Xbox 360 HD DVD drive given heave-ho by MS

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Sunday, 24 February 2008 12:15

Opinion and Analysis

In a move that is of no surprise to anyone, Microsoft has finally decided it will no longer manufacture the HD DVD add-on drive for the Xbox 360, although they will naturally continue to support customers who purchased the drive.
The Gamerscore Blog website, calling itself “The inside scoop from Microsoft Xbox and Games employees”, has reprinted a press release from Microsoft indicating they would no longer manufacture the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive.

The statement says that: “As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD”.

Continuing, the statement says: “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”. 

In reference to what this might mean for Xbox 360 sales, the statement notes that: “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”. 

Microsoft then goes onto explain that they still hold high definition movie ambitions, saying: “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”.

No doubt the already discounted HD DVD drive add-on will now be offered at fire sale prices in stores around the world, giving Xbox 360 owners the chance to use their Xbox 360 as an upscaling DVD player, or build an HD DVD movie library of what few titles are left in store or yet to be released, all of which will also be ‘on sale’, if they aren’t already.

So, would Microsoft ever release their own Blu-ray add-on drive for the Xbox 360? And what format might any Xbox 360 successor use, if not simply downloads and a very large built-in hard drive? Please read onto page 2.