Universal announces first Blu-ray details

Universal Studios, at one time backing only the discontinued HD DVD high-definition movie format, will announce on Thursday it will start releasing all of its new movies on Blu-ray starting this summer. The studio was quick to switch camps once HD DVD's demise was final, but has not released any Blu-ray titles or made any announcements until today. The first Blu-ray title from Universal will be Doomsday, which will be released sometime this summer and, like all its movies, on the same day as the standard DVD of the movie.

The only date Universal revealed so far is July 22, when it will launch The Mummy and its sequel, The Mummy Returns, along with spinoff The Scorpion King. Before the year is out, about 40 Blu-ray titles in all will come from the Studio. New releases will include The Incredible Hulk and Mamma Mia, along with many more titles from the Universal back catalog, some of which were only previously available on HD DVD or just standard DVD.

Toshiba announced it will stop producing HD DVD players in February, leaving Universal little option but to convert its HD offerings to Blu-ray.

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Other story tags: blu-ray, Universal, movie