This would seem to go against what MS has been saying about digital distribution lately. I kinda doubt it'll happen, but I've seen stranger things.

If it's an external drive the 360 will rival the Genesis for being the Voltron of consoles.

vamponymouse

@Kaneda: meh. Small zing. MS would be taking much more money away from Sony in the form of console sales. MS and Sony don't really compete on the HD Movie side of things, so I'm sure MS wouldn't mind giving Sony's movie department a small pittance if it means beating out Sony's game department.

psycoking

@TheCleaningGuy:

They did do something original.

It's called Xbox Live

DoubleM

@Garo: Still. If only by principle, this would be a "zing!" in my book.

Kaneda

@Superstar90: I agree.

This should be optional like the
HDDVD drive was.

DONT F-OVER EARLY ADOPTERS MS!

yashichi8bit

@TheFaze:

Talk about not having enough games to actually have to spend 'minimal expense' because you only buy, at best, one game every two months =/

Byakko

I seriously wonder about how much money some xbot diehards have spend on their console of choice. I would imagine that they laid out the dough when it first launched, and probably once again got the elite version or maybe even the halo version once it came out later. I also believe that these diehards probably also spent some money on the hddvd add-on as well. THEN, also think about how many of those peeps then had trouble(RROD) with their consoles and how much time and money they had to spend on replacing the item or getting it fixed by MS. And NOW, the possibility of spending more money another possible version of the xbox or maybe even another add-on in the form of blu-ray functionality... WOW. Talk about getting screwed in more ways than one. Tsk, tsk, tsk...

And to be truthful about myself, I bought a 60gb PS3, and the only thing I've done is upgrade it to 250GB, which only cost about $130. And the only thing I have planned is to get the DS3 at some point later on. Gotta love the minimal expense. Too bad Sony didn't include the DS3 with the package to begin with cuz would have been even better.

TheFaze

Lets hope Microsoft doesn't make the same dumb route they did last time and say its DVD only and they'll never make games on Blu-Ray. If you could open a 360 Game up to a 50 Gig disc they could end any chance at a boost for PS3.

I wonder if Sony can block the creation though for the 360, its their tech being used and they may be allowed to limit the use for compitition.

Rbastid

@quen: I agree with your spec points but my performance fears aren't that MS would use BD-ROM to ship games, that would be a mistake of suicidal proportions if they do that. My fears are based on the BD-ROM drive keeping up in performance as BD-ROMS typically don't rotate as fast as DVD-ROMS but it seems you pointed out that that may be addressable.

@bluemanrule:
1) This will not segment the market. Supporting bluray does not mean they will allow it to be used as game media, it's simply just offering a competitive choice to consumers.

2) I'd like a gradient of HD sizes here too but the price of HD attachments is where I think they need to focus first but I definintly agree with you.

3) I wouldn't call this a major advantage (and maybe not even a selling point but rather an arguing point). I'm sure it may be convenient for some but I for one refuse to play games on my PC or anywhere else unwired if I had a choice just because I'd rather not deal with interference and lag added by wireless.

okenny :)

So the 360 would be running on SONY hardware...seems kind of ironic. ha!

fishing4monkeys

An internal BD drive shouldn't happen because....
1) As mentioned, segments the market
2) As mentioned, lack of std HDDs causes issues. Also, the 360s hdd sizes are either feast (120gb) or famine (20gb).
3) Wireless networking still cost $$. This a major advantage the PS3 has over the 360.

The best approach is to make it external, with great upsacling capability at an affordable price (sub $100).

I'd still like to see a Web browser and "date added" labels attached to marketplace media but we all know neither will happen. Sega, we need you next generation to straighten out the industry!

bluemanrule

@TheCleaningGuy:
Great point! Don't forget the skateboard by Qmotion

bluemanrule

Their denial of a bluray 360 is not at all unexpected.

If it were indeed true, they wouldn't want to shoot themselves in the foot by announcing it so everyone stops buying non-blu ray 360's.

Smart move on their part.

