Virtual Worlds collide as XBox360 and PS3 take different sides in the hi-def format battle

Microsoft say the XBox drive is intended purely for movie playback and not game integration, unlike Sony's Blu-ray drive. Sony plans to boost the future graphics capabilities of it's games by utilising the massive storage capacity of Blu-ray disks. Both drives boast full 1080p output so gamers and movie fans should be in for a treat. Picture quality from both drives is excellent, with the Sony having the edge, at a price.

Whether these consoles will replace a fully fledged HD DVD Player remains to be seen. Visions of Dad trying to prise these out of the kids hands come to mind, but at the moment the XBox HD-DVD drive certainly offers an affordable intro into the world of High Definition video. Stocks of Playstation 3, now on release in the UK have not sold out as fast as expected, maybe the £430 price tag is making many buyers hold-off for the affordable Sony S300 Blu-ray player expected this Summer.

With the Microsoft announcement of their HD-DVD add-on drive for XBox 360, the struggle for dominance in the next generation High definition DVD format takes a new turn. Available now and costing around £130 this is the cheapest introduction to HD DVD available (assuming you already own an XBox). Rumored issues with region coding and copy protection for the PS3 delayed Sony's planned launch of their games console in the UK untill this March. Unlike the XBox360, the PS3 integrates a Blu-ray drive in a single package. First reviews of the PS3 Blu-ray drive have praised its fast response during disc loading and chapter search. Quiet operation of the drive and console is also another plus point for the PS3.