Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive to retail for GBP 199

Retail sources have indicated to GamesIndustry.biz that Microsoft is currently planning to price the standalone HD-DVD drive at GBP 199 (293 Euro), and to package it with two HD-DVD movies. The sources also suggested that Microsoft will bundle the Premium console and next-generation movie player together for under GBP 400 (589 Euro) – and that the price could even be as low as GBP 375 (552 Euros).

[DG]

thats a rip off.

[Captain Tuttle]

It's only a rip-off if you buy it.

[andy capps]

It's a ripoff either way. This is an add-on drive that is only for movies, MS must not want to sell any of these if this is the true price. MS is all about choice... yes, $100 wireless internet add-ons, $70 a year subscription to Xbox live, $100 harddrives with 20 Gb of storage on them, and now a possibly $250 HD-DVD addon that is only for movies, etc. I'm not sure what the conversion from Euro's to dollars is, so that's why I said possibly. If it is $250, then you will have Xbox 360 users having to buy a $399 console, plus a $250 add-on which comes out to $649, which is more than the PS3, and the drive as I mentioned is only for movies, you wouldn't have wireless internet like the PS3 has, 40 gb smaller hard drive, less usb inputs, no HDMI output, no "memory stick" slots.

[Captain Tuttle]

I won't buy it. I'll save my money for games. I don't need a hi-def movie player.

And where did you get $70/year for LIVE?

[frostbite06]

Dude you are getting ripped if you pay $70 for live. $50 tops and Amazon had those 12 month cards a while ago for $35.

[andy capps]

Isn't $70 the regular price for the start up package with one year of live?

[XboxKing]

mmmmm let me get this right, MS HD-DVD player $199.99 and Toshiba and RCA's HD-DVD player $499.99 uuuhhhh yeah your right it is a rip off? But hey I think I'll buy two MS HD-DVD players "WHY buy one when you can buy two" and if this thing ever BREAKS I'll just get a new one and NOT go out a buy other $500 doller DH-DVD player from Toshiba and RCA.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site...

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

[frostbite06]

Since no one answered you $70 is the price for the start up package, but its only $50 if you just want the live for a year. The package just comes with a headset i believe, and you get that with a premium so theres no point to buying it (unless you purchased the core obviously)

[kingboy]

lol no comment

[heihoosilver]

i don´t need hddvd for 2 or 3 years more.

[BlackCountryBob]

Thats a lot of money but atleast you have a choice whether or not you want the hi def movie player.

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

[GamerX2]

dumb people choose to get ripped off
what your choice DG????

[DG]

My choice is not to buy it but I do want an HD player. I think Ill wait to see who comes out on top and buy a multi format player when it drops in price or an internal drive for my PC.

[THAMMER1]

I will get one in like a year or so when the titles beef up some. Right now DVD9 is just fine.

[GamerX2]

So fill free to comment on this unofficial statement!!!

[richie007bond]

thats a good price ill be buying one,a stand alone player will cost about 425 when there released in the uk,so 199 a bargin if you ask me HDDVD all the way

[Caxtus750]

i agree....people can be so dumb! its very good value, its also opitional.

(i know its not official but even if this is the price it is still good value!)

[Gamer13]

Im ok with my 360, i don,t need a HD DVD to enjoy a film.

[Donkey Slayer]

MS needs to lay off the crack pipe.. I bet this was another of Peter Moore's retarded ideas.. luckily he doesn't have the power to bring MS down like he did with Sega and the dreamcast

[Solid Snake]

this almost hits £5000 pounds when you add the console and the hd-dvd player together, man with the exchange rate that's almost$800 to $900, oh my the 360 is in trouble!

[Marriot VP]

Don't be so lame, comments like that are hilarious.

NOBODY NEEDS or WANTS
-HD DRIVE
-WIRELESS INTERNET
-WIFI
-HDMI

And when I say nobody I mean the overwhelming majority that aren't tech extremists like yourself. You guys will buy a PS3 for sure but your a tiny percentage of the bulk market that'll be waiting for a price drop or look else where. And the price drop won't come for years and years. It'll end up being too late in the PS3's lifecycle to sell to the majority of normal people.

Sony was mis-managed to the wrong demographic

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

[PS3n360]

i wish they had put in a drive bay so you could swap in the hd drive instead of adding yet another plug to deal with in the powerbar. I am a 360 fanman but cmon this thing looks terrible it only matches the 360 cause its white.

