Can the next Xbox have Blu-Ray?

[LavaLampBamboo]

This is something I've been thinking over for while now. I'm not really very knowledgable about blu-ray since I'm an xbox owner and don't have a BR player, so I was wondering if the next Microsoft console will (or could) feature a blu-ray player. Since blu-ray is going to eclipse DVD in the next few years, it'd be weird if we got to 2013 and the new Xbox had a DVD player...

I ask "could" because I don't know if Sony has the rights to blu-ray things. I'm not entirely sure how the whole thing works, but I know that Microsoft back HD-DVD which in the end lost the formet war.

The long and short of my question; Will the next XBox do Blu-Ray?

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Well most people reckon you'll have Blu-Ray players on PCs as a standard by the end of the year so the answer is most probably yes. We'll probably have Blu-Ray on the next Microsoft console.

 

[Warrior Irme]

I am sure that it will do Blu-ray. Sony isn't the only producer of blu-ray players.

 

[Kermi]

According to Microsoft, no. They have no intention of using blu-ray in their next console. What happens between now and when the next console actually comes out is a whole other story.

 

[The Hairminator]

According to Microsoft, no. They have no intention of using blu-ray in their next console. What happens between now and when the next console actually comes out is a whole other story.

Source on this?
Are they planning on using a new format, or are they going to stick with DVDs?

 

[Kermi]

I am sure that it will do Blu-ray. Sony isn't the only producer of blu-ray players.

Um, they kinda are. It's their product. Other companies/brands produce blu-ray players for sale on the consumer, but the tech is licensed from Sony.

 

[LavaLampBamboo]

According to Microsoft, no. They have no intention of using blu-ray in their next console. What happens between now and when the next console actually comes out is a whole other story.

I am sure that it will do Blu-ray. Sony isn't the only producer of blu-ray players.

Um, they kinda are. It's their product. Other companies/brands produce blu-ray players for sale on the consumer, but the tech is licensed from Sony.

So theorectically, we could see either an ENTIRELY new format... Or Microsoft licensing something from Sony?

Christ...

 

[Kermi]

According to Microsoft, no. They have no intention of using blu-ray in their next console. What happens between now and when the next console actually comes out is a whole other story.

Source on this?
Are they planning on using a new format, or are they going to stick with DVDs?

I don't have a source, this is just the canned response that comes out every time someone asks one of Microsoft's fifty talking heads.
They haven't said explicitly what they'll do. Obviously a disc format with a larger capacity is required, and too far away from digital distribution being viable as the sole method of obtaining new software for consoles.
But they're being pretty coy about it all.

 

[Delusibeta]

According to Microsoft, no. They have no intention of using blu-ray in their next console. What happens between now and when the next console actually comes out is a whole other story.

I am sure that it will do Blu-ray. Sony isn't the only producer of blu-ray players.

Um, they kinda are. It's their product. Other companies/brands produce blu-ray players for sale on the consumer, but the tech is licensed from Sony.

So theorectically, we could see either an ENTIRELY new format... Or Microsoft licensing something from Sony?

Christ...

The smart move would be to license the HD-DVD format off Toshiba. I would imagine that they would be willing to license it for cheap, although the question of where to get the drives come up (but then again, the GameCube used mini-DVDs and it was cheap). Plus, it would have the benefit of hardly anyone having HD-DVD burners around, thus reducing piracy (unlike Blu-ray, in which the vast majority of new PCs sold when the next console generation comes around will have Blu-ray burners on them, assuming that next generation doesn't start in the next two years).

That all said, I could imagine consoles moving full-time into digital distribution, judging by the fact that it is now entirely possible for PC gamers to use only digital distribution and still play the latest games.

 

[VhenRa]

Full-time digital distribution kinda kills console gaming outside of the States and a few other countries of course.

 

[DustyDrB]

As long as I can still play DVDs on it, I couldn't care less about Blu Ray

 

[Da_Schwartz]

I am sure that it will do Blu-ray. Sony isn't the only producer of blu-ray players.

Um, they kinda are. It's their product. Other companies/brands produce blu-ray players for sale on the consumer, but the tech is licensed from Sony.

So sony is licensing Blu-ray tech. Hmmmm So i would think there would be a possibility for the next 360 to be able to play blu-ray MOVIES. But not use Blu-ray dics to play GAMES. That's odd.

 

[reg42]

As long as I can still play DVDs on it, I couldn't care less about Blu Ray

Have you ever seen a blu-ray movie? Them's damn pretty. I'll personally be happy when blu-ray takes over DVD as the norm.

