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Microsoft: No Blu-Ray On Xbox 360, Despite Rumors
by Leigh Alexander

4 comments

October 23, 2009

Microsoft: No Blu-Ray On Xbox 360, Despite Rumors

Not so fast -- there are no plans for Blu-ray accessories for Xbox 360, says Xbox Live program manager Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, clarifying yesterday's widely-publicized comments from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

When asked about the possibility of a Blu-ray drive on the company's video game console, Ballmer had replied: "I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there - you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories."

The Microsoft CEO's response spurred numerous online reports that Microsoft may be considering some breed of Blu-ray add-on to the Xbox 360.

"I wanted to clear something up. Steve was referring to Blu-Ray accessories for the PC," Major Nelson said yesterday on his official blog. Leaving no room for misinterpretation, he added: "As we have said in the past, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360."

Major Nelson implies that the console's upcoming 1080p streaming television and movie service makes an optical drive redundant. Blu-ray is the de facto champion in the format wars against HD-DVD, and the built-in Blu-ray drive is a hallmark associated with rival PlayStation 3, the only console that offers it.

Categories: [PC], [Console]

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Comments

Matthew Cooper

24 Oct 2009 at 3:43 pm PST

Developers, Developers, Developers, Blu-ray in 360.

Fiorentino Iantosca

25 Oct 2009 at 8:53 am PST

Balmer is such an idiot!!! I can't believe he's a CEO. Him and Jack T need to just lose their jobs! If BR disc is the next iteration for games, why say it's definitely not a possibility? UNLESS Balmer was being VERY specific in that "no blu ray for 360" BUT "blu ray for the NEXT xbox console"?

Scott Galloway

25 Oct 2009 at 10:19 pm PST

honestly I find it to be a pretty stupid concept; "Blu-ray drive is a hallmark associated with rival PlayStation 3, the only console that offers it". wouldn't that mean that if the Xbox 360 had a Blu-ray drive then the PS3's only claim to fame is no longer exclusive? I know personally the only reason I would get a PS3 is because it is about the same price of a Blu-ray player + plays games. If Xbox 360 had a Blu-ray add on then I wouldn't buy into their competitors.

Kouga Saejima

26 Oct 2009 at 9:33 am PST

Dear Scott,

ever heard of a USP?