Update: Nope, no Blu-ray add-on for the 360 after all.

Original story: Wait, but I thought, didn’t they say…? Despite Microsoft denying the addition of a Blu-ray player for the Xbox 360 numerous times, Steve Ballmer, CEO at Microsoft, has now stated that Blu-ray playback is indeed set for the platform.

During an interview with Gizmodo, Ballmer stated that he’s not sure we need a 360 with a built in Blu-ray drive, but that “you’ll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories.” The focus was then quickly diverted by Ballmer to digital distribution with on demand content predicted as being the go to format for movies.

Having an accessory for hi-def movie playback is not new territory for Microsoft. The ill fated HD-DVD drive was released in late 2006 and lasted a little over a year, discontinuing in early 2008.