The nextbox and bluray. Do you want it???

[ctalkeb]

slowmo said:

For the bolded part, don't forget Microsoft put the DVD dongle in place on the original Xbox to save on having to pay any licensing fees, this is one possible reason they may want to not include Bluray on their next console.  They would potentially have to pay a fee for including the drives in their console and extra fees for disc manufacturing.  I'm not saying this is a smart reason why they wouldn't just pointing out there is some reasons they wouldn't go this route, particularly with the efforts they've made to build their DD content over the last few years.

While this is true, I don't think (at least I don't recall it as such) the original Xbox was marketed much as anything other than a games device. I believe that both Sony and Microsoft are engaged in a battle for consumer's time, to the extent that they really don't want you turning off their box to spend moeny and attention to another one. While DD is certainly coming (I don't think that DD only is entirely advategous to consumers, but that's just my opinion), for the close (meaning about ten years) future, disc formats will be entirely relevant.

Blu-ray may be largely irrelevant to gaming, but to ensure that people stick to your box, and your box only, I do think it is necessary.

I don't think Microsoft minds paying the licensing fees - after all, Sony is part of the group that owns DVD, and that didn't stop them from using it as a format this gen. The only thing that could stop them is wanting to have control over what you are able to watch on your box, and who you are able to buy it from. While that is possible, I'm not sure it is likely, given the previous argument of then giving up time and attention to other hardware manufacturers.

The next two years should tell us what they'll go with, until then we can only speculate (and amuse ourselves with internet arguments).