Rumour: Microsoft Working on 360 with Internal HD-DVD
In 2007, according to some Taiwanese techies.
Gamers could be seeing an Xbox 360 with an built-in HD-DVD drive in the first half of 2007, according to breaking news reports from the Far East.
According to sources within the Taiwanese disc drive manufacturing industry, Microsoft is designing a new model of Xbox 360 equipped with an internal HD-DVD drive, reports DigiTimes. The Redmond giant is apparently selecting manufacturers in Taiwan to build the drive.
The report stated that, “If the process of selecting partner makers and subsequent certification goes smoothly, Microsoft may launch the Xbox 360 equipped with the built-in HD-DVD drive in the first half of 2007 at the soonest.”
Microsoft's response, unsurprisingly, is that the company "...doesn't comment on rumour or speculation."
As we reported last week, it's looking likely that the forthcoming external HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360 should be available in the UK this Christmas at a sub-£200 price tag, or for no more than around £375 if bundled with a Premium 360 pack.
Microsoft has also remained adamant that this external drive will not at any point in the future be used to store or play games, a claim that SPOnG suspects will proved to be false at some point within the next twelve months.
Whilst we remain, at this point, sceptical of reports from unnamed sources in Taiwan, it has to be said that developing a 360 with an internal HD-DVD movie player has to be part of Microsoft's Xbox strategy for the coming year if it is to seriously compete with the PS3 and its Blu-ray drive.
Additionally, Microsoft's portable media player - Zune - is going to be available later this year and, as is noted on a Register report earlier today, “A good proportion of movie purchasers are going to want to archive their downloads, and that means DVD-R/RW support at the very least. The tightly controlled software environment will make piracy a darn sight harder, a point that Microsoft will undoubtedly tout when pitching the Zune/Xbox 360 service to content owners."
According to sources within the Taiwanese disc drive manufacturing industry, Microsoft is designing a new model of Xbox 360 equipped with an internal HD-DVD drive, reports DigiTimes. The Redmond giant is apparently selecting manufacturers in Taiwan to build the drive.
The report stated that, “If the process of selecting partner makers and subsequent certification goes smoothly, Microsoft may launch the Xbox 360 equipped with the built-in HD-DVD drive in the first half of 2007 at the soonest.”
Microsoft's response, unsurprisingly, is that the company "...doesn't comment on rumour or speculation."
As we reported last week, it's looking likely that the forthcoming external HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360 should be available in the UK this Christmas at a sub-£200 price tag, or for no more than around £375 if bundled with a Premium 360 pack.
Microsoft has also remained adamant that this external drive will not at any point in the future be used to store or play games, a claim that SPOnG suspects will proved to be false at some point within the next twelve months.
Whilst we remain, at this point, sceptical of reports from unnamed sources in Taiwan, it has to be said that developing a 360 with an internal HD-DVD movie player has to be part of Microsoft's Xbox strategy for the coming year if it is to seriously compete with the PS3 and its Blu-ray drive.
Additionally, Microsoft's portable media player - Zune - is going to be available later this year and, as is noted on a Register report earlier today, “A good proportion of movie purchasers are going to want to archive their downloads, and that means DVD-R/RW support at the very least. The tightly controlled software environment will make piracy a darn sight harder, a point that Microsoft will undoubtedly tout when pitching the Zune/Xbox 360 service to content owners."
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Comments
SCiARA 13 Sep 2006 16:27
1/12
so we all buy the external drive only for them to then release an integrated one in mid 07....wouldn’t put it past them
tyrion 13 Sep 2006 16:36
2/12
SCiARA wrote:
so we all buy the external drive only for them to then release an integrated one in mid 07....wouldn’t put it past them
And then start allowing HD-DVD games to be released in time for Xmas '07. Going back on their word, alienating their fanbase and pissing off developers who get very few sales.
Want to bet that Halo 3 is the first HD-DVD game?
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Joji 13 Sep 2006 17:29
3/12
I can't say I'd bother with it but its only a bad idea because it makes my 360 look stupid. I spent good money on it. It's a move to combat Sony I reckon and not a bad one in that respect. Will both formats co-exist?
Think I'll just buy a HD-DVD player when they turn up later. After I bag a DVD recorder ofcourse.
Think I'll just buy a HD-DVD player when they turn up later. After I bag a DVD recorder ofcourse.
