Blu-ray/HD-DVD war ending in peaceful co-existence?

  • By TomM_GScom, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 19, 2007 5:47 pm PT

When it comes to video format wars, traditionally there has been a winner and a loser. But, if a new report issued by UK-based analyst firm Screen Digest is to be believed, the conflict raging between Toshiba's HD-DVD and Sony's Blu-ray high-definition video players may end in a stalemate. ...

When it comes to video format wars, traditionally there has been a winner and a loser. But, if a new report issued by UK-based analyst firm Screen Digest is to be believed, the conflict raging between Toshiba's HD-DVD and Sony's Blu-ray high-definition video players may end in a stalemate.

Despite Blu-ray players currently outselling HD-DVD devices at a rate of two-to-one, Screen Digest's research indicates that film studios will potentially miss out on $280 million in revenue for 2008. "Blu-ray-exclusive studios Sony, Fox and Disney could miss out on $175m in consumer spending by not publishing their films on HD DVD, although Blu-ray's stronger sales mean that HD-DVD-only supporters are at risk of making the largest individual losses."

Rather than viewing Paramount's recent HD-DVD alignment as an obvious flaw in its argument, Screen Digest thinks the move will have the opposite effect on other studios. "The decision has effectively secured HD-DVD's immediate future, and cleared the way for the other studios that currently support one platform only to move to an agnostic position without being the studio solely responsible for prolonging a format war, or for killing off one of the formats."

Screen Digest concludes that many format-exclusive studios will rethink their strategies in 2008 and come to the conclusion that cashing in on lost sales trumps fueling the platform war. "We believe that eventually most will decide to offer their titles on both HD-DVD and BD in order to maximize their returns," the report concludes.

218 Comments

  • the_undisturbed

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 9:28 pm PT

    I GOTS AN IDEA!
    both formats recieve chocolate and live happily ever after
    THE END

    and thats the untrue story of how the format war ended

    =D

  • Dryker

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 4:34 pm PT

    If Sony decided to make their Blu-ray player an add-on instead of built-in, Blu-ray would be almost dead by now. Transversely, if Microsoft had decided to make their HD DVD built-in, there is a very good possibility that Blu-ray would have never stood a chance. But... things being as they are, Blu-ray now has an "artificial" lead on HD DVD with the PS3 and companies like Blockbuster are choosing to exclusively support Blu-ray while other studios have to make sacrifices and side exclusively with HD DVD in order to bolster an "economically" superior format for its ease of development, online interactivity, and non-alienating of DVD fans and collectors. God! Sony is such a bastard when it comes to business, but I love their home theatre equipment.

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 2:20 pm PT

    well right now i have neither, but I will eventually get a ps3 and get blue ray, so hopefully if any wins it's blue ray

  • loidog85

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 11:21 am PT

    The amount of space you can place on a bd is the best feature of the hi-def generation as of yet. Plus, the price to buy blank bd's is reasonable affordable. I'll stick to the PS3 and BD until something better comes along.

  • Sandro909

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 10:55 am PT

    Peaceful co-existence is a myth.

  • TonyR575

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 9:57 am PT

    why can't they just make movies for both formats for e.g the matrix on both blue ray and hd-dvd they get more money and everyone is happy why does everything have to be exclusive its ruining the game industry no its going to ruin the movie industry.

  • NinjaMunkey01

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 12:40 am PT

    obby1234 numbers dont lie. just cos that happens in one shop dosent mean that happens everywhere. I like blue ray. I think that hd dvd would have done nbetter if it was intergrated into the 360 in the first place, now multi disk games will have to come out to keep up with the ps3. and that will be annoying.

    anyway I have a ps3 so I already have a cheap blue ray player so I get blue ray. I dont want to buy an add on hd hvd player for the 360. so for me blue ray wins.

  • Hameyadea

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 12:36 am PT

    In the end, supporting both formats is the smarter thing to do. Since they're offering for a wider audience (which means, more possible-buyers) the same movies.

  • Genok

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 8:06 pm PT

    well dah!!!!

  • randy120

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 6:22 pm PT

    I blame Sony and Toshiba for this mess. If they had just settled on a single HD DVD standard we would have cheaper players, cheaper HD DVD movies with a larger library, cheaper Xbox 360 HD DVD, and cheaper PS3...

  • randy120

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 5:24 pm PT

    I blame Sony and Toshiba for this mess. If they had just settled on a single HD DVD standard the new players would be widely available for less. PS3 less. HD DVD's less...

  • Williedude87

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 3:31 pm PT

    somedude69, what does this have to do with America? Last I checked, the format war was universal.

    obby1234 and others, stop basing stuff on hearsay. Basing your information on what some dude at Best Buy says is pretty bad. Last I checked, they don't have some super manual with the definitive source of tech information. Yeah, there Customer Service is rated highly.. but their product knowledge is rated mid-range at best.

