Microsoft adds another nail to the HD-DVD coffin
In the beginning it was a weapon in the console wars… Microsoft used HD-DVD, Sony used Blu-ray. Microsoft took the controversial tactic of making their player an add-on device, meaning that the vast majority of their users would not have it and thus, it was not considered a huge deal to the HD-DVD crowd.. while Sony made Blu-ray standard on all PS3’s.
This hurt Sony in the beginning since it caused the PS3 to be much more expensive than the Xbox 360, but Sony was thinking “war” while Microsoft was thinking “battle”.. or perhaps Microsoft didn’t really care either way as they were concentrating on games instead of movies (Sony being a movie studio and owner of the Blu-ray format had a lot more of a reason to push the PS3’s non-gaming abilities.) If Microsoft had really cared about which HD format would win, they would have gone with a built-in player and helped increase the HD-DVD market share.
It seems Microsoft might have been smart to concentrate more on games and to keep their HD movie player as an add-on as they’ve gained much more market share than Sony, and since the player is external they can change formats at will. Microsoft alluded to that today when Albert Penello said “It should be consumer choice; and if that’s the way they vote, that’s something we’ll have to consider” after being asked about Blu-ray support in the Xbox 360.
You know it would pain Microsoft to pay royalties to Sony to use the Blu-ray technology in any way on the Xbox, but it’s nice to see they are willing to do what’s best for the consumer. It’s also smart business. Offer both options for the 360 and suddenly you neutralize Blu-ray as a weapon in Sony’s PS3 arsenal.