Microsoft hoses down latest Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumor

If you're suddenly overcome with a feeling akin to déjà vu, go ahead and kill that speed dial to your physician. For the second time in a month, Microsoft has actually come forward to squash a Blu-ray Xbox 360 rumor. This go 'round, an alleged statement from Redmond states quite outrightly that "Lite-On is not manufacturing Blu-ray drives for Xbox 360," and it continues on by noting that "customers who want a premium movie experience [can check out the] library of on-demand HD content" available to console owners. Still, we've grown accustomed to these denials by now, and while you'd think that having a pair of rumors on the matter smashed would put the issue to rest, we've all ideas this one isn't quite dead and buried just yet.
-engadget

Blu-Ray Xbox 360: “No way” says Microsoft; Microsoft: No Blu-ray in Xbox 360

Microsoft: No Blu-ray in Xbox 360
-gamedaily

Microsoft has today firmly stated that it is not looking to include Blu-ray in an Xbox 360 consoles anytime soon. In an interview with Reuters, group product manager for Xbox 360 Aaron Greenberg shot down the idea that his company's console would support Blu-ray in the wake of the format death of HD-DVD. Instead, Greenberg says that his company will invest its efforts in downloadable content via Xbox Live.

"Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience," said Greenberg to Reuters in an interview, adding, "We're the only console offering digital distribution of entertainment content."

Greenberg also commented that he expects the Xbox 360 to be outsold by the PS3 for the second straight month, citing supply problems. "We definitely expect we will trail in February as a result of our supply constraints," said Greenberg. "By April, we will be in a very healthy inventory situation."

Microsoft has had something of a schizophrenic relationship with Blu-ray. Right after they announced support of HD-DVD, then Corporate Vice President of Interactive Entertainment Business Peter Moore said the 360 might support Blu-ray if the format wins, only to have that recanted days later in a statement. The issue flared up again when U.K. Xbox head Neil Thompson commented, that whichever format was the winner it would be "highly likely" for a "solution" to be offered. Earlier this year, Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox, said that Mircosoft would "consider" supporting Blu-ray, but the he officially rejected that position a week later , saying the company is "not thinking about it." This most recent clarification comes after Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer said "we'll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense."


Blu-Ray Xbox 360: “No way” says Microsoft
-electricpig.tv

Ever since the demise of HD-DVD, we’ve been hankering for a Blu-Ray add on (or built-in drive) for the Xbox 360, but now Microsoft has dashed our hopes, saying it’s not in talks with Sony, and that recent stories to the contrary are just plain wrong.

The latest comments come from Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360. He told Reuters: “Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-Ray Association to integrate Blu-Ray into the Xbox experience,” claiming that the console isn’t in immediate need of HD discs.

“We're the only console offering digital distribution of entertainment content,” he added, “we still think we have significantly better value than Sony. Every month we've actually been in stock we've outsold them by a 2 to 1 margin.”

So there! It’s clear we’re getting mixed messages from Microsoft, but could the case be that it’s Sony who’s not in talks with Microsoft rather than the other way ‘round? Would they really give away one of the PS3’s most attractive features to the competition so easily? Stay tuned and we’ll tell you more as soon as we hear it.