Microsoft Disappoints with No Blu-Ray for Xbox 360

Reuters is reporting on comments by Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for the XBox 360, that Microsoft (MSFT) is not currently in talks with Sony (SNE) or the Blu-Ray Association to integrate Blu-Ray into the XBox 360.

This is disappointing. With Netflix (NFLX) and other major retailers offering Blu-Ray discs it's unfortunate that in order to watch them you won't be able to do it on an XBox 360 Media Center Extender anytime soon.

The beautiful thing about the XBox 360 is the consolidation that it represents into a single box. DVD player, extender unit for your TV and DVR, game machine, photos, music, etc. All in a single box connected to your television. No other set top box can do all of that. Certainly consumers want High Def DVDs. The fact that Microsoft previously developed an add-on for HD DVD speaks to that. The fact that there seem to be no plans now to integrate Blu-Ray after that format has proved to be the survivor seems short sighted.

Comments

[Tech Junkie:]

They will... soon. I bet we'll see an announcement within 30 days.

2008 Mar 13 04:22 PM

[Xbox gamer:]

I would not rule out the possibility of a blu-ray player add-on to the Xbox 360. Since MS announced the dropping of the HD-DVD for Xbox, they better act fast.

2008 Mar 14 09:21 AM