Microsoft Denies Plans for Add-On Blu-Ray Drive for Xbox 360.
Microsoft Corp. this week denied yet another report (this time by X-bit labs) about plans to release an add-on Blu-ray disc (BD) drive for Xbox 360 video game console. It is logical for the software giant to deny any possible intentions to support Sony Corp.’s format right now, but the question arises: how Microsoft plans to distribute video games for its next-generation console in the coming years if not on BDs.
“We have no plans to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience,” said Aaron Greenberg, group marketing manager for Xbox Live at Microsoft, in an interview with Microsoft’s official Major Nelson blog, reports VideoGaming247 web-site.
One of the major motives for Microsoft to be lukewarm about Blu-ray is obligatory support of BD-Java interactive technology and Sony’s reluctance to adopt rival tech called HDi that was developed by Microsoft. Another substantial reason for Microsoft not to reveal a Blu-ray optical drive for optical drive is $30 per drive royalty payment to Blu-ray disc association. The software giant does not admit those reasons publicly.
