(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In the first segment of our exclusive Steve Ballmer interview series, the Microsoft CEO and I talk about Natal, the blurring of console generations, and the surprising assertion that "you'll be able to get" Blu-ray add-on drives for Xbox 360.

When I asked Ballmer about adding Blu-ray to the Xbox, he said:

Well I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there—you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories.

Though he says it with certitude, the timing of any kind of Blu-ray accessory is unclear. Could he have mispoken? Certainly. However, when I asked Xbox spokespeople about Ballmer's revelation, they responded:

Our immediate solution for Blu-ray-quality video on an Xbox 360 is coming this fall with Zune Video and 1080p instant-on HD streaming. As far as our future plans are concerned, we're not ready to comment.

Microsoft PR is good — we trust them to say no if they're not making one, and in this case, the best strategy is a "no comment". Which turns out to be a comment.

Of course, his Blu-ray comment may not mean that Microsoft is coming out with an external drive—he may have just been shooting down the idea that the Xbox 360 will ever have an internal Blu-ray drive, by saying that any Blu-ray the Xbox gets would have to be external. On the other hand he did actually say, "You'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories."

As you can see in our back-and-forth, Ballmer plays his cards close to the chest, but in my sit-down interview with him, he shared a lot. Prior to the Blu-ray business, Ballmer and I talked about Natal, and the excitement that Matt and Mark experienced when they stepped into the chamber back at E3. When I asked him if Natal was Microsoft's attempt to do away with concept of game console generations (thereby prolonging the life of a given platform indefinitely), Ballmer smiled knowingly and said "We'll see."

Stay tuned for more exciting Ballmer moments (and facial expressions) over the next day, and then the full uncut interview video on Friday.


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Well at least this will be good for home theater films but other than that i cant see it added on games.

just about to post this...i dont know about the blu-ray drive i wouldn't spend my money on an external drive just to spend 10 to 15 more on a dvd if it wont help out the quality of the gameplay not something i need 1080p is good enough for me...but this might shut up some people on the ps3 side that keep saying 360 doesn't have blu-ray even tho ps3's blu-ray drive only does something movie's not their games

Yeaah the whole blu-ray thing is something im not sold on as of yet. My DVD's look great when playing on my Pioneer elite plasma so i don't see a need for a blu-ray. Just a waste of cash in my opinion

I thaught Sony owned BLU-Ray, and I dont care I got PS3 for my movies and my xbox 360 for games..

thanks though I cant wait for Natal looks badd ass.

Has anyone else noticed that MS only make money by copying other people ideas?