Microsoft Working To Support Blu-Ray

Microsoft was on the losing side of the high definition wars. The Xbox 360 made it pretty clear the company was on the HD DVD side of things, with an add-on component that allowed the game console to become an HD DVD player. Now that Blu-ray has emerged the victor for the future of high definition, what’s a company to do? Jump sides, just like everyone else.

Information Week is reporting that Microsoft is working on developing native Blu-ray support to the Windows Operating System, allowing computers that run Windows to add Blu-ray components.

The word came from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s speech at the Microsoft Mix ’08 conference. While Ballmer discussed the importance of having a high definition drive available on machines, he maintained his belief that the Internet will be the primary distribution method for high definition content, not HD DVD or Blu-ray discs.

Whether this development will expand to Microsoft’s game console is unknown, with the key phrase tossed around that the company would “support Blu-ray in ways that make sense.” Still, recent reports from the Sony camp imply that Sony is in talks with Microsoft to add a Blu-ray component to the Xbox. They also claim to be talking with Apple about adding Blu-ray devices to Apple products.

It almost sounds that there is still a high definition battle going on, despite the format finally being settled upon. Still, it’s good to hear Microsoft is moving towards accepting Blu-ray in some way. Regardless of their belief of digital distribution, consumers have just been put through one fight where digital release wasn’t a contender. With Blu-ray emerging as the solid winner, consumers will be looking for a way to embrace the new format and Microsoft needs to be willing to support that.