    What I am really waiting for in this format war, is the release of more television series. I long for they day when I don't have to dedicate an entire bookshelf to one television series. I hate keeping track of all the disks, and switching them out and all that. Honestly television series have been selling like mad, and I think that when more start becoming available on the new formats you will more demand for that format.

  • ChB123

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 2:52 pm PT

    @rgobantes3

    "I recommend for you to watch "300" in both formats. The HD-DVD version is clearly the winner. Blu-ray player makers are upscaling their next generation players to catch up with HD-DVD sound and movie options."

    This comment only serves to confuse the already hesitant masses. Warner has the EXACT same encode done for the BD release as the HD DVD. They both use VC-1 and both have TrueHD with the same bitrate. The BD release also had lossless LPCM 5.1.

    Your comment that Blu-ray is upscaling Standard Definition is a myth. In fact, go take a look at Universal releases that have a PQ rating of 3/5 or worse.

    Catch up with sound? Care to compare how many HD DVD vs Blu-ray are shipping with lossless audio - either PCM or DTS-HD MA or Dolby True-HD?

    I don't know if you are doing it intentionally but what you are telling people isn't the truth.

  • raeloneq

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 2:30 pm PT

    Im not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but there are now selling systems that play both formats. So who cares. This is a repeat of the DVD-R and DVD+R format war.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 2:07 pm PT

    that's just dumb

    why would people choose 2 formats?

    why would a publisher use 2 formats?

    Everyone loses becuase they have to buy more!

  • hordaak

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 1:48 pm PT

    This war is so crazy. I have both the add on for the xbox 360 and a ps3 so it doesnt matter, but the quality of the hd dvd to me seems a little crisper. I dont know if there is a website that compares picture quality, but thats just my opinion. I have a sharp lcd 1080p 42" monitor and it looks great for both formats.

  • WeWerePirates

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 12:53 pm PT

    Analysts are missing the obvious answer. Both formats will languish outside the mainstream until affordable dual format players are released. At which point whether you buy are buying a Blu-ray or HD-DVD will be irrelevant to most people. If I had to make a prediction as to which format will "win" I would say HD-DVD because I think most people won't even know there are two different formats and that is the name that will stick.

  • Race

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 12:21 pm PT

    I wouldn't mind both formats coexisting if there were hybrid players and if studios stuck to one format or another, but not both. What has happened too often is that movies released in both formats get different versions, different extra features...I don't want to have to research which side got the better deal for each and every freakin' disc that I buy.

    In the end, I'd rather see one HD format, regardless of which one. The format war is dumb and confusing, and it needs to end. I'm irritated at Paramount because a clear leader was emerging and they chose to prolong the confusion by supporting the losing side and prolonging this nonsense.

    I bought my PS3 for games. I thought about buying Blu-ray movies, but I've reconsidered because I would not otherwise have bought a player for either HD format. In that case, I'll gladly stick with standard DVD for the forseeable future.

  • SergioP

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 11:53 am PT

    I'm still holding out on the next-get formats. As it stands, I see HD DVD as being superior. From what I read, it offers the best playback and features. With the 51GB discs finally getting approved for production, capacity is no longer an issue.

    The problem is content. More specifically, it's Sony. Blu-ray is a Sony product that they have spent a fortune developing and promoting. Obviously, they will use their own studios to push the format. This becomes a serious concern when the other studios don't get on board.

    Blu-ray costs more. The players cost more as do the discs. With HD DVD being far more easily integrated into production, it would have been the only obvious choice if Sony's studios weren't Blu-ray exclusive.

    As a consumer, I'm not confused. I know exactly what is going on. Instead, I'm ticked off. I would like to buy high-def movies but would also like to include the content that Sony offers.

    The only solution I see would be a player that supports both formats. Unfortunately, they are far too expensive at this point in time.

  • obby1234

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 9:27 am PT

    Ummmm accualy HD-DVD is out sellin blu-ray. I went to Best buy the other day and they said that more and more people have being buying hd-dvd's instead of blu-ray players. In fact at the best buy where i live. they dont have that little blu-ray keosk its hd-dvd now. and with china having hd-dvd its offcial format. that tells me somethin...

  • GeraldTheShoe

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 9:08 am PT

    Anyone remeber the XM Radio vs. Sirius Satellite Radio deal? Yeah, it's like that.

  • Hawk456

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 7:58 am PT

    I hear Microsoft feels the same way and will be releasing Halo 3 for the PS3...can't we all just get along... get real

  • MrLetty

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 7:45 am PT

    Well for me I rent and buy blu-ray I have ps3 and right now dont see the point in buying a diff player for either.

