Even if Microsoft has been denying that it would launch a Blu-ray Xbox 360 from day one, I.e. after HD DVD was shot down, few really believed the software giant. Forbes now reports that Microsoft may have terminated the very last Blu-ray hope when presenting its large scale venture for digital media distribution through its video game console. Shane Kim, VP of Strategy and Business Development for Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment business department had the following to say about the Blu-ray for Xbox 360 rumors;
“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.”
The answer is in line with what Microsoft has been saying in the past, but this time they have a bit more backing it up. They will instead focus on digital distribution of other material than games. Among others, it has made a deal with Netflix, one of the largest online-based movie rental services in the US, where Xbox Live members will be able to stream movies and TV series for free to their Xbox 360 consoles.
Whether Microsoft’s venture will pay off remains to be seen, but it certainly seems that the Blu-ray support till continue to be an exclusive feature for PlayStation 3.
