Following Toshiba’s decision to stop manufacturing the HD DVD high-definition disc format, Microsoft, as was rumoured, has decided to drop the HD DVD player that comes as an add-on to its Xbox 360 gaming console.
The Redmond-based company will still continue to offer standard warranty support for the high-def player and will also sell its remaining stock from tomorrow at the reduced price of US$49, according to Microsoft spokesperson, Grace Chou.
According to Bloomberg, Chou said the cessation of the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on player should not have a large impact because of its nature as an add-on rather than a built-in feature like the Blu-ray player in the Sony PlayStation 3.
“HD DVD is one of 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,” said Blair Westlake, a corporate vice-president from Microsoft’s media and entertainment group.
Microsoft insisted this decision will not have any effect on sales of the console as it is, and always was, a chiefly games-based machine.
By Marie Boran