  • somedude69

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 7:27 am PT

    Yea this sounds a lot like economics. Lets see, one market, with competitors. Last time I checked, competition is good for markets and the economy in a whole because it means lower prices. So why would they want to say make combo players, well to make more money of course and pretty much put a monopoly on the HD movie format. So really this is just a power struggle for companies to make the most money yet the want to monopolize the market. Its a continuous black hole. Good I hate America.

  • nikefreak

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 7:04 am PT

    Grant - Of course the PS3 plays BluRay, it was Sonys BluRay delivery vehicle instead of a game system, and you are loosing out because of that. Regardless, 360 can do everything PS3 can do, while doing it better and cheaper. Thats just the simple truth. And honestly, the only gamer who sees BluRay as something they need, is an uninformed gamer as well. Further, no, there cant "only be one victor", and that victor SHOULDNT be BluRay. Why would we want a company who historically overcharges and try to control the formats they produce to such an extent, they nearly destroy them? No thanks, I will stick with companies who I can trust. Plus, BluRay doesnt really hold more data than HD-DVD, as HD-DVD can be scaled to include more data, on more layers. So the size game is silly, especially when standard HD-DVD is more than enough to store movies in quality the same as or higher than BluRay, when you compare them side by side. BluRay tends to actually be lower quality than HD-DVD, on same titles, on same TV.

  • Grant41

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 6:59 am PT

    This is dumb, I say there can only be one victor. That victor need be blue-ray. It holds more information and therefore has the ability to be better, can no one see this. In just a gamers perspective, the PS3 comes equipped to play BD, but the great ole' 360 can't even play HD-DVD unless you want to fork out $100.

  • nikefreak

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 6:59 am PT

    DVDs look SD. They always will as well, regardless of what kind of upscaler you use, there is no replacement for actual HD content. Anyone can upscale a movie/game/etc. but its when the source is actually HD that it shines. And as for those who complain about HD prices, give me a break. With HD-DVD drives for 360 down to 129.99 used, and HDTVs getting down to 100-200 for an entry level TV, its silly to sit and complain about prices...

  • runejedi

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 6:35 am PT

    Hey if youve only got 480p dvd's dont forget the BD/HD-DVD players that upsacle from 480p to 1080p. that way no need to buy 2 copies of one dvd.

  • TheoleDominion1

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 2:58 am PT

    Well I don't claim to speak for the masses, though I do believe I'm no different or better than the average consumer. I say "screw that" I'm sticking with regular DVD format for now. I have no problems with the current DVD quality for watching movies at least to the point I'm willing to invest in a new media-player and convert my entire DVD library over to a new format disc oh yeah a new HD television to watch it on. "Too much, too soon".

  • Questlove711

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 9:02 pm PT

    Whatever, DVD's still look awesome on my regular SDTV.

  • 1357900

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 8:48 pm PT

    Survivor: Home Theater Edition

  • devilmaycry2020

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 5:17 pm PT

    both will be here until god knows when blu-ray wont die because the ps3 and hd-dvd wont die because of the exclusive titles that are availble but for how many years both will live that is to be questioned since in the future most likely everything will be downloaded

  • ctg867

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 5:15 pm PT

    This whole thing is so stupid. Sony just needs to man up and buy out Toshiba, lol. Or something to end this stupid crap. Once they secure BRD, which is gonna happen eventually, we can all get one with buying them.

  • KOSMOSEngineer

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 4:55 pm PT

    don't really care...and I don't watch that many movies. But I have a PS3, so...I'll go with Blu-Ray

  • Ottozero

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 4:02 pm PT

    @Buffdaddy69
    "Halo 3 is a great example. Many people want to own a 360 for Halo--which is great for Microsoft. But Bungie would no doubt make more money if it was also released on the PS3.--for those that don't own a 360. There are contract issues that help Bungie, but they would still sell more copies of the game if it had a wider base--which would be crazy since they are already going to sell millions of the game"

    ----True bungie would make more money selling Halo 3 on more than one console....except that Microsoft OWNS Bungie. There will NEVER be two Competing video formats for Consumers that can both Survive.........NeVeR!!! Ever....BTW DVD will Rule supreme intill at least 2015.

  • Rangel_19

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 3:46 pm PT

    I'll just watch movies in my Betamax and VCR!

