Right after the Financial Times reported that Sony and Microsoft are talking about a possible BluRay drive for the Xbox360, a new rumor has emerged. TrustedReviews claims that a “rock solid source” said that Microsoft is working to release a new standard version of its Xbox 360 with a 60 GB hard drive, that will replace the currently 20 GB hard drive.
TrustedReviews also said that the new version is due to be out until the end of Q2 and, in the light of the previous rumors, it seems it will include an internal BluRay unit.
Microsoft did not confirm officially the information about the BluRay unit or about a new version of Xbox 360, but at Mix 08, Steve Ballmer admitted that the company is working on device driver support for Blu-ray drives in Windows. “Toshiba has moved on. We've moved on, and we'll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense", Ballmer said.
Shortly after Warner Bros has signaled the end of the high definition war, by choosing the BluRay as its exclusive format, a Microsoft official admitted in an interview with Reuters that the company could consider a BluRay drive for Xbox 360, if the consumers will demand such a feature.
Although, right before this year CES, there were rumors that Microsoft is working on a new version of its gaming console. Last year in October, an Australian site claimed that a dual HD TV tuner and a docking port for an MP3 player are considered as new improvements for Xbox 360. The same source also said that the new version will include a HD DVD unit, but before CES, Microsoft downplayed the rumors about a new Xbox 360 with an internal HD DVD unit.
However, I found it hard to believe that Microsoft will offer an internal BluRay unit for Xbox 360. For the moment, it is unclear in which way a BluRay unit will affect the current price of Xbox 360.
Currently the 20 GB version of Xbox 360 with HDMI port sells for $349.99 and Microsoft is facing a tough competition from Nintendo Wii, that sells for $250. So, adding a new feature which will probably boost the price it doesn’t seem like a good move.
However, an external BluRay unit that will be sold as an accessory seems to be a logical decision as the HD DVD format has lost the battle. It won’t have any impact on the overall price of Xbox 360 and it could be a nice addition for the Xbox 360 owners.
As for the rumored 60 GB version of Xbox 360, maybe after two years since its release it is time for Microsoft to refresh the standard version and maybe to cut the prices of the 20 GB version.
- eFluxMedia
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