I literally just saw an article on this site stating that the xbox 360 was rebranding itself as a multimedia device, rather than just a gaming console. This got me thinking, what if MS added a bluray player to the 360. I am not talking about an add on like the hd dvd drive, but rather something already installed in all(or a select model) of 360 slims. They do not have to use it for games, seeing as that would fracture their userbase, and they just released a dvd that allowed for extra storage, but still it could be in line with their advances towards more of a multimedia device.

Would this affect hardware sales?

 Is it too late to matter?

Would people actually care?

Just to make clear, I do not think it will happen; I just thought it was interesting if they would do something like this this late into the gen.

Doubt this would be worth it to them as they are pushing their video streaming (and buying) services over physical media.

Adding Blu-ray would just be additional licensing fees they could do without and it could possibly lead to the 360 being priced higher (if it is intergrated like you said).

slightest chance it may happen next gen.

big fat zero chance of it happening this gen

I'd still use my PS3 to watch Blu-rays. It can output more through the HDMI port. M$ wouldn't be able to use it to store games with, so it's only going to be good for playing movies. They most likely won't though, since they have been testing out a new DVD format that stores a little more data, wich all 360s should be able to play.

it wont happen. and it would up the cost of 360. the blu ray player wouldn't be used, because new games would be optimized for the DVD player

the only thing it would do is make 360 a blu ray player....

It would just make the 360 more expensive to produce and no games would use it. MS is focused on pushing digital downloads and streaming services. They actually make money with those.

IMO it's to late, but for next gen they should blueray is truly the supperior format and I don't see it getting replaced anytime soon.

I see no benifit from doing that

Next generation, yes.

This generation, no. It's too late and too expensive.

And I don't know why Microsoft are glorifying the XBOX 360 as a home entertainment system, this is basically what SONY have branded the PS3 as since it first launched. If people wanted a home entertainment system they would have bought a PS3 not an XBOX 360, this generation is coming to a close, Microsoft are too late.

Way too late for that.

Why put effort into the 360 when the successor isn't far away?