LeeHarvey81

You know, MS would be better of putting a hard drive with the core/arcade than getting Blu-ray drives. So i really dont see this happening. Maybe a year from now but Blu-ray drives are still expensive and the last thing Microsoft is going to do is release a more expensive SKU than the PS3. Think about it people.

Tiberian

I wonder if this is true, I mean it's the rumour that just won't die.

I would know why MS would not want to say anything on this (they'd alienate their users) but a lot of Taiwanese sources tend to jump the gun a bit too.

RPGr

Aww shit... If this happens, this will be a interesting battle.

Ixero

I doubt this is true, not until the next generation Xbox shows up anyway (can't be that quick!) Because, if they were to release one which can play blu-ray dics, what will happen to the current market with old Xbox 360s? They wouldn't be able to play the newest games! That would be very cruel and unfair!

Ricksterlau

@Superstar90: Sure, if it's next year, prices might have dropped to the point where that's reasonable.

@globones: No, I can't remember where I heard this but I think it's now about $80 [to large-volume manufacturers i.e. Sony] for a Blu-ray drive? So it would add about $60 to the manufacturing cost.

I would be a bit surprised if they added it built-in. What's the point? They can't allow companies to make games that use the discs. But, I guess they could include it in some kind of future 'Elite' model (plays 360 games on DVDs, plays Blu-ray for movies only, but could use same drive). Maybe it's solely for that - i.e. to aim at Sony's 'buy this game console and get a Blu-ray player free' advantage.

@okenny :): They don't need to use the same spec as Sony if they don't want to. The first BD-ROM drive (reader) for computers I found with a quick Google was a Pioneer BDC-202 (which is actually a DVD writer as well, so presumably if it were only read, you'd save a few dollars; it's full-height, though). This is 5x Blu-ray, which should be faster than the 360's 12x max DVD... and it can read DVDs at that same rate anyway.

This wouldn't be used for games. Even Microsoft aren't crazy enough to fragment their system variants to the point where games won't run. They won't even let people require an HD, why would they let anyone release games on Blu-ray?

quen

@Kaneda:
Yes, but small one.

Garo

@psycoking: If that was to happen, wouldn't Sony get a share of the profit for every Xbox MS would sell?

Kaneda

Still doubt it, but I say bring it on. It would be awesome to have one system capable of playing DVDs, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVDs.

KaneRobot

So wait... if blu-ray goes into the X360... will we start to see Blue rings of death in place of the red ones?

...Just some food for thought.

SlamDancinMoogle

@Treefingers: Blu-ray disc playing Xbox 360, natch!

Michael McWhertor

Hey whats a "BRD playing 360"?

Treefingers

Now will sony make more money from having blu-rays in 360's or or will they end up loosing money to people buying a 360 because of blu-ray instead of a ps3?
It looks like MS is going to just keep upgrading until both system are close to the same.. wonder how long they can keep that up?

Dr.H

What they must do is this: put a bluray drive inside the elite and sell at the same price as a 40GB PS3. It'll sell like hot cakes. Though, MS should not remove the high def cables (hdmi and component).

mcool93

Now why exactly is microsoft trying to become a monopoly. They are leaders in america for gaming (for now) and they lead in computers (sort to speak um blue screen of death ala red rings of death). Sony will not stand for a blu-ray add-on to the 360 let alone it wont be popular because developers prefer encoding on dvd rather blu-ray. If the console become b.r. with backwards compatibility then they have struck the gold mine. Good luck makin that system cheap and actually not having the r.r.o.d. on it.

Jnkzm4

@okenny :): Word!

Tepoz

I welcome it, the only thing I fear is that the drives would spin slower then the DVD9 specs and have much lower seek speeds that may affect 360 games on them. The benefits of doing this are simple: steal PS3 market share and defuse the perceived value just like they did with HDMI. The PS3 still has more sound output support though most of that caters to a super niche user base. Now, how they can do this without costing more then the 40GB PS3 is the only question and I have no answers there. I'd rather have them focus on cutting HD prices and getting 120GB to less than $110 and making 20GB about $50 and a standard on the Core SKU.

okenny :)

Let's put Blu-Ray's current importance into view:
[gizmodo.com]

Of course, this is not to say that eventually there may be a Blu-Ray add-on.

