Xbox 360 to get new HD DVD drive

Microsoft will launch an updated HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 in 2008, it said at its 25th hardware anniversary in London today.

[Arkham]

Well, this should be interesting...

[bung tickler]

i doubt it. it's probably the same drive just in the color black to match the elite. it's "new" the same way the "new" pink and blue controllers are "new."

[SonySoldiers]

yeah we doubt it.. hope they won't put a triple-layer capable drive in it.

Blu-Rays win!!!

[cdzie1]

Internal HD DVD drive SKU?
A lower-priced unit?
Plug and play with Vista PCs & Xbox?

[Foliage]

They will probably paint it black and charge more money for it without any major changes. At least that is what history would suggest.

[blackmagic]

It'll likely be a less costly unit from a chinese manufacturer instead of the Toshiba unit.

[iceice123]

I'm sure you're very falmiliar with such a tactic. It's what Sony is doing with DS3. Release the console with no shock, say it is a last gen feature. Then a over a year later release it and have people buy a new controller that is basically needed for depth. PROFIT $$$ Sony, now as bad as Microsoft.

I would like those who are disagreeing with me to explain themselves.

[jedicurt]

Quite frankly... i don't miss rumble

playing RFOM, and Warhawk... and don't even notice it is missing

[FungLip]

Dude you don't know what you were saying. Sony didn't put shock in their controller cuz they couldn't with the law suit going on. They could've say the truth but instead they made up some lame excuses like it's last gen or not work w/ motion sensing.

But then again no one point a gun at your head forcing you to buy this hddvd drive or a dualshock3.

[THX7168]

I disagreed with you because you're a d1ckhole.

Happy?

[Rabidsmiley665]

I disagree with you because you didn't really state any facts in your argument. You just made blatant fanboy flamebait and didn't stick to the issue

[power of Green]

Yah its safe to say it won't be downgraded or have less capabilities thats for sure.

[Nth RooCH]

Why?

[fjtorres]

They are currently using a slightly modified PC drive with an external power brick.
First gen HD-DVD hardware.
Toshiba and the drive makers are up to 3rd-gen drives; lower physical profile and lower power consumption.
I'd expect the new one not to need the power brick and be thinner.
And sell for less.

[Makroyale]

They haven't even sold 200,000... Compare that with almost 5 million PS3s with Bluray built-in sold.

[Nth RooCH]

Good point Torres. Bubble+

MakRoyale, you're comparing a non essential add on with a permanent fixture of a console. Get over yourself fanboy.

[Satans Cousin]

It's for the new HDVD's that hold more memory then the Bluray,the drive problably updated to play those.

[Oncnawan]

The article refers to a new player, not the same player with updated firmware.

[Mr Murda]

I've been waiting for a redesign to add another. Great news, hurry up so I can move my current one to my bedroom and put the new one for main room.

[eagle21]

[THE_JUDGE]

Whats the point?

[Covenant]

Memo to MS: Please offer it in black, for those of us with Elites.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

"But Blu-Ray is winning!"

[Salvadore]

A new entertainment SKU, including a HD DVD?

[cr33ping_death]

if it wasnt for the paramount deal MS would have abandoned this quicker than the first xbox.

[007craft]

This is a good thing. I wanted to start buying HD-DVDs and I was shopping around for a player. I was gonna buy an AX2 or A35 for cheap if I could find one but now I think ill wait to see what the specs are for this new player. The current 360 hd add-on is out of the question for me because it cant do 24hz playback.

For any1 who thinks MS is dumb for doing this or something you are mistaken, because in new optical formats like blu-ray and hd-dvd, the players improve vastly each generation. the 360 add on now is a 1st generation drive. The technology is currently on 3rd generation. So its time for an update so I can get stuff like 24hz playback.

This is why I feel sorry for ps3 owners. They have a 1st gen blu-ray player in their ps3, but 3rd gen blu-ray players are coming out now. Since the ps3 drive is internal, theres nothing you can do about it. Im sure ps3 will include better internal drives as the years pass but all current customers get screwed. Sony should of just stuck with DVDs for games, and released an add-on blu-ray drive.