 

[TelHybrid]

There are a few directions they could take.

They could use HD-DVD as a game format, as they have around 30GB of space when dual layered. When you look at the fact that aside from JRPGs, most 360 games are single disc, a 30GB storage media type is feasible, not to mention being a failed movie format, would be cheap as hell to make.

They could join the digital distribution bandwagon, though that would be extremely risky. There are still many areas consoles are sold in that have limitations on downloads, slower download speeds, and in some cases, no broadband internet access at all. I personally hope they don't take this route as I like to have hard copies of games, as I'm a bit of a collector. Steam has been very successful, but console gamers are a different market in terms of their mindset. There are still a lot of people uncomfortable with online transactions. Believe me I know a few.

That statement could be utter bullshit, and they could end up switching to blu-ray, and the purpose of that statement would in the meantime avoiding accidentally saying the PS3 is more advanced than the 360.

 

[Marter]

It could have Blu-Ray, legally at least, but I believe Microsoft stated they don't want to use it in their next system. It's a shame, as it would really improve the space they could have.

 

[DustyDrB]

As long as I can still play DVDs on it, I couldn't care less about Blu Ray

Have you ever seen a blu-ray movie? Them's damn pretty. I'll personally be happy when blu-ray takes over DVD as the norm.

Yea, I've seen it. One of my roommates last year had a big screen HDTV with a PS3 for Blu Ray and surround sound. I'm one of those people who was fine with VHS quality video (the accessibility of DVDs is what made me switch to that). Hell, I'm fine with the quality of most online video (like Megavideo). As long as I can tell what I'm looking at, improved quality video doesn't affect my enjoyment. The good thing about Blu Ray is that it made DVD even less expensive.

 

[LeonLethality]

I don't think so, HD-DVD is good enough as the only thing I think blu ray has over it is space and data compression is really good these days so the space of the HD-DVD is hardly an issue in most cases and if it ever is having multiple discs is an easy solution.

The main reason I say no is because I think Blu Ray association is partially owned by Sony and I don't think they would exactly share one of their advantages with a competitor. At least not for free.

 

[Subzerowings]

As long as I can still play DVDs on it, I couldn't care less about Blu Ray

Have you ever seen a blu-ray movie? Them's damn pretty. I'll personally be happy when blu-ray takes over DVD as the norm.

Yea, I've seen it. One of my roommates last year had a big screen HDTV with a PS3 for Blu Ray and surround sound. I'm one of those people who was fine with VHS quality video (the accessibility of DVDs is what made me switch to that). Hell, I'm fine with the quality of most online video (like Megavideo). As long as I can tell what I'm looking at, improved quality video doesn't affect my enjoyment. The good thing about Blu Ray is that it made DVD even less expensive.

I agree with you DustyDrB.
I'm still fine with watching VHS's or even 9mm tapes.
It's the content that counts, not the means with which it was made.
I don't own an HD-tv, but I was going to until they announced that 3D was the way of the future.
*sigh*
I'd rather have them change back to black and white than to pay for paperthin tv's that costs as much as a car.

 

[DustyDrB]

As long as I can still play DVDs on it, I couldn't care less about Blu Ray

Have you ever seen a blu-ray movie? Them's damn pretty. I'll personally be happy when blu-ray takes over DVD as the norm.

Yea, I've seen it. One of my roommates last year had a big screen HDTV with a PS3 for Blu Ray and surround sound. I'm one of those people who was fine with VHS quality video (the accessibility of DVDs is what made me switch to that). Hell, I'm fine with the quality of most online video (like Megavideo). As long as I can tell what I'm looking at, improved quality video doesn't affect my enjoyment. The good thing about Blu Ray is that it made DVD even less expensive.

I agree with you DustyDrB.
I'm still fine with watching VHS's or even 9mm tapes.
It's the content that counts, not the means with which it was made.
I don't own an HD-tv, but I was going to until they announced that 3D was the way of the future.
*sigh*
I'd rather have them change back to black and white than to pay for paperthin tv's that costs as much as a car.

Haha. I'm actually for the paper-thin part. I've moved three times in the last year and moving my bulky TV is a pain every time.

 

[Viptorian]

Guys, HD-DVD is dead. Blu-Ray is the new industry standard. Microsoft DID have an HD-DVD add-on for $100 and when Blu-Ray won the war, they stopped making it. Hd-DVDs still exist, yes, but the market doesn't care.