Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on to cost ~$170 in Japan
Posted on 21/09/06 01:42 by Seán Byrne                             
Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on to cost ~$170 in Japan

Microsoft has announced that it will launch the HD DVD Xbox 360 add-on drive on November 17th in Japan, with a retail price of 19,800 yen (US$170).  This drive aims to help the Xbox 360 rival the upcoming PlayStation 3 by offering high definition movie playback with up to 1080p support, but from the rival format - HD DVD.  Microsoft also announced plans to release its HD DVD add-on in the United States and Europe by the end of the year.

Despite the drive being a separate add on, the price of the basic Xbox 360 and HD DVD add-on combined works out at 49,600 yen (US$420), 10,200 yen (US$90) cheaper than even the basic PlayStation 3 due for launch in Japan!  Even the higher end Xbox 360 with the add-on still works out cheaper by around 2,100 yen (US$20).

In an aim to help boost the sluggish Xbox 360 sales in the Japanese market, Microsoft will also launch a cheaper bare-bones Xbox 360 version to the Japanese market on November 2nd, which will be priced at 29,800 yen ($256).  This version is already sold in the United States and Europe.  The main issue Microsoft has been facing is lacking in its variety of games, however they will be offering 110 game titles for the Xbox 360 by the year end in Japan to help address this issue.

The rollout plans come as the company tries to shore up sales ahead of the arrival later this year of next-generation machines by its two top rivals '” Sony and Nintendo Co.
 
The basic Xbox 360 doesn't come with high-definition DVD capability. The new Microsoft peripheral, to be launched in Japan on Nov. 17, is based on the HD DVD standard, a rival technology to the Blu-ray format Sony is using for the HD player built into its anxiously awaited upgrade to the PlayStation line.
 
The attachment will cost 19,800 yen ($170) in Japan, bringing the combined cost of the basic Xbox 360 and the HD-DVD player to 49,600 yen ($420) '” compared to 59,800 ($510) for the basic PlayStation 3 in Japan. The higher-end Xbox plus the HD-DVD player will cost 57,700 yen ($490). Sony has left it up to retailers to set the price for its higher-end PlayStation 3.

The full article can be read here.

With the price of the Xbox 360 and HD DVD add-on now working out a fair bit cheaper than the upcoming Playstation 3, it looks like Sony's plan in selling the PS3 as a budget Blu-ray player has already been ruined.  What is even more interesting is that not only does the Xbox 360 and add-on work out around half the price of the cheapest Blu-ray disc player currently out, the physical size of both together would take up a much smaller area than Toshiba's beast and even offers 1080p, a feature that the Toshiba player lacks.

Source: International Herald Tribune

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Reactions
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By Quema34, Thursday 21 September 2006 05:18
Quema34That's still a lot for an add-on! While it should get more people to buy Xbox instead of Playstation 3, I have to wonder with the price still being high about how many people will buy it. The hardest core gamers are likely candidates, but even as much I loved video games in my day... I'd have a very hard time coughing up that much for just the console (it wouldn't matter how great the graphics were). ack!!! Stick Out Tongue
By neo1918, Thursday 21 September 2006 06:58
As long as there's no HDMI output, this addon is not worth it. The studios _will_ start using the ICT. It's only a matter of time.
By FreqNasty, Thursday 21 September 2006 09:16
Also, it should be known that M$ is releasing a software update for the 360 that will upscale all games to 1080p supergrin
By Shadowman69, Thursday 21 September 2006 09:27
An HDMI XBOX 360 cable will be available in the 1Q 2007. Remember, it's not possible to output 1080p on a component cable so a HDMI cable must be provided and is already planned.
By JamesL, Thursday 21 September 2006 13:02
>>>> The studios _will_ start using the ICT. It's only a matter of time. <<<< And when they do Microsoft will produce an HDMI cable. It's only a matter of time cool Seriously there should be no concerns about ICT at this stage: it probably won't be implemented for years and, even if it is, the 360 can support an HDMI cable. It'll be interesting to see if the AV port on the PS3 can as well - given that basic users are without the connection - otherwise Basic PS3 are the ones in need of your concern.
By neo1918, Thursday 21 September 2006 15:29
Show me one credible reference that the 360 can do HDMI properly (i.e. with HDCP.) Everything out there indicates it cannot. This isn't something that can be fixed with a software update or an adapter. Either the chips for HDCP are already there or they are not. Only buy the HD-DVD drive if you're ok with having to buy a new HD-DVD player in the near future.
By shimman, Thursday 21 September 2006 16:19
too expensive...i was hoping like 99usd xbox360 premium + hd-dvd add-on=>~600usd which is about the price of ps3 or ms might hint us that the price drop has been planed like 299usd for premium...maybe with bigger hdd
By Shadowman69, Thursday 21 September 2006 16:21
The ATI chip inside the 360 is HDCP Ready and probaly MS designed the console to be upgradable to the latest HDMI spec when the time was mature. So we probably will see and HDMI HDCP compliant cable for the 360 in the 1Q 2007.
By Shadowman69, Thursday 21 September 2006 16:26
Others did this same calc but the final price results in a 20$ save compared with the PS3 (both premium versions)...
By GezusK, Thursday 21 September 2006 22:40
GezusKumm..WHY can't a simple firmware update fix it? They added 1080p support, no reason they can't update HDCP too. Are you new to firmware? Its was you use to update chips on various hardware. Like the hacks that allowed DVD burner to be upgraded to faster speeds or features. Like video cards that can be upgraded to open additional pixel pipelines. Why don't you show a credible reference that it CAN'T be done.
[edited by GezusK on 21.09.2006 22:41]
By neo1918, Friday 22 September 2006 19:44
It'll be the same situation as happened with PC video cards. From http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_nvidia_hdcp_support/page3.asp, an ATI rep said: "People will not be able to turn on HDCP through a software patch since the HDCP keys need to be present during the manufacturing." And the Nvidia rep states: "The boards themselves must be designed with an extra chip when the board is manufactured. The extra chip stores a crypto key, and you cannot retrofit an existing board after the board is produced." So MS would have had to plan for HDMI and HDCP from the very start or we'll never see it. The thing is, if they were planning for it from the start, why not just include the HDMI port to begin with?
[edited by neo1918 on 22.09.2006 19:50]
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