Source: Reuters
With the recent announcement of Warner abandoning HD-DVD, Microsoft can’t help but feel like they got punched in the gut just as hard as Toshiba, right?
Wrong.
Turns out Microsoft really wasn’t as invested in HD-DVD as everybody thought. While they may have dumped millions upon millions into supporting the now dying format, it has become quite clear that it was only because they didn’t want Sony to win a format war. Turns out that even Microsoft, who is the largest company backing the HD-DVD format, is willing to switch sides to Blu-ray if that ends up being the winning format.
This sure has been a rough week for Toshiba. Read the quote after the jump.
When asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD add-on drive in the event that HD-DVD failed, Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware had this to say, “It should be consumer choice; and if that’s the way they vote, that’s something we’ll have to consider.”
How crazy is that? I never, ever thought I would see the day when Microsoft openly supported a direct competitor’s product, but it sure looks like that is going to happen. Funny thing is, if they do release a Blu-ray drive and start supporting that format, they’ll probably act like they were there the whole time.
It makes me think of that shifty guy who switches to the winning team right before his team loses, “What? I’ve been on your side the whole time. Honestly. HD-DVD sux! Blu-ray rox!”
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14 responses so far ↓
1 Dejanus // Jan 9, 2008 at 1:49 pm
At this point, I don’t care. If Microsoft had really been invested with it, it would have come standard as opposed to as an add on on the 360.
If they do come out with a Blu-Ray add on, I’ll only pick it up if they win the way.
Which looks likely.
Hell, it’ll be cheaper than a PS3.
2 LuckyEMS // Jan 9, 2008 at 1:50 pm
they stated they would at the start of the format war
3 Sean "rothbart" Workman // Jan 9, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Michael Bay was right… oh, and this’ll NEVER happen.
4 andyg8180 // Jan 9, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Thats not “openly supporting a direct competitor’s product” in the manner youre reporting it… Microsoft is supporting the consumers choice to choose… Hence the reason we dont have an HD-DVD player shoved in our 360… Why the hell would they put an uncertain technology in the 360? And for one, im glad they didnt because i didnt get financially raped like all the 1st gen PS3 fanboys..
Also question yourself, who invented the DVD? Sony and Phillips did… So from what youre saying, Microsoft is supporting its direct competitor by allowing us to play standard DVD’s in our 360?? Shame on them!!
5 irish boy90 // Jan 9, 2008 at 1:52 pm
i think both are the same, I couldn’t careless and am justing waiting until its completely over to invest in a player
6 Yousty // Jan 9, 2008 at 2:03 pm
@andyg8180
Hate to tell ya, but you’re way off. DVD was not invented by Phillips and Sony. Toshiba was the main leader of inventing the DVD.
Check the facts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvd
And this is a lot different situation than DVD. DVD was an agreed upon industry standard among all of the big companies involved. There were no competing formats backed by different companies like we have with HD discs, nor did one company have a majority hold over the format like Sony does with Blu-ray.
7 Altered Weapon // Jan 9, 2008 at 2:15 pm
MS takes risks and has to have confidence in said risks. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if there was a Blu-Ray add on for the 360.
8 Alecsander_C // Jan 9, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I’m sticking with my DVD player until BluRay wins
9 Artemas // Jan 9, 2008 at 2:55 pm
“It should be consumer choice; and if that’s the way they vote, that’s something we’ll have to consider.”
Since when does microsoft listened to the consumer?
10 Dexyn // Jan 9, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I tried to come up with something snappy for Artemas’s comment… but I can’t.
11 NoneOfYourBusiness // Jan 9, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Wouldn’t Sony have to be part of the team that licenses thier tech for 360 to use.
Yea, I can see it now, “Okay guys lets give our main console competitor one of our biggest guns this round. No….trust me will work.”
12 Keith K // Jan 10, 2008 at 4:15 am
What the hell makes Microsoft think that Sony is going to let them put Blu-Ray in the 360?
I sure as hell wouldnt.. Its been one of the major marketing gimmicks of the PS3 since.. forever.
I think if MS wants a piece of the Blu-Ray market, they’re going to have to bow out of the hardware game and join Sony on a strictly software basis. It’ll never happen, but I think that would be the absolute best thing for us all.
Sony Hardware, Microsoft Software and no damn format war holding the apprehensive consumers back.
13 Rae // Jan 10, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Keith has a point, but if MS actually considers it, Sony could make immense profits to compensate for the PS3.
Toshiba is like that poor homeless person that never gets a break…lol
14 Sweez // Jan 10, 2008 at 6:11 pm
@Keith K
But as an industry combining companies won’t all be good…we all praise on choice and diversity…
The Wii being fun for the whole family
XBox 360 being the mos prominent next Gen Console
And the Ps3 Being a techinical power house and a source of a vast amount of potential possibilities.
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