[clayton]

This isn't required for the 360 to function, it is an option. If you got the money get one if you don't then fine. It will still be around the PS3 price in the US. Atleast if the HD-DVD player gives out, I won't be out of a 360.

[clayton]

I will be getting one can't beat that price for a seperate unit. HD movies for me!

[PS360PCROCKS]

am I the only one who doesn't understand the price? what is GBP? is it 199 for america? and than 400 or less for the bundle?

[BlackCountryBob]

GBP is British pounds sterling aka the money used in Britain. £200 (thats GBP) equals $370 but as Britain always pays more for everything you should expect to pay between $250 and $275 in the USA.

[Boink]

all the movies I watch are streamed from media center, they look nice, and are a lot cheaper.

[Donkey Slayer]

Not nearly as good as a dedicated unit and should be priced much less

[shotty]

Still cheaper that buying a standalone HD-DVD or Blu-ray player. People the xbox 360 is a gaming system. Movies is extra.

[kingboy]

Bluray on ps3 =HD Video + Games support

HD add on on 360= HD Video + well more HD

they would have just made it with game support

[DJ]

'Cause otherwise that's going to be $250 down the drain. Damn, choice is frickin' expensive.

$100~200 more for Blu-ray movies AND games.
$250 extra for HD-DVD movies...and that's it.

Nice.

If you love HD-DVD that much, you might as well just buy a standalone player. It'll be cheaper, that's for sure.

[BIadestarX]

now thats a stupid statement.
a standalone HD-DVD cost $500-$1000 and they are bigger (at least bigger than the 360 and the hd-drive put together). So, if I want a HD-Player why not save $250 more and get the xbox addon and get more games and the wii?

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

[heihoosilver]

if you want you buy if you don´t you don´t buy, at least people can choose, with ps3 if br fails people became with a white elefant in the living room and need to buy a hddvd.For me i don´t care about the price because next 2 or 3 years i don´t need hddvd nor br.If MS made it with game suport devs do games in hddvd and people had to buy the ad-on.And DJ choice is free, for you you have no choice if br fails.A console is for games no movies, for movies i buy a player with better specs than the drives of the consoles.I have two ps2 broken, xbox and xbox360 and i see my dvds in my player because it have better image and sound. Get it?

[Shadow Flare]

£199 = $371.17

what a rip off

considering the ps3 includes the blu-ray drive as standard, the $500 ps3 for example costs $130 more than the hd-dvd add-on, but blu-ray plays movies and games, and plus, its a PlayStation 3. Not just some stinking movie player. Rip off

[BIadestarX]

well, you are a PS3 fan, so why would you say otherwise?
You know how many HD-DVD Movies I have? 4. I still don't have an HD-DVD player. Did you know that hd-dvd movies work on standard dvd players? Can blu-ray do that? Call it a rip off, but right now hd-dvd gives you the (OPTION) of getting the movies, enjoy them in standard dvd players and than when you get the hd-dvd drive you already have the movies. That right there is priceless. Anotherthing is why should I wait for the PS3 to watch HD Movies? When I can get them now? Sure you can get a standalone blu-ray drive for $1,000+; now thats a rip off... want to hear another rip off? Sony fanboys will have to wait a long time to see what HD looks like since a standalone blu-ray drive is way off most people budget.

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

[ASTAROTH]

$400 for my 360. $120 for 2 games. $50 xbox live. $50 adittional controller. aprox. $300 HD DVD. The pleassure of a MICROSOFT ripp off, PRICELESS for any fanboy. LOL. More than $900 in a not so next gen platform. And fanboys blame PS3 price. OMG Blind people get ripped off!!!! WELCOM3 CHANG3!!!!

[Ravenator529]

Ummmmmm...

OK, how about this.

$600 for a PS3, at least $120 for two games, $50 for the extra controller and don't be suprised to see if you are paying for some sort of online applications for the PS3. Very little information is known about the PS3 online functions.

But the difference is that the HD-DVD add-on you talk about is a choice we can make. So you can take that price right out of your equation because we DON'T NEED IT! And we aren't FORCED TO PAY FOR IT!

There is really no way you can spin the price of the 360 to compare to the PS3. Stop trying!

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

[Ravenator529]

Its funny how the Sony drones will compare this to the Blu-Ray players getting shoved down the throats of the Sony gamers.

