I doubt it would be used for the games

$150 don't be too generous

Since Xbox doesnt have a BD drive, has a region locked video download service ( for me at least, since I live outside of the US).

I went with a PS3 instead, kinda nice to have uncompressed audio and video, extra features and a copy that is mine to do with as I please.

Microsoft must really be getting tired of Ballmer saying all this stuff and them having to rephrase it and whatnot. Shit I would've told the guy to just stop talking by now.

You would have done that and then he would have thrown a desk at you.

Tell me about it Anthology, He throw a desk at me and all I did is that I forgot to add cream to his coffee.

Blu-ray is dead - so who cares about an addon?

USB sticks and streaming is the future :)

i wouldn't say blu-ray is dead, but i do agree that streaming is the future, and potentially some form of digital download, even for large downloads such as movies.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6701407.html

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6698792.html

You crazy silly man.

Blu-ray is FAR from dead, but I agree that streaming is the future. Too bad it is the distant future...

If streaming is the future, God help us all...

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days

Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 220 comments
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 153 comments
David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 108 comments
Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments
Battleship movie adapted into FPS by Double Helix 93 comments

PSA: Microsoft not planning Blu-ray drive for 360

Reader Comments (84)

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 6:57PM CarpeD1em500 said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:32PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:56PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 8:00PM KAL326 said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 10:31PM AUserName said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 10:37PM ksiddique said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 10:55PM d889 said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 6:57PM Dr Perry Ulysses Cox said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 6:59PM ColeM said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:42PM Deschain said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 9:26PM ColeM said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 6:59PM Cena said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:03PM Viva La Snake said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:03PM Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:45PM ROBOCOLOSSUS said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 10:34PM ZaxCG2 said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2009 1:01AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2009 6:37AM Mindgrinder said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2009 6:39AM Alphathon said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:23PM Otimus said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:05PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:08PM Pure Black World Tendency said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:08PM XGM said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 8:42PM Mazrael said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:08PM SpydaKat said

Posted: Oct 23rd 2009 10:31AM KAL326 said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:09PM ch3burashka said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:11PM Nolan North said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:17PM Puertoricarious said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:26PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:35PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:13PM Giggman said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 8:49PM Mazrael said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:14PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 9:59PM Kodros said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 10:57PM AUserName said

Posted: Oct 26th 2009 6:31PM Kodros said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:16PM Marco le Polo said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:16PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:53PM s ls said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 9:11PM Obienator said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:20PM Bedlight said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:23PM Anthology said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:52PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:24PM TerrifyingTeapot said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:28PM Puertoricarious said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:38PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 7:52PM Ashitaka said

Posted: Oct 22nd 2009 11:26PM linebeginstoblur said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier brings information warfare to the front

Rhythm Heaven Fever review: Crazy into you

Remedy not done with Alan Wake

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days