Microsoft is playing down speculation that it is planning to make Blu-ray technology available for the Xbox 360.

Speaking in an interview^†, Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, said, "Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience."

Note the word “currently”in the statement. That leaves a very real possibility that Microsoft has been in such talks in the past or will be in the future. SPOnG has contacted Microsoft for clarification on the matter, but at the time of press none was available.

Commenting on the death of HD-DVD, Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer said earlier in the month, “We've moved on, and we'll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense.”

Of course, this doesn't necessarily contradict Greenberg's comments, as Microsoft offers more products than the 360 (indeed, Ballmer's comments followed mention of Blu-ray support for Windows). However, his statement did leave the door wide open for Blu-ray support for its games platform.

Greenberg's comments also flatly contradict reported confirmation from Sony Electronics' US CEO, Stan Glasgow, that the two companies are in talks over a Blu-ray drive for the 360.

^{†Source: Reuters}