Tepoz

Thats fine with me, but can they just fix the RRoD while they're at it?

cybereality

@Jamaces:
Oh I can trace you down if it happens, Canadian brother!

IntelSilver

They could make an awesome Pixar-style game, with the same artstyle as TF2.

HaydenTenno

an add on makes more sense...why would they make a game on 2 formats and force people to buy into the blu-ray xbox...they wouldn't do it with hd-dvd and I highly doubt it will happen with blu-ray.

Snukadaman_

I thought that they were concentrating their efforts on Xbox Live Movie Downloads? Face it, we're many years off from shifting away from physical storage.

leimeisei

Can't we just go back to last generation when each console had a single fucking SKU?

What would be really cool, though, is if Microsoft had some kind of trade-in program where you could give them back their paperweight, err, HDDVD drive, and get a nice credit on a Blu-Ray.

PissedPS3Fan

'Shying?'

God-crap, this virtual keyboard will murder is in our beds.

wild homes

@Lanhoj: If they've always told YOU it was a gaming device first, they've been lying out their assholes. Microsoft haven't exactly been shying in admitting the 360 is a CONVERGENCE DEVICE first, last, and always.

wild homes

I'd really like to see this happen, and I'd like to see it be utilised internally. Of course, they ought to make an add-on available, as well. Perhaps later this year they will dump the Arcade unit, drop the Pro to $249, the Elite to $349, and position this blu-ray specced model for $399 or $449.

Sure would be nice.

wild homes

they've always said the 360 is a gaming machine 1st and pride themselves on giving us options, so I think it'll be an add-on, instead of a built-in drive.

Lanhoj

Talk about joining being late to the party. If MS does go blu-ray then it makes sense for them to release an SKU with built-in blu-ray. After all, there are a plenty of people who buy PS3s because of its built in player, and offering an XBox SKU with built in blu-ray for a possibly cheaper price could take sales away from Sony while increasing MS's install base. It would be a win for MS.

psycoking

Man, that sucks. I just bought my 3rd one for my bedroom. Would've loved it to be Blu-ray compatible. Oh well, that's all my PS3 is being used for right now. LOL.

Beatboxtaun

They will most likely release an add-on like they did for HD-DVD, and bundle it with another terrible movie like "Click" or "Pearl Harbor".

D00mM4r1n3

If they do something with BR they're gonna lose more customers than they gain. All this time its been "no, we're firmly entrenched behind HD 100%". If they change sides now its just going to hurt their image even more.

Sparx

You know what we need? More SKU's.

Yep, that's what we need.

subnet6

I wonder what MS is going to be planning for E3? Honestly though if they do set a Blu-Ray drive in the 360 does that mean that it will cost more and then there goes everything that MS has said. We don't know Blu-Ray DD is the next best thing and blah. Plus i think they would rather save it for the next console coming out next year ;p

Shindokie

Heh, yeah its a rumor at this point but its probably the worst business move ever. You already have different systems that prevent universal features, now you're going to make the selection even more diverse? Why? You have to stick with dvd's for game data anyway so why put it in a box? If it was an add-on then maybe (people would still bitch but not as much).

Sparx

Hmm, I could see a possible BD add-on (such as was made for HD-DVD), but I would be surprised to see Microsoft release a new SKU. But hey, who knows.

DeeBG

@Dir_en_grey: Heh, yeah, it's hard to tell what is and isn't legitimate news anymore. Makes you wonder why anyone would fabricate such a story.

I wonder what the media's going rate for blowing smoke up the public's ass is? ;)

Captain Impulse

@ShirtGuyDom:
Sorry, those later posts didn't show up when I posted =/

Dir_en_grey

@Harteex: hmm I can't believe I missed that this wasn't about an addon. I'm tired ok? >_>

Harteex

Wouldn't this raise the price of a 360 greatly giving PS3 an obvious advantage? There is no way the 360 could maintain the current price AFTER adding blu ray? Alienating early adopters of the 360 hd dvd ? Wouldn't a blu ray enabled, or blu ray extension add an extra $200?

globones

Just do it already! Sony wants it. Microsoft wants it. The people want it. Just do it, jeez...

