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According to Chris Lewis, Microsoft's regional vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa and the man responsible for the company's Xbox 360 gaming console business in Europe, Blu-ray smacks of another technology developed by Sony.

'Blu-ray right now reminds us of another technology

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from Sony: Betamax,' Lewis told Spiegel Online. 'A bit like VHS - we think that HD DVD is the format that consumers, film studios and publishers will embrace.

Referring to rumours that Sony plans to charge as much as €600 for Blu-ray equipped PS3 games consoles, Lewis said: 'We think it's about giving consumers choice, we think it's about not necessarily asking them to pay over the odds for a technology that, at the moment, is unproven. It's an interesting bet to play - we're watching what goes on, but I think we're offering a broader, more flexible choice that doesn't burden the consumer with a cost element that may be wasted.'

Microsoft's backing for HD DVD has the support of Intel, but computer makers including Apple, Dell and HP have tended to lean towards Blu-ray.