NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) will stop making video players based on the HD DVD standard for its Xbox 360 game system, a move that comes days after Toshiba Corp (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) pulled the plug on the high definition movie technology.
The move, announced on Saturday, follows recent decisions by Hollywood studios such as Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Warner Bros and retailer Wal-Mart (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to exclusively back Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) Blu-ray, a high-definition video technology rival to HD DVD.
Microsoft had been one of the biggest backers of HD DVD along with Intel Corp (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research), but the tide turned against HD DVD after Warner Bros, which had supported both, defected to Blu-ray last month.
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The move, announced on Saturday, follows recent decisions by Hollywood studios such as Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Warner Bros and retailer Wal-Mart (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to exclusively back Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) Blu-ray, a high-definition video technology rival to HD DVD.
Microsoft had been one of the biggest backers of HD DVD along with Intel Corp (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research), but the tide turned against HD DVD after Warner Bros, which had supported both, defected to Blu-ray last month.
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