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Microsoft confirms Blu-ray support for Windows

Category: Industry, Posted: 03/12/2008 at 01:27PM CDT by Frank Ling, Editorial Director

blu ray windowsMicrosoft had high hopes for its HD DVD player but later lost out to Sony's rival Blu-ray format. Things have changed dramatically over the past month and Microsoft is taking steps to go with the flow.

Microsoft now says it will develop compatibility software that will allow native support for Blu-ray drives on Windows.

Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer said, "We've already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Blu-ray drives and the like." He then continued and cryptically said that Microsoft was "going to support Blu-ray in ways that are important."

Could his remarks be the first signs that Microsoft is finally admitting that Blu-ray support for the Xbox 360 is near? Up till now, Microsoft has denied all reports of ever doing such a thing.

"I think the world moves on. Toshiba has moved on. We've moved on. We'll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense. Today, I think it is actually pretty important to have some kind of drive (that supports HD content)."

Hang in there folks. It looks like we'll be seeing Blu-ray on the Xbox 360 soon.

[via informationweek]
Posted by Corvall on 03/12/2008 at 02:04PM

I'd just note that HD DVD was Toshiba's format, not Microsoft's. Yes, MS supported it, but they didn't create it.

Posted by rtanger on 03/12/2008 at 02:33PM

Change it to "high hopes for the..." instead of "its."

Problem solved.

And I don't see an indication in his statements that they have any plans for the 360 at all. I guess it could be speculated, and if it is a possibility, it likely won't be more than a movie player.

Posted by Quasar on 03/12/2008 at 02:59PM

Noted and corrected. Thanks guys.

Posted by Cobra951 on 03/12/2008 at 03:37PM

Of course it would only be a movie player. That's all the HD-DVD add-on was. The games come on standard DVDs. That will not change.

Posted by ninjalegend on 03/12/2008 at 03:40PM

Agreed, rtanger. No 1st or third party in the world would take the chance of 100% of the user base upgrading. So yeah, movie player only if it materializes. However, the next Microsoft box.............

Posted by Collision on 03/12/2008 at 04:10PM

Bout time they did.

Posted by intooblivion on 03/12/2008 at 07:05PM

What's funny is for me I would never get a blu-ray just for a movie, dvds are enough res as it is. Games however, that's a whole different story. Which is why I have a ps3 and can't wait for mgs4.

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