Xbox 360 to gain DivX video soon?

The Xbox 360 is likely to gain support for playing the long-requested DivX video format, a DivX official has inadvertently revealed at a JP Morgan conference. Company presenter Kevin Hell was apparently caught off-guard when asked about how the Xbox 360 would interact with Microsoft's update to its Windows Media Extender feature that provided DivX support, at first confirming the addition outright but backtracking to say only that DivX was holding "discussions with Microsoft" over the prospect. The addition would provide enthusiasts with native support for many of their videos without having to use special software on the Xbox itself or a nearby PC to transcode videos on the fly.

Hell has not discussed the topic further, but the update may take place as early as the seasonal fall update to the game console from Microsoft, which could occur as late as December. XviD support has been suggested this past summer and may accompany DivX at the same time. Companies such as Microsoft and Apple have historically resisted implementing DivX for a number of factors, including licensing fees, competition with in-house video formats, and the perception of endorsing piracy.