Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox 360 is to support the HD-DVD next-generation disc standard, with an add-on HD-DVD drive. It will be launched for the console by the end of 2006.

Bill Gates finally cleared up months of rumours and speculation over the platform’s possible support for Toshiba’s HD-DVD standard - which is set to challenge Sony’s forthcoming Blu-Ray standard in the marketplace.

Microsoft’s recently promoted head of games, Peter Moore, was invited to the stage to confirm that the HD-DVD external peripheral will launch before the end of the year - but no details on pricing or how it will connect to the console were revealed.

Bill Gates had previously stated that HD-DVD could be supported by Xbox 360 at some point, leading to speculation that an updated version of the console itself, with a built-in HD-DVD drive, could be on the cards.

Little detail about the new drive has been revealed, but it remains likely that it will only be designed to play back HD-DVD movie content, and will not be used for videogames content, as Xbox Japan boss Yoshihiro Maruyama hinted last year. Releasing HD-DVD games would force users to buy the peripheral before they could play the titles.

Source: GameIndustry