Microsoft Will Detail HD-DVD Drives For Xbox 360 At E3
The fact that Microsoft will launch a HD-DVD drive for its Xbox 360 was confirmed by Bill Gates at the beginning of this year. Now, the HD-DVD drive is confirmed also by Microsoft regional vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Chris Lewis, who said in an interview with Spiegel, a German newspaper, that the optional drive will be released later this year.
Also, Chris Lewis said that “the HD-DVD-peripheral device will meet all the requirements for consumers to enjoy high-definition DVD playback” and Microsoft will announce more detaile at the upcoming E3 Expo.
Lewis spoke also about sales of Xbox 360. “By the end of June we will have sold between 4.5 and 5.5 million units worldwide. We were in 19 countries when we launched, we're already in 30. We'll have 80 high-definition games on the market, including games downloaded from our online marketplace "Arcade," by the end of June.”, he said.
With the HD-DVD drive, Microsoft is helping Toshiba to promote its next-generation DVD format. Sony Play Station 3, which is set to be released in November this year, will have Blu-Ray drive.
Lewis is not impressed by Sony’s Blu-Ray drive and he said for Spiegel: “Blu-ray right now reminds us of another technology from Sony: Betamax. A bit like VHS -- we think that HD DVD is the format that consumers, film studios and publishers will embrace.”
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