In response to recent comments from Microsoft's VP of marketing, Peter Moore, the company has issued a formal statement clarifying its position on next-generation DVD support for the Xbox 360 console. Speaking to Japanese website ITMedia at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Moore had stated that a Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360 could be released if the Blu-Ray standard wins the next-generation DVD format battle.

Moore's comments were, it appears, intended to add weight to Microsoft's believe in the 'future-proof' flexibility of the Xbox 360, and the company is keen to clarify that a Blu-Ray drive for the mahcine is not an option in reality. The official statement reads: "It is important to understand the context in which that statement was made. Microsoft firmly stands behind the HD-DVD format as the best choice for our consumers.

"The question of whether Xbox 360 has the flexibility to adapt to consumers? needs is a different issue entirely," the statement continues. "Xbox 360 is a future-proofed system - one that allows us to add features as consumers demand them - as evidenced by our offering of the HD-DVD drive as an accessory. Current reports indicating that we have a back-up plan, which includes Blu-Ray support are incorrect. At this point, we?re fully committed to HD-DVD and have absolutely no plans to support other optical formats."