  • KnightwingX7

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 3:41 pm PT

    @liam0_m
    what's the point?
    blu-ray is clearly superior
    they both work as well as each other but blu-ray has a higher data capacity, why is there even competition?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    What I want to know is why everyone believes BluRay to be superior. Just because it has a larger capacity does not make it better. The compression chosen for BluRay's format is 10 years old (MPEG-2) and requires more space than HD-DVD's chosen compression of VC-1. So in reality, HD-DVD has more disc space, because it uses less space on the disc while SIMULTANEOUSLY displaying higher quality content. Also, HD-DVD is capable of 3 layers at 45GB, making the big 50GB BluRay an non-issue. Furthermore, if you research BluRay, you would find that 50GB discs are VAPORWARE. BluRay are only capable of single layer 25GB right now, and are not successfully able to manufacture 50GB discs, making the current HD-DVD's (30GB) larger than BluRay right now anyway. HD-DVD has better visual quality, due to its more modern video compression, has better audio quality, as it makes the newer HD audio formats mandatory (BluRay doesn't). Just look at the special features of HD-DVD and BluRay, compare the Audio on a movie that appears in both formats. You will see that HD-DVD has the edge. People only believe BluRay to be better, cause they have been told by Sony it is. They haven't done the research to find out for themselves. Please people, RESEARCH something before you claim it to be king. BluRay is full of problems, manufacturing, high costs, the programming language is terrible, as well as not even having a FINAL specification. Current BluRay player owners may find that future BluRay discs will not work on thier player, because they still have no set standard, and have already come to market. Please RESEARCH the two formats, only someone uneducated would choose BluRay. Without looking, it does look better because of the higher capacity, but looks can be decieving.

  • djman24us

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 3:39 pm PT

    Eventually one format is going to win unless all players are hybrid style that support both.

  • moocow21

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:39 pm PT

    Ugh.. personally I'm not buying a next gen DVD player (unless I get a PS3) until either one side wins, or until dual-format players are pretty cheap.

  • ashuncc2

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:38 pm PT

    I thought Disney was HD DVD exclusive?

  • Veni_Vedi_Vechi

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:37 pm PT

    the new super blu, with blu ray on one side and hd dvd on the other.. anyone?? its probably gonna be expensive right, but it still means you have to buy one or the other. Im happy with my dvd's right now i don't see any massive difference between dvd and blu ray in terms of qaulity not disk space ( im talking about what i can see not read on a fact sheet).

  • 360herodotcom

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:32 pm PT

    I say just release all movies on both formats and let consumers decide who the winner will be. My personal favorite is blu-ray since it is larger and more secure (important for pc use).

  • OatmealKing

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:22 pm PT

    In other words......they are preparing for microsoft to admit defeat in its insuperior console....all the major companys that backed the HD-DVD are now realizing....wtf have we done....put all are eggs in the wrong basket....now that they finally read the specs on BD and see that it runs at a higher "highest" defintion then HD-DVD and it can hold 3x as much so now more wasting money on the 2 disc dvd SE now they can fit all that bs they add on ONE BD.....with all that said....i must give congrads to all the PS3 supporters on predicting who will be the real next gen console.....hands down....PS3....do i have to name the ups and downs again.....BD > HD-DVD / PS3 = more powerful then 360 / wifi card built in / more usb ports / upgradeable HD / complete Backwards compat / six axis control ( now w/ rumble wtfc ) / complete 7.1 surround ( BD ) / emotion chip / built in web browsing / ultimate media interface (slots) / o ya and now bs add ons that steal ur money to get wut u payed for already...aka HD-DVD add on .....Play n charge kit....etc....Y did it take so long for them to c this.....can they not read???

  • living_wmd_888

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:18 pm PT

    Heh... all the hype over Blu-Ray and HD-DVD being the "next big thing" was really forced. Neither side has really shown a clear reason to upgrade from "regular" DVDs, especially so soon after most people only now upgraded to DVD from VHS. They just don't have those "must-have" qualities.

  • haggisbag

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 1:35 pm PT

    Betamax ftw!!!!!

  • Daffy101

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 1:33 pm PT

    I think it would be better if all the movies were on both formats. It's kind of ridiculous, with "exclusive" movies. Maybe I'm just not as used to it with movies as I am with games...

  • liam0_m

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 1:23 pm PT

    what's the point?
    blu-ray is clearly superior
    they both work as well as each other but blu-ray has a higher data capacity, why is there even competition?

  • axia_777

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 1:22 pm PT

    "gnbfd

    screw you ddskater. everyonne knows that the wii pwns all others "

    How does the Wii "pwns" all others? It is weak. Pathetically so, in comparison to the PS3 and 360. All it has going for it is that goofy controller. I have played Metroid 3 and I think it is not that great. It is Metroid Prime 1 and 2 with barely better graphics and the ability to soot with the Wiimote. If that is the best that Nintendo has, then that is LAME.

  • gnbfd

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 1:05 pm PT

    screw you ddskater. everyonne knows that the wii pwns all others

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