Chris Lanier

Reporters are lazy, so there is probably a shred of truth to the rumors but they're reported as fact.  Kinda like the tabloids.

Personally I have no problem with websites reporting the rumor, but many like to report it as fact (like the idiots at Tom's Hardware) for some reason.

There also may be some 2) and 3).  I would imagine that Microsoft might not be seriously interested in doing a Blu-Ray 360 but that doesn't preclude them from inquiring about prices now and again just in case.

I think the truth is that the "format wars" was all media hype.  Streaming media is the next big thing and that is what MS is concentrating on for the XBOX.  Folks reporting otherwise are probably Sony employees needing sales because they have realized that they jumped-the-shark once again just like they did with the Betamax.

This is just a result of some PS3 fanboyism.  Yup, they want Microsoft to adopt it so they can have a more 1 on 1 comparison...with PS3 coming on top when it comes to blu-ray support.  Sony probably wants this..it will cause Microsoft to lose as much if not more than Sony is losing on PS3.

Now Microsoft's claim that games is what XBox is about is just their way of spinning the HD-DVD loss.

Option 4, no question.

There's NO WAY Microsoft would commit such absolute suicide as they would be doing by not including support for the newest generation mainstream media format for the 360s successor.  Many 360 owners are already picking up a PS3 just because it's the best choice for those wanting a BRD player.

Right now this only has one negative effect for Microsoft:  (artificially?) boosting the number of purchased consoles for the PS3 (and that's assuming customers don't subsequently sell their 360 or start buying the PS3 version of a released game since they have both consoles [which may very well start happening enough to hurt MS]).  So, that's the only negative effect right NOW with their presumed decision to really not add BRD support to the 360.

But when the NEXT gen of consoles start rolling out?  Even the biggest die-hard 360 fans will abandon it for the console that also doubles as a BRD player and can have 5x the content on a game disc, especially since by that point in time component prices will be lower (especially for Sony!) and will not prohibitively jack up the price of said console (PS4).  In short, MS has to compete on features, or should pack up and exit the market.

So, the above spells out why there's NO QUESTION MS will have to begrudgingly support BRD/Java in the 360's successor.  Now, look at the development cycle/timeline for consoles.  Right now would be when contract talks / bids begin to take place for hardware vendors (including CPU and GPU makers) ... So, of COURSE they're in talks with makers of BRD players right now.  How could they NOT be?

I'm not sure why MS needs to be getting bids for Blu-Ray drives 2-4 years before a potential "720" launch.  Custom CPUs and GPUs yes, a commodity like Blu-Ray drives no.

I think people who want MS to add Blu-ray secretly want MS to shoot themselves in the foot. Most consumers (the ones who are not reading this blog) just don't care enough about BD to even want a 360 integrated with it.

In terms of PR, why add BD to the 360 which would make people think MS is playing catchup? If MS is going to add it, better release it for Xbox 720, just to make the PS3 seem antiquated.

And what about existing users? Churning out yet another revision of the 360 on a three-year old platform is plain annoying. Better to spend the R&D on their next console and wait for costs to go down while BD uptake is still slow.

I agree with spec07. MS must be thinking about the next console. In the beginning XBOX 360 had the edge, but PS3 is looking pretty good now.

- They must be looking into making 360 much cheaper to manufacture

- I don't believe the next console will be substantially different in terms of graphics capabilities -- look at Wii -- graphics is not the deciding factor

- They have to make improvements in terms of home entertainment -- that is what 360 was supposed to be, but again PS3 is looking pretty good now

Combine all this with a move to 45nm architecture, and I bet you they are working on 360's successor, perhaps fully compatible with 360, perhaps without major architectural changes, but with major upgrades things like

- Smaller & cheaper & quieter & cooler

- Definetely bluray support

- Perhaps a new controller

- Much sooner than a full blown consoler rearchitecture

I'm betting this is the case.

Yeah, if the PS3 had VMC extender capability I'd have one right now.

Hardcore gamers are always going to say they just want games, but MS needs to add blu-ray because there are a lot of people buying PS3's because it's one of the best blu-ray players out there.

It's a game of check-boxes... simple as that.

The 360 not having a blu-ray drive option of any kind is a huge check box against it.

The BDA is planting these rumors to divert attention from poor selling blu-ray players.