Despite numerous corporate statements to the contrary, the ever-persistent rumour mill remains convinced that American software giant Microsoft is planning to release a version of its popular Xbox 360 videogames console equipped with Blu-ray HD technology.
Microsoft once again says the Xbox 360 will NOT be getting Blu-ray technology. Credit: RobertScoble/Flickr.
Prior to the crowning of Sony’s Blu-ray format as the undisputed HD industry standard, Redmond-based Microsoft was one of the main backers of Toshiba’s rival HD DVD platform, providing support via a standalone HD DVD player specifically built for its next-generation videogame console.
Following the sudden demise of HD DVD the Internet has been awash with speculation suggesting that Microsoft’s now obsolete HD DVD player would be replaced by a Blu-ray alternative.
Beyond the fact that Sony is Microsoft’s direct competitor in the current videogame arena, the likelihood of Blu-ray arriving on the Xbox 360 console has been made all the more hard to imagine by Microsoft’s own subsequent indications.
Specifically, while Microsoft has conceded that Blu-ray will be coming to Windows, in the case of the Xbox 360, it seems extremely keen on focusing HD movie and media efforts on the expansion of digital delivery via the Xbox Live online service, which already boasts more than 10 million registered users.
That being said, recent Net whisperings suggesting that Taiwan-based technology manufacturer Lite-On has been chosen for the creation and delivery of all new and future Blu-ray products for Microsoft has led to yet another bout of swift rumour suppression.
“Lite-On is not manufacturing Blu-ray devices for Xbox 360,” insisted an official Microsoft spokesman. “As we have stated, games are what are driving consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available.”
Although Microsoft’s stance would appear solid, there are still those that believe Blu-ray’s eventual arrival on the Xbox 360 remains a possibility.
“As I’ve said in the past, [Microsoft] haven’t ruled out Blu-ray on 360,” commented Jon Hicks, editor of Official Xbox 360 magazine, in a TechRadar report, “and if we ever were to see anything, then I would imagine it would be announced much nearer to Christmas,” he added.
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