Xbox 360 HD-DVD Heats Up War With PS3 and Blu-Ray

Which tech war is currently the most heated? Is it the fierce battle between Sony and Microsoft over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 respectively? Or is it the violent clash between the two new DVD formats, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD? A new development threatens to fuse both issues together, turning two raging firestorms into one giant explosion.

Just recently, Microsoft announced its plans to introduce an HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360. This is obviously a direct response to Sony's PS3, which also doubles as a next-generation Blu-Ray DVD player, straight out of the box.

Japan will get first crack at the Xbox HD-DVD device when it launches there on November 22nd for 19,800 yen ($170). It should make its way to the U.S. and Europe by the end of the year. Pricing for those regions will be announced at a later date. (Source: yahoo.com)

For now, Sony has a distinct advantage because the PS3 already comes equipped with Blu-Ray capabilities, whereas Xbox 360 users will need a hardware add-on. Microsoft, though, could neutralize that edge by including its HD-DVD device with every 360 system in the future. No plans or announcements have been made to that effect, but such a move would hardly be a surprise to industry insiders.

It's no secret that the PS2 was a huge boon for DVD sales. Therefore, the winner of the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 console war could very well end up determining the victor of the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray battle as well. (Of course, Nintendo's Wii could end up spoiling the party for both of them.)

Pictures of Microsoft's HD-DVD add-on have been posted on the official Xbox website. You can see them here:

http://www.xbox.com