February 24th, 2008
Microsoft Drops External HD-DVD Drive for Xbox 360
By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
Took ‘em long enough. They didn’t file a press release, but Microsoft did use its Gamerscore blog, which it says is the “inside scoop from Microsoft Xbox and Games employees.” Saturday Microsoft announced they would halt production of HD-DVD drives for the Xbox 360.
John Porcaro, Sr. Group Manager in Microsoft’s Global Games Marketing Team, managing Online Communications, said in a statement on the Gamerscore site:
As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD. Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market. As we stated earlier, we do not believe this decision will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace. HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own.
None of this should be a surprise. Obviously with Toshiba dropping HD-DVD, Microsoft was bound to get out. Rumors flew last week that Microsoft was planning an external Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360, and honestly, it’s an almost certainty.
Microsoft said as early as January 8th, right after the Warner Bros. announcement that they were dropping HD-DVD, that they would “consider” Blu-ray support, and they have little choice with Toshiba’s announcement. It’s not IF, but WHEN.
PR-wise, the best thing Microsoft could do would be to follow Edion’s example by giving everyone who already had an Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive a swap for a new Blu-ray drive. Probability: low.
Aaron Lockard says:
I really wish HD-DVD could have won this war. I liked it a lot more due to the lower cost and immediate backwards compatibility with DVDs. Now we have to suffer through the Blu-Ray days until the holographic light is shone upon us.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Erik Daniels says:
Last time I checked Blu-ray is 100% backward compatible with DVD. It’s lower cost was due to them thinking it would make people choose their format. We now know that has BACKFIRED. As far as suffering with Blu-ray goes that is BS! Nobody is going to force you to buy a Blu-ray player.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:21 am