Its not the same at all. See, the difference is that we have a choice as to purchase the external HD-DVD player OR NOT! With Blu-Ray, you pay for and you have no choice.

You all may see the light when you find that we don't need HD-DVD or Blu-Ray media for gaming in this generation! Especially a media that is so very untested and unproven on all levels!

I'll pass on the HD-DVD add-on! See, I have the choice!

[heihoosilver]

when you see the mediocre bd player on ps3,you don´t know who will win th hd movies battle, the same or worst graphics than 360, $600 for a besat like this? Who don´t want one?!!!! WELCOM3 CHANG3!!!! until you have one to work fine? hahaha, "this is dying" and fast". "Ps3 the fast sinking object ahead of Titanic, at least Titanic has left the shipyard."

[OutLaw]

People who are complaining about this has nothing better to do. We don't have to buy the damn thing. Why every time I turn people are comparing this to the blu ray in the PS3. What part of "we are not obligated to get this add on" don't you understand? If I want to watch movies, the DVD player on the 360 is just fine. So whats the gripe? If anything stop bragging about Sony so much because even Ken questions his own company. So for the last time, it's The 360 at $399 premium vs the PS3 and we'll see those of you who didn't get the PS3 on the release date spending anywhere from $1500 to $3000 on Ebay. Yeah, that's a good deal.

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

And just like MS said the hard drive wouldn't be used for games. It is used with games...Just not needed. I expect the same thing with HD dvd. It all depends on how many people buy it. Game developers will eventually use it if needed. Its really common sense. Will they? I don't know. But its possible. But 199 ain't bad. How much is that american dollars? Isn't it less? Thanks Microsoft

[Marriot VP]

.
NOBODY NEEDS or WANTS
-HD DRIVE
-WIRELESS INTERNET
-WIFI
-HDMI

And when I say nobody I mean the overwhelming majority that aren't tech extremists like yourself. You guys will buy a PS3 for sure but your a tiny percentage of the bulk market that'll be waiting for a price drop or look else where. And the price drop won't come for years and years. It'll end up being too late in the PS3's lifecycle to sell to the majority of normal people.

Sony was mis-managed to the wrong demographic. MS didn't force feed an expensive format into gaming machine, and we don't have to buy this you do.

[The Real Deal]

Can you watch movies or play games in 1080p on your television.

I guarentee 97% of them say "NO".

Why do sony fans brag about something that

A. Developers most likely won't support

B. They can't see anyway due to not having a 1080p tv.

And the truth of the matter is the 360 can output 1080p as well due to its ATI avivo digital output.

But why brag about it. Most can't use it.

Keep in mind that the average playstation owner buys 1.8 games.

They aren't going to buy a 3000 dollar TV to play one or two games that don't even display in 1080p anyways...lol....

Bottom line. Its a good deal for the very very few people that have 1080p tv's and want HD movie playback.

The ps3 is a bad deal for the 97 million prospective buyers who don't have 1080p tv's but are forced to buy the blu ray player built into the ps3. lol....Think about it. And I'm talking about average consumers. Not the teenie tiny sony extremest that are Trolls on this board. lol

[kikilala]

HD era is coming close... most of the major brand manufacturing plants are getting ready to abandon the old crt and concentrate on plasma and LCD tvs.. most of the plants lines now are built for LCD and plasma TVs.. and most of the upcoming generation tv is going to be HD ready and capable.. this is due to the abundance in "not so branded" CRT SD tv in recent years.. its hurting the big brands.. not just sony but all.. since the "not so branded" sdtv is far more cheaper theirs... so cut the crap about nobody wants HD and so on.. HD is coming and the world will embrace it..

[sman780]

yeh it is pointless for u guys to argue about this, whatever story it is or it is about, it always ends up on the 360 vs ps3 war lol 360 gives u options but options add up alotta money when bought seperate yeh ps3 expensive but i know ill have a beast of a machine thats top of the line, with a sheet load of jap developers who are amazing at makin video games haha so are other people to but yeh

ps i got a 360 cant wait for GOW i just hate how its comin out same time as ps3 uggh college work ps3 and GOW i need more TIME!

