Recent months have seen many of the major Hollywood studios signal support for either Blu-ray Disc or the competing HD-DVD format, but game software publishers have been largely quiet on their plans.
Opposing Formats
Both Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD are based on blue lasers and can accommodate several times the amount of data that today's DVD discs can store. Movie companies are interested in the formats because the extra storage space allows enough room for a high-definition movie, while game companies are interested in using the extra space to add more graphics, interactivity, and complexity to their titles.
Sony is a major backer of Blu-ray Disc technology, and its Sony Computer Entertainment subsidiary has already said it will use Blu-ray Disc in its next home game console, the successor to the PlayStation 2 (news - web sites), which is expected to be released sometime in 2006. Microsoft and Nintendo (news - web sites), which compete with Sony in the console market, have yet to make similar announcements.
In the personal computer market, both Dell and Hewlett-Packard are members of the Blu-ray Disc Association, and HP recently said it is planning to release PCs with Blu-ray Disc drives later this year. On the competing side, NEC and Toshiba said they will add HD-DVD support to some of their PCs or offer compatible drives later this year.