据台湾媒体引述光驱行业消息人士说，微软公司最近已经开始在Xbox360游戏集中内置HD-DVD播放器的研发和寻找伙伴的工作。

    众所周知的是，微软公司此前多次强调，未来的Xbox360游戏机只会增加外置的HD播放器，而不会内置到游戏机中。一般预计，微软将会在今年年底销售外置HD-DVD光驱的新版Xbox 360游戏机。微软这一举动主要面向11月上市的索尼公司PS3游戏机。由于PS3游戏机将会内置蓝光DVD播放器，具备高清视频能力。而微软为了先发制人，去年上市的Xbox360只有播放DVD的能力，为了避免弱势，微软也需要一个外置HD光驱。

    不过，台湾光驱行业消息人士说，外置HD光驱基本上已无悬念。不过，微软公司开始考虑下一步设计内置于游戏机中的HD光驱。据悉，微软公司最近已经开始研发新版的游戏机，并在台湾地区选择相关的代工厂商。

英文原文：

    Digi-Times reports today that Microsoft is selecting manufacturers in Taiwan to provide an internal HD DVD drive that will be used in a forthcoming Xbox 360 edition designed to compete with Sony's PlayStation 3.

    Microsoft will offer an external HD-DVD drive for its Xbox 360 at around the end of this year, in an attempt to compete with the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3), which will have a built-in Blu-ray Disc (BD) drive, the sources indicated. The external HD-DVD drive, however, can only play back movies, the sources noted.

    The sources told Digi-Times that Microsoft plans to release this special Xbox 360 model in the first quarter of 2007. Wel'll have more on this new Xbox 360 as it develops.