Xbox 360 could back Blu-ray

CES The format wars have taken another turn this afternoon as Microsoft announced its Xbox 360 console might feature Blu-ray in the near future.

Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware said the console still supports HD DVD, but would gain a Blu-ray add-on if HD DVD fails as a next-generation format.

"It should be consumer choice, and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," Penello told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

"I fundamentally don't think this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus PS3," he added.

Microsoft doesn't think that Warner's decision to drop HD DVD in favour of Blu-ray will make a difference to sales of the Xbox 360.

"You can't say it's not a bummer, not a setback, but I've seen this battle declared over so many times," Penello said.

"I want consumers to have a voice in this and I think there are a lot of consumers who bought HD DVD who are going to have a say in how this shakes out."

Microsoft has been here before. Back in 2006, its then Xbox chief, Peter Moore, said a Blu-ray add-on drive for the console was possible, if consumers favoured that format.