Pioneer shows off 16-layer 400GB Blu-ray Disc, affirms compatibility with current players

When Pioneer first introduced its unicorn-like 16-layer 400GB Blu-ray Disc, we weren't sure if the thing would make it beyond the drawing board, let alone be compatible with existing BD decks amd the PS3. Over at the IT Month Fair in Taipei, Pioneer showed up to showcase the capacious disc, and better still, a DigiTimes report asserts that these are indeed compatible with Blu-ray readers and the PS3's already on the market. Currently, the 400GB disc is slated to hit mass production sometime between now and 2010, while rewritable versions won't hit until 2010 to 2012. Not like it really matters though -- a 1TB disc is on track for 2013, and you know you'll be waiting for the latest and greatest.

The blu-ray is on track to beat the high capacity Holographic disc's which can hold upto 3.9tbs

Article has been updated.

Update:
Now that the English press release is out, it's less clear whether the new media -- whenever it might come to market -- will work in existing players or not. While "it is possible to maintain compatibility between the new 16-layer optical disc and the BD discs," players would seemingly require a modified optical pick-up mechanism to see the data. We'll learn more on July 13th when Pioneer discusses the breakthrough in detail.

Why is an article from July 7th considered news?

First off aren't Holo still vaporware? Secondly who needs this much space for a game? Do you want to see Game development enter a zone of billions of dollars? I sure as hell don't. (Well I do, because such a game will probably be fucking awesome, but it'll tank any company...) Also more layers means more money for each disc, I don't think they'll hit a market price anytime soon.