REDMOND, WA — Microsoft Corp. on Saturday announced it no longer will incorporate HD DVD players into its popular Xbox 360 videogame system. It will, however, continue to provide standard warranty support for the devices already on the market or in homes.Toshiba ceded the high-definition-storage war to Sony’s rival Blu-ray format earlier this month. Last week, Toshiba’s president estimated about 300,000 people had purchased the Microsoft video player manufactured by Toshiba and sold as a separate $130 add-on for the Xbox.
“HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high-definition experience to consumers, and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high-definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own,” Blair Westlake, a corporate vice president of Microsoft’s media and entertainment group, said in a written statement.
Microsoft was one of HD DVD’s main backers, in conjunction with Intel Corp. and NEC Corp. Early in the format war, Microsoft’s support was seen as a distinct advantage for Toshiba. However, when the majority of Hollywood studios and retail giant Wal-Mart sided with Blu-ray, Toshiba abandoned the field, saying removing HD DVD from the competition would allow the industry as a whole to move forward.
Microsoft reportedly is considering how HD DVD technologies it developed may be applied to other platforms. It said it does not expect the decision to abandon HD DVD players to have a major impact on its videogame business.
