Xbox 360 may go Blu-ray

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 video gaming console still fully backs Toshiba’s HD-DVD high-definition DVD format, but could consider supporting Sony’s rival Blu-ray technology should consumers want it, an executive said on Tuesday.

“It should be consumer choice; and if that’s the way they vote, that’s something we’ll have to consider,” Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware said when asked if Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed.

Microsoft does not believe the decision last week by Warner Bros, the top seller of home movies, to abandon HD-DVD in favour of Blu-ray should affect sales of the Xbox 360, Penello said.

“With the PlayStation 2, DVD was a big part in the beginning, but over time, people were not buying it as a DVD player after the first year or two,” Penello said.

Although calling the Warner decision a setback, Penello is still optimistic.

“You can’t say it’s not a bummer, not a setback, but I’ve seen this battle declared over so many times,” said Penello. “I want consumers to have a voice in this. There are a lot of consumers who bought HD-DVD and are going to have a say in how this shakes out.”