[THAMMER1]

The fact that there is even an HD DVD drive being offered. I can end this crap now.
A. An HD DVD format is not necessary for this game console generation.
B. The only reason why it will be in the PS3 is because Sony is looking to be the leader in the HD DVD era.
C. They believe that we have accepted Sony as much as them so when we scoff at the PS3 and BR they are offended.
D. With the 360 you have a choice no one has to get the Add on. That is also why it dose not play games.
E. Microsoft is a soft ware based company they understand the game industry because the game industry is software based.
F. Sony is a hardware-based company that is why they focus more on hardware and less on software i.e. no good games, to high of a price point for the masses/gamers.
Sony fan boys are just crazy.

[Aramis001]

I was reading the posts, and it came up that HD-DVD movies will play on a normal DVD player. If that is so, how much data could fit on the disks when being read by a normal DVD player? Could MS sell their games on a HD-DVD disk, and then it could work on the normal drive as well as the add on? Please help me because I am ignorant on the subject and can't find and really good sites explaining this. A link would be nice.

P.S. Answer quickly please, I've got to leave soon.

[joemutt]

I will be getting a PS3 for watching HD movies.

Unless its priced competitivly, meaning same price as a PS3, then forget it.

I mean, for some its a good deal, but I was planning on getting a PS3 in about two years anyway, so I can wait for a player, I have HD movies on cable all day, about 8 channels of HD, and plenty of On Demand HD stuff too.

Plus a 360 to play games on, yeah I will just wait and get a PS3, sorry microsoft.

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

[Boink]

at least with MS, if you don't want it, you don't have to take it. rather than a new format being force fed to it's customers, and that so far isn't freaking working worth a [email protected]

and your prices are inflated as sony is not going to charge for online, but their developers will...this is the same failing model they used last round, and it worked so well.

[0ldb0y]

MSFT said that consumers would be pleasantly surprised by the add-on's pricing. Relative to a stand alone player, sure, the thing's should be much more inexpensive. But I was hoping for 199USD max. Hopes of that ceiling are dissolving quickly...

I finally got my 360 about two weeks ago (after several months of deliberation), and I'm loving it. I've been ambivalent as to whether or not I wanted to get into HD movies, but now I'm glad that I at least had a choice about it with the 360. Somebody please win this next gen format war quick.

[The Real Deal]

Next-generation movie support is considered a unique selling point of the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft’s HD-DVD bundle could retail around GBP 50 (74 Euro) cheaper than Sony’s machine, which features the rival Blu-ray movie format.

[CAPS LOCK]

for about till maybe may 2007, then blu-ray would takeover, because then there will be alot of ps3s out there and everyone who wants one will have one already, so they would probably get a film with it.

but what microsoft is doing is very smart, they are giving u 2 FREE films so u can check out the quality which is a good deal, but every ps3 will play blu ray films so...thats why i think blu ray would win buy a big margin. because of the ps3.

[Eternal E 808]

so ppl stop bashing and wait on a official statment by microsoft and if you think this is a ripp off wait till sony releases the price of blu-ray games now thats going to be funny.

[Dreamworker]

i did not see any new release in my local blockbuster for rent. until they have every movie new release on hd-dvd i will wait and the price of the add-on will drop.

[richie007bond]

Look people at the end of the day hdtv is fairly new agreed,the average person will get hdtv but at the bottom scale,these tvs cost a lot of money and it will takes years to make the transion to 1080p tvs,the average joe will just buy 720p,which is fantastic already,i live in the uk and all the big name stores like currys, dixons comet all stock lcd,dlp,plazma,and crt and 80% of people dont know what 720p means never mind 1080p,so i would say we dont need 1080p yet in games ,its just to much to soon for the average person,720p and 1080i is awesome already.And for sony outputting 1080p in games,thats the NEXT next generation the xbox 720 and maybe lol ps4 if sony ever manage to get the ps3 of the starting blocks,thats when the world will be ready for 1080p consoles...just my opinion

[Dreamworker]

but just to sell it to rich europeans and from the profit i buy 360 games and a 1080p tv what can upconvert 1080i to 1080p. my 720p hadtv i put then in my bedroom smile.

[The Real Deal]

Smart move. Thats the best way to jump into the hd gaming. Knock of 2 birds with one stone. I don't know what I'm going to do with the money I make from selling my ps3. Mabye put some money down on a new 2007 car.

[spasticjustice]

this just doesn't make sense, GBP means united kingdom pound, and if you convert that to american dollars, that's almost 400 bucks. $371.35 to be exact. my guess is that this is fake.

