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No Blu-ray as Microsoft opts for Xbox 360 digital distribution

by Steven Williamson on 16 July 2008, 13:56

Tags: Xbox 360, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Xbox 360

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Microsoft had denied it until it was blue in the face, but in the lead-up to E3 2008 this week, it was still believed from many corners of the net that the demise of HD-DVD, would lead the company into signing a deal to bring Blu-ray to Xbox 360.

It's finally time to put to that rumour to bed after a report from Forbes claiming that Shane Kim, vice president of strategy and business development for Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment business, told them that the company's focus is digital distribution and that it has "no interest' in bringing Blu-ray functionality to the Xbox 360.

“I can categorically say that we’re not working on a Blu-ray player for Xbox 360,” says Kim. “To my knowledge, we don’t have any intent to do that.”

At E3, Microsoft announced its intention to increase its digital distribution on Xbox 360. revealing a significant partnership deal with Netflix , the US-based largest online DVD rental company in the world, which will allow US-based Xbox 360 gold subscribers to stream movies to their Xbox 360's for free.

There was also more good news for movie fans with news that NBC Universal has also struck a deal with the Big M, which will see its catalogue of content, including the hit TV show Heroes, made available for download shortly.

Source :: Forbes


HEXUS Forums :: 10 Comments

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noticed a mistake in the article
digital distribution and that it has "no interest' in brining Blu-ray functionality to the Xbox 360.

Good article, i wonder if this will happen in endgland soon. If it does i can see all current broadband providers having a fit because of all the downloading, worse than bbci player because it will be HD
'Digital distribution' is one of those vague buzzword terms I don't like - last time I checked, Blue-ray was digital too!
lost eden;1473450
'Digital distribution' is one of those vague buzzword terms I don't like - last time I checked, Blue-ray was digital too!

:stupid:

But direct purchase and mail order are not “digital distribution”. It's not the content they are talking about, it's the “distribution” method. You can tell that from the word “distribution” in the phrase “digital distribution”. :angst:

Of course the content of a digital distribution method is digital. This will always be the case until someone works out how to digitally stream muffins.
Lol ?
haha. what will happen to those people who have capped download limits with there broadband providers or have slow connections?

last i looked a 1080p video is over 20gb. at X264/.MKV format its around 9GB compressed. still very big and the 360 as far as i know DOESNT support x264 or .MKV :(

the world is not quit ready for digital content unless its none HD