Microsoft is dropping its HD DVD add-on drive from its list of Xbox 360 add-ons, the software giant revealed this past weekend. The blame was placed firmly on “recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers”, but whoever’s responsible, Microsoft will “no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360″.

The move comes as no great surprise. After Toshiba’s decision to throw in the towel in the format fight and concede victory to Blu-ray Disc, a move that will see it cease manufacture of HD DVD drives, Microsoft would at the very least have to find a new drive supplier.

Microsoft’s decision highlights its wisdom in opting for an external HD DVD drive rather than going the whole hog and building the drive into a new version of the console. Fans of the format will accuse Microsoft of helping the format’s failure by failing to support HD DVD the way Sony promoted Blu-ray Disc by building it into the PlayStation 3.

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