During a video interview with tech blog Gizmodo, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer disclosed Xbox 360 owners can expect a Blu-ray addition at some point in the future.
"Well, I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there," Ballmer noted during the interview. "You'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories."
Ballmer quickly also noted "the future of movies is on-demand, actually, as opposed to via distribution on physical media." Microsoft is interested in providing the "best overall entertainment experience" available to consumers.
The Sony PlayStation 3 game console has an internal Blu-ray player, though the Xbox 360 has only supported the now defunct HD-DVD next-generation video format. Toshiba eventually folded on HD DVD, leaving Microsoft with a choice: support Blu-ray or push streaming content. Microsoft chose streaming content, but may finally listen to Xbox 360 owner requests for the big Blu.
If true, it should be interesting to see how many Xbox 360 owners decide to purchase the external Blu-ray player. Although streaming content through Netflix is a nice feature, the ability to watch physical media is still highly sought after by consumers, according to analysts.
This could mark the best time for Microsoft to support Blu-ray, as the movies have finally lowered in price enough to begin to appeal to casual consumers. Microsoft will still have its focus on streaming both movies and HD content directly through the Xbox 360, but a Blu option would just give consumers yet another entertainment choice with their console.
If you're an Xbox 360 owner, would you purchase the Blu-ray external add-on?