[fjtorres]

...then you can forget about a 360 add-on of any kind.
The add-on is just a bare drive in a USB case.
The decoding and output will always be done inside the 360. Which means 1080i60 or 1080p60 are your main output choices; it is doubtful the 360 will ever do 24Hz output. If they do, however, it won't need a new drive; it would be strictly a software update, like the A20 is getting next month.
Your best bet is to check out the Toshiba deal on Amazon right now; 7 free movies and a $300 price on the A20, last time I looked.

[Makroyale]

The HD-DVD add on came out after the PS3. Yet look at the reviews

http://www.playthree.net/20...

Now they're coming out with a new one because they realized the current is a POS. But since it's an add-on with HDMI 1.2 (old technology), it's gonna suck just as bad as the first one.

[Infernus]

"This is why I feel sorry for ps3 owners. They have a 1st gen blu-ray player in their ps3, but 3rd gen blu-ray players are coming out now. Since the ps3 drive is internal, theres nothing you can do about it."

You're getting caught up on the movie aspect. Since the games are on Blu-Ray too it doesn't matter whether the standalone players move on technologically because blu-ray games (up to 50GB) can still be made for the first PS3's.

So feeling sorry for PS3 owners because of the internal blu-ray drive is perfectly fine, but you have to consider the fact that blu-ray games exist and HD-DVD games do not.

The HD-DVD drive add-on is great for those that want to watch HD movies, but it's still not at the same standard as the internal Blu-Ray drive connectivity on the PS3 (HDMI v1.3), you might as well buy a standalone HD-DVD player rather than the add-on for the 360...

[aiphanes]

Sony did it right with the PS3, you Xbots can say what you want, but the PS3 hardware is solid. It has the best DVD upscalling and awesome bluray playback...it will do 24p out the box. It has HDMI 1.3. It is the best bluray drive available right now...and it is fully updatible with firmware updates. It will be able to do Bluray Profile 2.0..

There is not enough space after next spring for PS3 games to be on an old outdated DVD...MGS4, Killzone 2, Final Fantasy 13...can not be done on a DVD-9...

Also bluray is still out saling HD-DVD 2-1 in north america, and way better than that in all other parts of the world.

Also microsoft has still not fixed their XBOX 360 hardware problems....

[BLACKJACK VII]

LOL, I thought SONY said HD-DVD was DEAD ?!?

Has anyone considered if BluRay somehow LOSES to HD-DVD it's going to BRICK the PS3 ??? I mean, obviously lots of ppl only get the PS3 as a cheap 4X BluRay player, just look at the PS3's attach rate...

I only know 1 guy who has a PS3 & he uses it for MOVIES. He plays all his multiplats & games on his Xbox 360. HS & Resistance are the only 2 SONY games he owns...

[Makroyale]

Bluray won't lose to HD-DVD it's outselling it 2:1 in DVD sales.

At least the PS3 comes with a high definition drive so you CAN play movies on it, which is not a bad thing since 360 owners have to spend almost $200 for a sub par HD-DVD add on drive just to have that ability.
And you STILL lose out on lossless audio and HDMI 1.3a. Talk about getting ripped off.

[molotov99]

makroyale, the rip off is getting the ps3 with only a composite cable and few games

and for blu ray, we needed an update (HD DVD) not a new technology

[power of Green]

I think what you said is the reason people hope #2.1 is right and thats why so many agreed with him.

[power of Green]

Look at the fanboys flocking in here worried as hell the new HD-DVD add-on will be more advanced the the drives that are stuck in the PS3's.

You people are in here because you're threatend and worried the PS3 isn't as future proof as you thought. HD-DVD players and Blu-ray players go through upgrades each generation(or new model).

[SuperSaiyan4]

Why does it need a new drive? A black one then yeah to match the Elite but otherwise no need.

