XBox 360 To Get HD-DVD
Posted by Sean Fallon on January 5, 2006
Filed Under Gaming | Stumble This
CES 2006 is finally underway, and Bill Gates’ keynote speech at the event touched upon a number of key issues - including the fact that an external HD-DVD drive will be available for the XBox 360 in 2006.
From the Microsoft Press Release:
“Gates noted that Xbox 360 has also become a powerful application for high-definition television, adding that nine out of 10 Xbox 360 owners currently own or intend to purchase a high-definition television set.* He announced that more than 50 new high-definition Xbox 360™ games will be available by June 2006.
Building on Xbox 360 leadership in high-definition experiences, the company announced plans to deliver a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies and will provide consumers with even more choices for experiencing high-definition content, in either physical or digital form.”
There will probably be a lot of Microsoft bashing resulting from the decision to make the device external, but given the fact that an HD-DVD Blu-ray format war is likely, it is probably the most logical decision to make it an accessory as opposed to integrating it fully with the console.
Read the full press release here.
Posted by Sean
| Trackback |Comments
6 Responses to “XBox 360 To Get HD-DVD”
Leave a Reply
[...] Click here for more from the Microsoft keynote speech. [...]
[...] CES Products That Will Never Catch On HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray Justin Timberlake Aligns With Microsoft’s ‘Urge’ XBox 360 To Get HD DVD [...]
[...] During CES 2006 Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division, sat down with the Japanese website ITMedia and talked a little about their decision to sell an external HD DVD drive for the 360. [...]
[...] Frankly, Microsoft’s inability to execute their distribution game plan is indicative of a larger problem than the issue of supply and demand. Richard Doherty, research director of the Envisioneering group believes that the shortage could be the result of a lack of quality 360 units rolling off the production line, or perhaps it is delaying to produce more units with an HD DVD drive, which Gates announced at CES 2006. [...]
[...] Yeah right. I would expect some sort of price drop just before the release of the PS3 - but $100? Very doubtful to say the least. I’ll keep my fingers crossed though…just in case. In more believable news, Microsoft is also expected to announce the release of the XBox 360 HD-DVD drive at a price point of $100. Considering the fact that we have known about the drive since CES, this is entirely possible. Plus a $100 price tag seems reasonable. [...]
[...] Essentially this takes a little of the wind out of Sony’s Blu-ray enabled PS3, not to mention Microsoft’s own upcoming HD-DVD add on. [...]