[kingboy]

and the damn thing doesn`t play games lol! dishing 300 bucks for that is a no no..dvd`s are getting old just accept it..it`s gonna stick beside the 360 like hand luggage ...wooohooo another great patch..i really had to start flaming had enough from sony this sony that for months.

[DJ]

It's cheaper and easier to just get a PS3.

$400 Premium 360 (you need the hard drive for online) + $250 HD-DVD addon drive = $650.

The low-end $500 PS3 still has greater functionality than the 360/HD-DVD combo and at a lower price. It has 1080p output right out of the box, supports Blu-ray for games as well as movies, and even has free online gameplay.

No matter how much you add-on to the 360, it will never have the same functionality of the PS3. Microsoft is releasing an HD-DVD add-on to counter Sony's decision to use Blu-ray, and have done a PR spin to make their failure to adopt a next-gen media drive (in order to get an early lead in the race) as giving consumers choice. Unfortunately, it's not a very good one. And if their true agenda was to give consumers 'choice' they would have released a Blu-ray add-on as well.

Microsoft backs HD-DVD simply because they can't fathom giving royalties to their rival companies (many of which are on the Blu-ray association). They're trying to muscle their way through and make an inferior format defeat the superior one, much like a repeat of what Windows did to the PC industry (you can even add the Netscape incident in there) all for personal interest; they don't seem to care about what's best for consumers, but what's best for them.

[shotty]

Well isn't that why sony is including Blu-ray, so that they can have most if not all of the royalties. Sony is a greedy company, they have intervend in numerous formats to make a quick buck like Beta-max and they almost created a format war with DVD and then sony decided to back down. Now they are back with Blu-ray. Why can't sony just work with other companies instead of against them. HD-DVD is a neutral company and is part of the Official DVD forum, which sony went against when blu-ray was created. If sony wasn't so gready they could have helped with HD-DVD and that would have greatly benefited sony ps3 sales.

[richie007bond]

DJ are you stupid,wake up man,beta rays not going to win the next gen dvd format,people are just getting used to dvd,hd dvd is in the mass public eye,its the next logical step forward,hd dvd will win... trust me

[DJ]

I see Blu-ray movies selling out while HD-DVD flicks just stagnate on shelves. I guess that's why i keep seeing new releases available for release on "DVD and Blu-ray", but no sign of HD-DVD versions on the advertisements.

Every excuse posted that was supposed to justify why HD-DVD is superior to Blu-ray has fallen flat.

"HD-DVD is cheaper!" -wrong. they're the same price, and I've actually seen Blu-ray movies at a lower price and vice versa. In fact, Blu-ray discs only cost a few cents more to manufacture than DVDs.-

"HD-DVD players are cheaper!" -The one HD-DVD player I've seen that was $500 only outputted at 720p, and was sold at a loss for market penetration purposes. The newer models are going to be around $800~1000 (and finally output 1080p) because the manufacturing costs of standalone Blu-ray and HD-dvd players are very similar. The drives themselves don't cost that much, relatively speaking. What really drives up the price is the RAM, motherboard, misc stuff, and CPU that has to decoded such high-quality audio and video.-

"HD-DVD has better picture quality!" -Wrong again. Both formats use the exact same video codecs such as H.264, VC1, and MPEG-2. Same visual quality.-

The final piece of information that HD-DVD supporters find repulsive is the fact that HD-dvd stores 15Gb per layer. Blu-ray stores 25Gb per layer. That's almost twice as much.

But the part that they don't like people to hear is that the limit for HD-DVD is 3 layers( 45 Gb), while the limit for Blu-ray is 8 layers( 200Gb). But whenever this comes up they claim "well that's just too much space. We don't need that much space! If we need the space we'll just use multiple discs." !!!!

Which completely defeats the whole purpose of upgrading to next-gen media format. Blu-ray is supposed to be the last format we need to upgrade to for...at least 15 to 20 years. Maybe even longer.

I wasn't all that sure about upgrading either, but once you see the picture quality of even 720p it looks a lot more appealing. Blu-ray's going to win simply because PS3 is going to be on the market, and also because most consumers aren't stupid. They're not going to buy into an inferior format just because the rhetoric sounds good (looking at you HD-DVD). Blu-ray's the future, and if it doesn't win then it'll be like the VHS era all over again where an inferior format won and everybody lost.

If Microsoft was aggressive with HD-DVD it might've had a chance, but it's an optional and expensive add-on instead of being built-in. Considering how much they've copied from Sony they could at least steal one more great idea.