[kn]

I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft gets down to $99 bucks or something along those lines in their next version of the HD-DVD attachment. Once they do, they *might* encourage developers to support HD-DVD owners by providing a *choice* on how to play the game... Maybe provide both HD-DVD and DVD9 in the same package for Multi-disk format...

Yeah, it would go against everything they have said but as long as they refuse to publish games that are ONLY on HD-DVD, they'll be alright...

What the PS3 crowd continues to leave out of the console equation is the COST of inluding Blu-ray as mandatory in the PS3. It's a more expensive console pure and simple. There are a lot of folks like me that don't have an HDTV and don't plan on buying one any time soon. That means for me, blu-ray OR hd-dvd doesn't matter. It just comes down to price and game availability -- both of which *currently* favor the XBOX 360...

I guess we'll have to see how HD-DVD pans out with all the new developments...

[cow moolester]

Its official...Nasim is a tool...why does it matter to you whichever wins?

[BloodySinner]

Always has and always will be.

[xm15e2s]

I get a kick out of the gaylords that keep saying the Xbox 360's HD-DVD add on is garbage.
Jaws drop when I fire mine up.

Sure there are more sophisticated players available, but it is very capable as is, and it is also dirt cheap.

Making it available to those who want it (as opposed to Sony's VERY stupid decision to ram it down gamer's throats) was a very smart move on Microsoft's part.

[beardtm]

360 HD-DVD drive aint garbage, so far HD-DVDs have looked superior to Blu-rays playing on my PS3.

I dont know what they will add to this "new" HD-DVD drive, im guessing it'll be the same one only in black for those who have an elite.

[aiphanes]

You don't even have a PS3....bluray and HD-DVD look exactly the same in picture quality.

Sound is a bit better on bluray using the uncompressed PCM 7.1 soundtracks...but other than that it is about the same....

[Firestorm]

Yes he does.

He owns a ps3, 1 ordinary 360, 1 elite 360 and a Wii....all of which He plays on his 50 inch samsung HDTV.

you should post a pic to prove it kev or tell him your PSN ID

anyway....in theory HDDVD and Blu Ray should look the same, but some earlier Blu Ray movies are encoded with crappy codecs. Also video quality is dependant on the hardware it it running through...perhaps what beard is saying is that the 360 is better at running HDDVDs than the ps3 is with Blu Rays?

[Makroyale]

This review says it all
http://www.playthree.net/20...

so if he is seeing better quality on his inferior non Lossless audio, HDMI 1.2 enabled 360 w/HD-DVD addon, he needs some glasses or a new set of eyes.

[beardtm]

"so if he is seeing better quality on his inferior non Lossless audio, HDMI 1.2 enabled 360 w/HD-DVD addon, he needs some glasses or a new set of eyes"

How on earth can i SEE a difference between audio!?

As for HDMI 1.3, all that adds is Deep Colour, which so far NO software actually utilizes it.

Besides my TV like most HDTVs out there doesnt suppport HDMI 1.3.

Yes i CAN see a difference between HD-DVD and Blu-ray, but its down to the lack of finalised specification of Blu-ray.

[UltramanJ]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz...

[ben806]

if it was not for the paramount deal i would not have even considered this. as it stands the blu ray camp cant keep studios on their side and the add-on is looking mighty cheap compared to the 400 pounds worth of blu-ray player i was looking at

[heavyarms]

If it reads the new hd dvd that are 51 gigs and works with xbox360 and my pc, I will buy one. HEHEHEEHE. I want to see the specs, but this will be great if its really a newer model.

[Faulty360]

They need it because a game take up 5 gigs hahahaha

[ALMIGHTYPS3]

actually make 360 games on the hddvd?Doubt it >too bad.

CRYSTAL BALL RESPONSE:they don't need to!Just look at MASS EFFECT(not out yet;who knows how many discs),or OBLIVION(minus nights of the nine),etc.
And what about blueray they only put 8hrs gameplay on HS,LAIR,etc.What's up with that?!

yada yada yada

Don't worry about PS3 blueray, fans,they will make hhuuuggee games BECAUSE THEY CAN.

