Xbox 360 News Connection

Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology Corp, a joint venture between Samsung and Toshiba, has been contracted to manufacture external Blu-ray drives for Xbox 360. Microsoft aims at $100 - $150 price-point for the device.

Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology Corp., a joint venture between Samsung Electronics and Toshiba Corp., has been contracted to manufacture external Blu-ray disc drives for Microsoft Xbox 360 game console. While the exact specifications of the product are unknown, it is rumoured that Microsoft aims at $100 - $150 price-point for the device in order to compete against Sony PlayStation 3 with Xbox 360 + external Blu-ray drive combination.

The main reason why Microsoft is unenthusiastic regarding Blu-ray is mandatory support of BD-Java interactive technology and Sony’s reluctance to adopt competing tech called HDi that was developed by Microsoft. Even though Microsoft managed to push its VC-1 codec onto both Blu-ray and HD DVD markets, the company’s negative attitude towards Java prevented it from supporting the former standard in general. As a result, the company used to sell external HD DVD drive for Xbox 360.

Nevertheless, as high-definition movies gain popularity, Microsoft has to support Blu-ray in order to leave Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. without an advantage of offering BD support exclusively with the PS3 on the market of video game consoles.