News.blog: Microsoft denies 360 Blu-ray talk

Microsoft has denied that it plans to integrate Blu-ray high-definition DVD drives into its Xbox 360 game console.

Rumours have circulated recently that Microsoft was considering a Blu-ray replacement for the Xbox's now-discontinued external HD DVD drive.

Last week, the Financial Times, citing an unnamed senior executive, reported that Sony and Microsoft were in talks to integrate Blu-ray into the game system.

Not so, says a Microsoft executive. "Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience," Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, reports indicate that Toshiba will likely take a nearly $1bn loss this year, stemming from its decision to abandon the HD DVD format.