I feel like it's a pair of celebrities dating, but they won't officially "go public".

Big World

Well releasing a blu-ray addon would be "a way that makes sense".
I'm sure the question isn't if, but when.

Harteex

Doesn't really matter if the games don't run on them.

RickyTV

@Dir_en_grey: Man, I've already got my ass kicked twice for this, now it's just salt in the wound :)

I'm just gonna go to bed now.

ShirtGuyDom

So the 360 came out back in the day, and then the PS3 came out. And strangely enough, the 360 added hdmi, became black, expanded harddrive capacity, and now it wants to add blu-ray...I think it is slowly morphing into a PS3!

gamerholic

@ShirtGuyDom:
It's in Chinese, and I verified it, the translation of this post is legit.
Dunno how reliable that news site is though...
What boggles me is that it's not even an add-on, it's a built-in blu-ray 360 that's on the order list... =/

Dir_en_grey

To me this it is obvious that Microsoft will implement Blu-Ray in the 360 in some way. I think it would be a huge screw up if they didn't. I think they should release a console with a blu-ray drive and release a separate blu-ray drive for current 360 owners and then they should adjust the prices so you can get a 360 with blu-ray for cheaper than a ps3, then they can just brag their asses off about it.

I don't understand why people think that blu-ray isn't a big deal. When blu-ray overtakes dvd sales Microsoft is going to want to be there selling blu-ray hardware for the 360.

Tohdman6

@Jamaces: I'll hold you to that, if it happens.

Anyway, I can see an add on happening for movies. But built in? It doesn't make sense. Especially since games wouldn't be able to be put on it.

Magic Emperor Anima

First Scene it, then the "Newton" controller and now this?
How about doing something original for your platform Microsoft?
Ripping off other companies is supposed to be Sony's job.

TheCleaningGuy

@Luke Plunkett: Oh well now don't I feel like an ass. And on two levels, no less! Not only did I confuse Chinese with Japanese, but I also failed to realize that Maggie can read Chinese! Bah!

ShirtGuyDom

I thought it was about the games?

Most Wanted

Microsoft said a while ago that they would have no problem supporting Blu Ray if consumers demanded it (if HDDVD lost).

When HDDVD lost and Microsoft didn't rush to announce a Blu Ray player, speculation about it not coming went wild.

It will definitely come. I'd be surprised if it's 2008, though. I'd guess 09.

karasu is my homeboy

Its all just rumor I doubt it will happen.

By the end of this year if microsoft goes blu-ray I will pay each kotaku member $100CDN.

Jamaces

@ShirtGuyDom: It's in Chinese. And Maggie reads Chinese. So shut your yap :)

Luke Plunkett

@ShirtGuyDom: It's in Chinese...

JonC

@Superstar90: wait 5 years

DoubleV

Doesn't sound that far-fetched; probably be called the "Xbox 360 Theatre" or some crap like that, to join the ranks of Arcade/Premium/Elite.

freakout

That source site is in Japanese. How do we know you're not just lying to us eh? Cause, you know, gamers have just been pining for Blu-Ray add-on for the 360...

ShirtGuyDom

Nothing wrong with people having options, Microsoft! /wink wink

This is why I hate corporate PR policy. If it doesn't come straight from the horse's mouth, regardless of its truthiness (you're welcome, Stephen Colbert) or lack thereof, mums the word. Although, I hate rumor-mongers more, so I hope these Pegatron guys aren't full of it.

Captain Impulse

I want a 99$ Bluray addon!

Superstar90

Can they make up their minds already? I thought they weren't focusing on stuff like this...

BlinkinPark182

At this point, I hope it doesn't happen. They still couldn't make it standard, so games would still be on DVD, and the system only has half its life remaining. Besides, the spin speed is still too low (hence the mandatory installations on PS3). It'll also jack up the cost.

Does Not Equal

Urk! Again with this rumor. I feel the need to slap this Taiwanese news source.

goldwings

So this would be an internal drive?

Surprising. I figured they would consider physical media a wash and go for digital distribution.

DreamToDream