First ps3 game out-RFOM>60+ levels of gameplay:I don't how long it took(I do not use a stopwatch when playing vids),but it was pretty long>great game.

PLAYING B3YOND right now biotch!

[Makroyale]

That there is a 360 game called Blue Dragon that uses up 3 dvds and is a piece of crap.

So, yeah DVDs are good enough if you're a flipper and you enjoy crappy games.

[DarkJedi]

I don't see anything wrong with Blue Dragon Mak, I'm wondering if you've played it properly or just dislike it cos it's a japanese styled RPG. tbh you're starting to give regular PS3 users (not fanboys) like me a terrible name.

If MS wants to replace the HD-DVD drive then so be it, it doesn'tmake any difference to me personally as I won't purchase one until they can get games on it as well, which I don't think will happen until the drive is built in to the console. And then how many people are gonna be pi%%ed cos MS are "ramming it down their throats" as someone else said earlier.

[Mars Attacker]

Living with an external HD movie drive is much better than a built in drive. I've watched at least eight DVDs and HD DVDs since I first started playing Bioshock. The Bioshock disk stayed in the game drive the whole time without having to swap it out to play movies. Soon Halo 3 will be parked in the game drive for an extended stay.

Not only did Blu-ray cripple the sales of the PS3 by doubling the price; it's not nearly as convenient to use since all disks shares one drive.

[Makroyale]

The add on isn't enabling HD-DVD in outselling Bluray is it?

Bluray DVD sales outselling HD-DVD 2:1 baby!!!

How about those numbers!?!?!?!?

Yeah, it's called the PS3 effect, and a newer add on is gonna help... Keep telling yourself that.

[Nth RooCH]

Who else is glad the clown above me has no bubbles left? Dude, fanboyism is a plague on society. You spend 18 hours of your day stringently defending the bad points of your company, whilst exaggerating the good points. Do you think that stops any reasonable person realising that's what you are doing? Blue Dragon is crap you say? Have you played it? No. Absolutely not. The HD DVD's are of a lower quality, so says a link you have right? Wrong. They haven't used this new one because it isn't released yet. Now that you're bubbles are used up, thankfully we won't have to suffer your insatiable Sonysexuality for a while.

[sak500]

How about games selling more on 360 ? Well bd is selling more cuz of cheaper bd player offered by sony which is ps3. Forget gaming just enjoy your talladega nights and daniel craig in high definiton. We have games to play.

[snoopgg]

I wish they would just concentrate on getting a console out to the market that works more then 5 months. The hell with a new hddvd drive, get the freakin 360 to be worth the price people are paying for it.

[jackie chann]

It's guaranteed anyway, so it doesn't really matter if you happen to get a faulty one.

[tuaamin13]

Even if it's guaranteed it's a pain to ship your electronics away and not have them for an extended period of time. Have you ever had that happen to you? I'm guessing not.

[BlazinEurasian]

It doesn't make sense for HD-DVD to release new hardware if everything is updatable through firmware.
What is the incentive to buy this new box over the first one? Isn't that supposed to be a strength of HD-DVD, continual firmware updates?

[test123123]

I don't care BD or HD-DVD. Halo 3 is what I cared and below prove that :)

The new charts have been updated on VGChartz for the week of September 9 - September 15. Hardware sales are showing some very interesting things as Wii hardware figures drop 20% to well over 90k and Playstation 3 even drops an amazing 40% to just over 30k. This compared to Xbox 360 figures which increase by almost 20% selling nearly 90k, almost as much as the Wii.

[tuaamin13]

VG Charts are lame. The industry only uses NPD numbers. Have you ever seen Sony/MS/Nintendo quote VGChartz?

[kurtblindass]

They fix the 360 first... then they can add cool stuff.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Go! you guys have sh!t to make up in your blogs RUN RUN RUN!

[M1am1U]

interesting.