OptimusP 13 Sep 2006 17:48
4/12
Halo 3 the first HD-DVD game...naaah...maybe the first game that's going to use their wand-like "easier control method" controller they seem to be working on.
Offcourse that's splitting the user-base again...in another way. You know what would be fun to research...how many segments the Xbox360 userbase actually repesent by 2008... so we got the harddisk, non-harddisk allready, now add in HD-DVD and non HD-DVD and wand and non-wand...that makes...36 possible combinations of sweet user-base splitting.
That has to be a record.
Offcourse that's splitting the user-base again...in another way. You know what would be fun to research...how many segments the Xbox360 userbase actually repesent by 2008... so we got the harddisk, non-harddisk allready, now add in HD-DVD and non HD-DVD and wand and non-wand...that makes...36 possible combinations of sweet user-base splitting.
That has to be a record.
BlackSpy 13 Sep 2006 18:19
5/12
What version of maths are you using to come up with 36?
LUPOS 13 Sep 2006 18:36
6/12
BlackSpy wrote:
What version of maths are you using to come up with 36?
um, should be 4 no?
HD+HDDVD
just HD
just HDDVD
Neither
you want to factor in the "built ins" against the "Add ons" only makes for one more version, maybe 2. Same configuration of options though.
___________
BlackSpy 13 Sep 2006 19:35
7/12
I think he's thinking of three variables with two values each, so six possible combinations, but I think some of them are false choices to be honest.
RiseFromYourGrave 13 Sep 2006 21:59
8/12
i was waiting to buy a 360 when they had started manufacturing them with the 65nm cpu, which is estimated at q1 2007. ill wait even longer if theyre going to start shipping 360s with internal hd-dvd drives, but only if the hd-dvd drive becomes essential to play games at some point in the future. which i bet it will.
this is horrible planning by MS
this is horrible planning by MS
vault 13 14 Sep 2006 02:50
9/12
No slike against Microsoft and their combating Sony with their own combo player/game system solution. But all these versions and the invetiability of HD games makes for some ugly waters ahead. Video Game machines are supposed to be simple, plug and play, ready to go, don't need extra s**t to make it work systems. We all know what PCs are and that if your gonna buy something, make sure you check the specs and if you need any extras to enjoy or even play the damn thing. Nintendo is doing this right, suppling innovation out of the box. Microsoft, and probably Sony will create divisions among gamers and make them confused and make retail salesmen very angry handling assinine questions about why Monster Rancher XD A Go Go doesn't work, when it clearly says on the box somewhere that you need the external hard drive, the golden colored maracas (not the black ones, they wont work with revision 2.1 of the hardware), and the supoer fun happy mega dance pad.
Yeah I guess that was a rant. But it's gonna be bad soon. I'm all for perpherials, as long as game manufacturers cleary market said game as needing one or worth getting to fully enjoy the game as they intended. All this, don't worry, you'll be fine without this add-on or that your configuration will support all games coming out seems a little fishy to me. And it's not from between Paris' legs (See? I can make fun of her too)!
Yeah I guess that was a rant. But it's gonna be bad soon. I'm all for perpherials, as long as game manufacturers cleary market said game as needing one or worth getting to fully enjoy the game as they intended. All this, don't worry, you'll be fine without this add-on or that your configuration will support all games coming out seems a little fishy to me. And it's not from between Paris' legs (See? I can make fun of her too)!
tyrion 14 Sep 2006 07:31
10/12
vault 13 wrote:
Microsoft, and probably Sony will create divisions among gamers
Well to be fair to Sony the only impact on gaming with their "core" model is the lack of HDMI. Unless you can transfer saves via the memory card reader, but then how much does a USB memory card reader cost these days?
vault 13 14 Sep 2006 16:58
11/12
tyrion wrote:
Well to be fair to Sony the only impact on gaming with their "core" model is the lack of HDMI.
Wasn't there a report of that rumor being false? I thought I read it on here. Or it may have only been speculation.
tyrion 15 Sep 2006 07:17
12/12
vault 13 wrote:
tyrion wrote:
Well to be fair to Sony the only impact on gaming with their "core" model is the lack of HDMI.
Wasn't there a report of that rumor being false? I thought I read it on here. Or it may have only been speculation.
Which rumour? The lack of HDMI on "core" has been well announced and nothing else in the announced differences between the models should affect playing games.