Moore Talks Theoretical Blu-Ray Drive For Xbox 360

Author: by Nich Maragos, Brandon Sheffield

Only days after Bill Gates' keynote address at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show revealed an external HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360, Xbox VP of marketing Peter Moore has said to Japanese site ITmedia that a similar device would be possible if Blu-Ray showed signs of winning the next-generation format wars. "Since we're using external drives [for next-gen media], we can change as the market changes," said Moore, according to remarks translated by Gamasutra from the Japanese original. "Sony can't do that. If Blu-Ray wins, that's a big chance for Sony. But if Blu-Ray fails, it will be a considerable blow for them." Moore did not address the possibility that Sony, like Microsoft, would also consider add-on drives for the PlayStation 3 in the event of a shift in popularity to HD-DVD, which currently has fewer Hollywood supporters than Blu-Ray. In addition to his comments on Blu-Ray and the PlayStation 3, Moore reinforced the fact that there are currently no plans to release a version of the Xbox 360 with an HD-DVD drive built in, nor are any games on HD-DVD media planned. The HD-DVD expansion currently has no announced price or release date, other than that it's scheduled to be released in 2006.