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Microsoft’s HD DVD Player for Xbox 360 Gains Momentum, But Gamers Not Interested

Microsoft Sells Over 150 Thousand HD DVD Add-Ons in the U.S.

by Anton Shilov
06/25/2007 | 11:58 PM

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A representative for Microsoft Corp. said the company had sold over 150 thousand of HD DVD add-on players for Microsoft Xbox 360 in about half a year after the release. Even though the number may seem impressive, it can be compared to neither the amount of all Xbox 360s sold, not all competing Sony PlayStation 3 sold.

The external HD DVD player for Microsoft Xbox 360 game console is “the biggest-selling accessory Microsoft has ever sold for the Xbox 360”, according to claims that the world’s largest software maker revealed to CNet UK web-site. The company had reportedly sold 155 thousand of HD DVD drives for its latest gaming machine in the USA.

The number of sold add-on HD DVD players for Xbox 360 means that gamers do not embrace high-definition video really quickly. According to numbers of NPD Group, Xbox 360’s life-to-date sales in the U.S. reached about 5.5 million as of June, which means that only about 2.8% of all users actually wanted to watch HD DVD movies using the console. That said, it can be expected that very few owners of Sony PlayStation 3 will use the console to watch Blu-ray movies. Therefore, neither the new PlayStation, nor the latest Xbox can help the ongoing war between the two formats.

Add-on HD DVD player for Microsoft Xbox 360 costs $199. Although the player is designed for the game console, it can be plugged to any personal computer with Microsoft Windows XP or better operating system using USB 2.0 ports.

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