PSA: Microsoft not planning Blu-ray drive for 360
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Oct 22nd 2009 at 6:55PM } 
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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
CarpeD1em500 @ Oct 22nd 2009 6:57PM
So....does this mean I can't trade in my HD-DVD drive for a Blu-Ray Drive?
Aww shucks!
jcj2391 @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:32PM
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
jcj2391 @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:56PM
it is confirm: NO BLU-RAY FOR XBOX 360
http://kotaku.com/5388041/microsoft-no-blu+ray-add+ons-coming-to-xbox-360
kal326 @ Oct 22nd 2009 8:00PM
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.
LameDuck @ Oct 22nd 2009 10:31PM
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!
Kev (XBL: ksiddique) @ Oct 22nd 2009 10:37PM
No, but you can trade in some of your HD-DVDs for Blu-Rays.
http://red2blu.com/
d889 @ Oct 22nd 2009 10:55PM
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.
WREturns (Please buy and rate my iPhone game, Shape Tapper!) @ Oct 22nd 2009 6:57PM
That's cool, I don't need it anyways.
Cole @ Oct 22nd 2009 6:59PM
I thought it was a little strange that MS would announce something like that in an interview and not some big trade show.
Dr.House @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:42PM
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!"
Cole @ Oct 22nd 2009 9:26PM
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
Cena @ Oct 22nd 2009 6:59PM
Damn.
...and I'm done caring.
Bunny Xbox @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:03PM
Well there you go.
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:03PM
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.
jcj2391 @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:34PM
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
IGLAW @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:45PM
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.
ZaxCG2 @ Oct 22nd 2009 10:34PM
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?
Dr. Bradwart @ Oct 23rd 2009 1:01AM
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.
Mindgrinder @ Oct 23rd 2009 6:37AM
exactly and by the time xbox 720 comes out they will use a faster blu ray drive...
Alphathon @ Oct 23rd 2009 6:39AM
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)
Otis Whitaker @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:23PM
Woo! Streaming media!
Hear that? That's the sound of video and sound quality going down the toilet!
jcj2391 @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:05PM
HD-DVD is dead omg
Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:08PM
Steve Ballmer has already commented on this issue, this is his explanation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc
XGM @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:08PM
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...
Mazrael @ Oct 22nd 2009 8:42PM
..It would mean changing the channel..
SpydaKat 17 @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:08PM
I don't see why they couldn't have just switched over to HD DVD and release games on that format.
kal326 @ Oct 23rd 2009 10:31AM
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?
CH3BURASHKA @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:09PM
But-but-but-but... I-I thought... those rumors... whuh... why?
Espiownage @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:11PM
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.
David @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:17PM
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.
Maverick Saturn (Igor) @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:26PM
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.
t0ddd @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:35PM
I'd say Netflix is winning ;)
GiggMan @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:13PM
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.
Mazrael @ Oct 22nd 2009 8:49PM
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
Orchard Pear @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:14PM
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.
Kodros @ Oct 22nd 2009 9:59PM
Not to mention those 1080p streaming videos look worse then a Blu-Ray.
LameDuck @ Oct 22nd 2009 10:57PM
1080p... looks worse than Blu-ray... 1080p...
So, you're already buying the 1080p movies off the Zune Market Place?
Kodros @ Oct 26th 2009 6:31PM
@ 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/
Marco le Polo @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:16PM
It's too late anyways.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:16PM
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
Solace @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:53PM
$150 don't be too generous
Obie @ Oct 22nd 2009 9:11PM
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.
Konrad @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:20PM
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.
Anthology @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:23PM
You would have done that and then he would have thrown a desk at you.
Electro Poof [Super Nintendo IT ONLY DOES EVERYTHING - Now Only $29.99] @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:52PM
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.
Kevin @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:24PM
Blu-ray is dead - so who cares about an addon?
USB sticks and streaming is the future :)
David @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:28PM
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.
Ballistic H @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:38PM
http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6701407.html
http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6698792.html
Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:52PM
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...
linebeginstoblur @ Oct 22nd 2009 11:26PM
If streaming is the future, God help us all...