Does the Xbox 360 Need HD-DVD?

HD-DVD support for the Xbox 360 has been a vague topic for Microsoft since the console was first announced, and things look even more confusing now with the recent miscommunication among various MS branches.

It wasn’t until a few months before launch that we learned that the system will be released with a standard DVD drive. This is understandable; since the battle between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is still in progress, Microsoft would not have been able to release the console this year if they opted for a next-generation disc format. It’s certainly surprising that Microsoft is actually playing it safe.

Despite all the new features in the up and coming disc technolgies, their main feature basically boils down capacity. A single-layer HD-DVD disc is about 15 GB, compared to the 25GB single-layer capacity of Blu-ray. We can expect both of these technologies to support dual-layer capacities when they launch, effectively doubling their capacity. Comparatively, a single-layer DVD is about 4.3GB.

Obviously 360 games will be much more limited when it comes to disc-size, but it’s not as if we haven’t had multi-disc games in the past. If the big advantage the PS3 has over the 360 is simply disc size, I really don’t think Microsoft has anything to worry about.

There is talk of eventual HD-DVD support, either through a revamp of the console, or some sort of upgrade, but I don’t actually expect Microsoft to take this route. We all know that console upgrades don’t work, just look at the Sega CD and the 32X. No one in their right mind would want to alienate their userbase in such a way. Sure Nintendo was somewhat successful with the RAM upgrade for the N64, but that was a fairly negligible upgrade both in terms of cost and supported games. In the end, HD-DVD isn’t something that will make or break the 360, at least when it comes to games. Sony is betting on Blu-Ray support because they want the PS3 to support HD movies as well as games, which is really the only notable advantage the PS3 has over the 360.

Should Microsoft decide to support HD-DVD with the 360, I’m almost certain that they will do so by releasing a new version of the console that will only offer HD-DVD movie support. Releasing HD-DVD games will only hurt Microsoft; it will be a literal slap in the face to gamers who bought the original 360, and publishers won’t flock to the format because it alienates the majority of 360 users. Basically, I don’t think current 360 owners have anything to worry about, nor do I think gamers should wait for the fabled HD-DVD Xbox 360.

No HD-DVD for Xbox 360 in 2006 News Story From 1UP.com